The concept of “Big Data” is one that describes collection, storage, management and use of very large datasets. Time is also a major consideration when discussing Big Data. Many older technologies can collect and store very large amounts of data. The challenge becomes actually making use of the data in a timely manner. Timely use of data can range from the generation of monthly reports to determining near real-time results.
As networks and electronic solutions have evolved, the data environment has changed. Log and statistics data is growing quickly as networks are becoming increasingly IP based. These IP-based systems are capable of generating much more useful data in the form of logs, statistics, addressing and actual content capture. Additionally, data and messaging traffic is rising dramatically since the pre-Internet days. Growing traffic results in growing data, and often the growth is exponential.
All of this data can be very useful in business. More information can enable better decision making. More statistics and provide insights into customer behavior and can reveal untapped revenue streams or identify potential customer churn. However, until recently much of this data was unmanageable due to the sheer quantity; thus the term “Big Data.” Big Data is both a problem and an opportunity.
Technology that was available in the very recent past was not capable of handling Big Data. Long- and frequently short-term storage was cost prohibitive. This often means it is not possible to retain the information long enough to make practical use of the data. Also, even the most powerful (and expensive) computers could not sift through the data quickly and the results were often stale even before they were ready for review.
Gemini's Big Data solutions solve these problems through the use of technology that is poised to deal with the issues. The solutions allow for cost-effective storage of the enormous datasets. The solutions also make use of the latest compute distribution technology to spread the compute load in a scalable manner.