"Teradata" entries

Fast data fuels real-time streaming applications

A new report describes an imminent shift in real-time applications and the data architecture they require.

Fast_data_coverThe era is here: we’re starting to see computers making decisions that people used to make, through a combination of historical and real-time data. These streams of data come together in applications that answer questions like:

  • What news items or ads is this website visitor likely to be interested in?
  • Is current network traffic part of a Distributed Denial of Service attack?
  • Should our banking site offer a visitor a special deal on a mortgage, based on her credit history?
  • What promotion will entice this gamer to stay on our site longer?
  • Is a particular part of the assembly line overheating and need to be shut down?

Such decisions require the real-time collection of data from the particular user or device, along with others in the environment, and often need to be done on a per-person or per-event basis. For instance, leaderboarding (determining who is top candidate among a group of users, based on some criteria) requires a database that tracks all the relevant users. Such a database nowadays often resides in memory. Read more…

Big data’s move to the cloud

A new survey shows the market is ready for cloud-based big data services.

Migrating_big_data_analytics_cover_lg_2One night when our son was two years old, he abruptly decided that he didn’t like taking baths. As my wife recalls, he struggled mightily against the ritual of bathing for several months until, suddenly and mysteriously, he decided that he liked bathing again. We’re happy to report that he has managed to stay relatively clean ever since.

When I speak with CIOs and other IT leaders about moving big data operations into the cloud, I am reminded of our son’s unexplained loathing of the bathtub.

Nearly everyone associated with IT understands that most IT operations — including big data analytics — must eventually move into the cloud. The traditional on-premises approaches are simply too costly, and CIOs are under crushing pressure to shift budgetary resources to value-added, customer-facing activities.

For most companies, the writing is already on the wall. The cloud offers greater agility and elasticity, and quicker product development cycles — and can reduce costs. When you add up the benefits, it seems inevitable that the bulk of IT operations will move into the cloud. Nevertheless, the foot-dragging and excuse-making continues. Read more…