Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Big Data

Abstract Data generation has increased drastically over the past few years, leading enterprises dealing with data management to swim in an enormous pool of data. Data management has also grown in importance because extracting the significant value out of a huge pile of raw data is of prime important for enterprises to make business decisions. The governance and management of an organization's data involve orchestrating both people and technology in such a way that the data become a valuable asset for both enterprises and society. With the drastic volume of data being generated every day and the growing importance of data management, understanding of Big Data is a fundamental requirement for those who wish to gain new insight into future challenges. This chapter introduces the concept of Big Data and gives an overview of the types, nature, advantages, and applications of Big Data in today's technological domain.