Big data is a term used for data sets that are very large or complex where traditional data processing application software is inadequate to handle processing the scale of information quickly and cost-effectively. Big data challenges include capturing data, data storage, data analysis, search, sharing, transfer, visualization, querying, updating and information privacy.

Here are some examples:

• Facebook – Uses big data to process all the posts, likes, pictures and more for many years. How do they know who to connect you to? Targeted Ads? Who’s most likely to be single soon? These are all answered with big data.
• World Health Organization – Uses big data to pull information from all over the world to help prevent diseases and understand where to allocate resources and drive impact.
• Capital One – Leverages big data to understand their customer’s spending habits so they can better tailor their products to real needs.
• City of Long Beach – Uses big data to find people illegally watering their lawns during non-sanctioned times which provides compliance and saves water.