With 2014 almost over, it’s time to take a peek into what 2015 may hold for businesses. More specifically, the goal here is to see what trends we can expect from big data for companies looking to make the most of it in the near future. While big data has certainly grown in popularity and use over the past few years, only recently has it become a vital focal point of business strategy. Knowledge surrounding big data has grown tremendously, and now companies are planning out their budgets to reflect it. With more dedication being placed toward big data, it’s important for companies to prepare for the future, and that means predicting what big data strategies will gain momentum. So with that in mind, here are five big data trends to watch out for as we enter the new year.
Analytics Moving to the Cloud
While big data has grown in popularity, the cloud has outright flourished. Long gone are the days when companies would ask, “What is cloud computing?” That the cloud and big data would be combined should not be surprising. Big data has already made inroads to the cloud, but in 2015, expect to see a lot more of it. Companies are realizing that to meet their new demands more effectively, they need to take big data analytics to the cloud. Multiple services have already been made available to businesses. These big data and data-related services include Google’s BigQuery and Amazon’s Redshift. Some businesses are already taking advantage of these services, which help them analyze collected data for marketing purposes. Taking big data analytics to the cloud is viewed as a more cost effective strategy than doing analyses with on-premise systems, and since these services are developed as easy-to-use tools, the learning curve is not nearly as steep.
Big Data For Security
Perhaps one of the biggest fears any business owner has is over security. Cyber attacks are happening more frequently no matter the size of the company. Since the threats are very real, many businesses are turning to new security measures for help. One of those solutions is the use of big data. Big data can bolster security by performing predictive analytics. This strategy can improve network security by predicting when future attacks may happen and how hackers might try to infiltrate the system. Big data analytics can also be used by companies to detect when suspicious activity is happening. All in all, big data appears to be a useful weapon in the fight against cyber criminals.
More Focus on Collecting Data
Big data can be a valuable asset, but companies need to collect it first. 2015 is expected to be the year when more emphasis will be placed on data collections. By establishing a varied and useful collection of data, businesses will be able to utilize that data more efficiently. This requires adding data analysts that also have what are called library skills–talents focused on not just collecting but organizing data to make it easier to analyze. This might be done on-site, but 2015 may see startups take up the data collection process on behalf of other companies.
Growth of Sensor-Driven Data
The Internet of Things is a popular term, representing everyday objects being able to communicate with each other through sensors. Most analysts predict the IoT will explode in 2015, and that means an explosion of sensor-driven data. Expect companies to collect a wealth of data based around object-to-object interaction as well as object-to-person interaction. This sensor-driven data won’t surpass the amount of transactional data being collected in 2015, but it is predicted to grow dramatically and help companies develop new business strategies.
More Deep Learning
A type of machine learning, deep learning could be used to come up with business solutions analysts have never considered before. With deep learning, businesses can use neural networking to discover patterns in large sets of unstructured data without actually being programmed for a specific function. This can be done with a large variety of data, making deep learning more versatile than other types of big data analytics. The business advantages are still being understood, but the potential is certainly intriguing. 2015 may see some of that potential become a reality.
Every new year is filled with excitement, and 2015 is no exception. The possibilities surrounding advancements in big data knowledge and understanding are tantalizing for businesses. There’s a lot of potential in deep learning, big data analytics in the cloud, the Internet of Things, and other areas. 2015 just might represent a springboard into more success and faster growth, two things every business would love to have.
