BIG DATA Overview

Big Data is a large volume of complex data that grows exponentially over time. This data comes in various forms:

•  Structured Data are those that are organized and have a defined format like numbers in tables.

• Unstructured data don’t have a defined form or structure like the social media posts.

• Semi Structured Data have data in both forms structured and unstructured like emails.

The main features are:

• Volume -the sheer amount of data generated .

• Variety - different forms of data (text, video, images).

• Velocity- the speed at which the data is generated ,captured and stored.

• Veracity - data’s accuracy, reliability and quality .

• Value- usefulness and benefits of the data.

How does Big Data work ?

• Integrate- Big data gathers huge amounts of raw information from many different places. This data needs to be collected, processed, and changed into a format that business users and analysts can use to analyze it.

• Manage- Big data requires large storage, either in the cloud, on-site, or both. It's stored in a format to make it available in real time.

• Analysis -Gaining clear insights by visually analyzing different data sets. Diving deeper into the data to find new patterns and sharing the discoveries in a way everyone can understand.

How is Big Data used ?

• Data Collection: Data is gathered from different sources such as social media platforms and business transactions to create a large pool of information.

• Data Storage: The collected data is stored in large databases using systems like Hadoop, ensuring it is safely kept for future use.

• Data Processing: Tools like Apache Spark clean and organize the data, making it easier to work with and ensuring it’s ready for analysis.

• Data Analysis: Algorithms and statistical methods are applied to the processed data to identify patterns, trends, and insights that can inform decision-making.

• Data Visualization: The results are presented using charts, graphs, and dashboards, making it simple for people to understand and act on the findings.

Importance of Big Data:

Big Data can make business operations better, offer personalized service to customers, improve marketing, and help in making smarter decisions. When a business uses its data well, it gains an edge over competitors, making it easier to grow and increase market share. No matter the industry, any business can use Big Data to improve how it works and connect with its audience more effectively.

• Boosting Innovation: Aids in creating new products and services.

• Enhancing Customer Experience: Gives insights to customize how businesses interact with customers.

• Improving Risk Management: Spots potential risks and helps plan for them.

• Increasing Operational Efficiency: Simplifies processes to save time and resources.

• Driving Competitive Strategies: Offers data insights to stay ahead of competitors.

Uses of Big Data:

Big Data is applied in many areas to improve decision-making, enhance efficiency, and provide better services. Here are some common uses:

• HealthCare - Analyzing patient records improves treatment plans and helps predict and manage disease outbreaks using data from hospitals and clinics.

• Media and Entertainment -Companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime analyze data on what videos and music users watch and listen to, and how long they spend on the site, to plan their next business strategy.

• Finance -Identifying unusual transactions helps detect fraud, while analyzing financial trends improves investment decisions.

• Education -Analyzing student learning data personalizes education for example if someone searches for a YouTube tutorial on a subject, they send online ads about their courses to that person.

• Retail - Analyzing shopping behavior of people for example which product is being searched/sold most, based on that data, production/collection rate of that product gets fixed to improve customer experiences.

• Optimizing traffic systems -helps in reducing traffic congestion.Data on traffic conditions collected from roadside cameras and GPS devices in vehicles is analyzed to recommend less congested and quicker routes, helping to build a smart traffic system using Big Data.

• Virtual Personal Assistant Tool : Big data analysis helps virtual personal assistants (like Siri, Google Assistant) answer various user questions. These tools track data such as the user's location, local time, and other relevant information to provide accurate answers.For example, if a user asks, “Should I wear a jacket today?” The tool collects data on the user’s location, the season, and current weather conditions, then analyzes this information to determine if it’s cold and advise accordingly.

Big Data Benefits:

• Big data is crucial for becoming a data-driven organization.

• It allows real-time data streaming with advanced analytics to continuously collect data, find new insights, and discover growth opportunities.

• Using big data analytics tools helps process data faster and generate insights to reduce costs, save time, and increase efficiency.

• Analyzing large amounts of data helps companies evaluate and monitor risks better.

• Data-driven algorithms enhance marketing efforts, like targeted ads, and improve customer satisfaction by providing a better experience.

• Developing and marketing new products, services, or brands is easier with data on customer needs and wants.

• Big data analytics helps businesses understand product viability and keep up with trends.

Limitations of Big Data:

• Security risks -Big data holds valuable business and customer information, making it a prime target for attackers. Due to the varied and complex nature of these datasets, implementing comprehensive protection strategies and policies can be challenging.

• Data quality - Having big data doesn’t guarantee results as raw data is messy and hard to organize. The data must be accurate, relevant, and well-organized for analysis. Poorly managed data can slow down reporting and lead to misleading results and worthless insights.

• Lack of talent -A lack of skills and experience with advanced data tools is a major barrier to gaining value from big data environments.

• Growth rate and storage - Big data is constantly evolving and growing. Managing it becomes extremely challenging without a robust infrastructure to handle processing, storage, network, and security requirements.

• Compliance issues -Big data includes a lot of sensitive information, making it challenging to consistently ensure that data processing and storage comply with data privacy and regulatory requirements.

• Implementation cost -The implementation cost for big data can be high, involving investments in specialized technologies and skilled professionals, which may pose a financial challenge for some organizations.

How to obtain Big Data certification? 

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Our enterprise training portfolio includes in-demand and globally recognized certification training courses in Project Management, Quality Management, Business Analysis, IT Service Management, Agile and Scrum, Cyber Security, Data Science, and Emerging Technologies. Download our Enterprise Training Catalog from https://www.icertglobal.com/corporate-training-for-enterprises.php and https://www.icertglobal.com/index.php

Popular Courses include:

• Project Management: PMP, CAPM ,PMI RMP

• Quality Management: Six Sigma Black Belt ,Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Management, Minitab,CMMI

• Business Analysis: CBAP, CCBA, ECBA

• Agile Training: PMI-ACP , CSM , CSPO

• Scrum Training: CSM

• DevOps

• Program Management: PgMP

• Cloud Technology: Exin Cloud Computing

• Citrix Client Adminisration: Citrix Cloud Administration

The 10 top-paying certifications to target in 2024 are:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional® (CISSP)

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect

• Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect 

• Big Data Certification

• Data Science Certification

• Certified In Risk And Information Systems Control (CRISC)

• Certified Information Security Manager(CISM)

• Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

Conclusion:

Big Data and analytics have become essential tools for businesses across all industries, providing deep insights and transforming decision-making processes. From improving healthcare to enhancing customer experiences, Big Data's applications are vast and varied, making it a promising field for students. Despite the challenges, the benefits of utilizing Big Data are substantial, leading to smarter decisions and a better future.