The Impact of Big Data on Security

“Big Data” Term

“Big Data” is a term that has quickly achieved widespread use among technologists, researchers, the media and politicians. Perhaps due to the speed of dissemination the use of the term has been rather nebulous in nature. The concept of Big Data can be framed by one of three perspectives. The first is a response to the technology problems associated with storing, securing and analyzing the ever-increasing volumes of data being gathered by organizations. This includes a range of technical innovations, such as new types of database and ‘cloud’ storage that enable forms of analysis that would not previously have been cost effective. The second perspective focuses on the commercial value that can be added to organizations through generating more effective insights from this data. This has emerged through a combination of better technology and greater willingness by consumers to share personal information through web services. The third perspective considers the wider societal impacts of Big Data, particularly the implications for individual privacy, and the effect on regulation and guidelines for ethical commercial use of this data. We now consider each of these perspectives on Big Data in more detail.