Big data’s impact will influence cloud computing in 2013

Cloud computing and big data were two of the most important trends to shape the IT industry in 2012. Looking ahead, both will continue to impact the landscape in a number of ways. According to a recent RedHat report, many businesses implemented cloud-based environments last year as a way to manage the influx of structured and unstructured data.

The report suggested that corporate storage will evolve in 2013 into a “data platform,” rather than a “data destination.”

“As a platform for big data and not just a destination for data storage, enterprise storage solutions will need to deliver cost-effective scale and capacity; eliminate data migration and incorporate the ability to grow without bound; bridge legacy storage silos; ensure global accessibility of data; and protect and maintain the availability of data,” the report explained.

Cloud/big data relationship goes deeper
There is a great deal of industry research that continues to point to the growing importance of both cloud computing and big data. In many cases, both are impacting the other. A recent MarketsandMarkets report indicated that the global public and private cloud storage market will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 40.2 percent between 2012 and 2018, approaching $47 billion.

The research firm explained that the cloud storage market will reach this level as businesses address the emergence of digital trends that have impacted the volume in which unstructured data is generated. The cloud, which is not only cost-effective but also scalable, is an ideal technology to help companies address this need.

US firms using cloud for storage
The influx of big data has reached an important point that has made it necessary for companies to migrate information to hosted environments. A recent Redwood Software survey found that only 35 percent of U.K. firms are using the cloud for private data storage, compared to nearly 60 percent of U.S. organizations.

Looking ahead to the global cloud storage industry, U.S. companies will have a major role in the growing market. MarketsandMarkets predicted that North America will account for nearly $22 billion worth of the global cloud storage landscape by 2018.

There are a few constants that are expected to remain throughout the entire IT industry moving forward. The fact is that companies are producing more data than ever, making it necessary for businesses to not become overwhelmed with storing this information.