Executive Brief
Big data, critical connections and the future of business
Real-time analysis of big data uncovers insights that keep today’s organizations competitive. That means flexible, secure connectivity is more critical than ever to collect and manage the data streams that shape countless business decisions and daily life.
Connecting companies, consumers and the cloud
Big data is not only expanding, it is more distributed and is coming from more sources, such as Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices. IoT includes mobile phones, connected vehicles, cameras, radio frequency ID technology in retail settings, sensors capturing industrial data and much more, with the number of IoT devices forecast to grow to more than 17 billion by 2030.2
This prolific information poses a set of challenges for organizations that want to capture its insights.
180 zettabytes
amount of worldwide
data by 2025.1
(1 zettabyte = 1 trillion GB)
Volume
Data is only useful with sufficient capacity to store and process it. The economy relies on more and more servers as data sources expand. Business networks must grow and evolve to reliably access information and computing resources spread across diverse locations.
Velocity
Another challenge arises from data that is useful for only a short time. A connected factory, for example, might rely on vibration or heat sensors to predict equipment failure. That information needs to be analyzed and acted on immediately, which calls for automation technology that can process data as it’s created. Across a range of industries, more computing and network resources must be available 24/7/365 to handle real-time information.
Variety
Big data has long fueled dashboards for managers to view their operations and business intelligence to uncover unseen correlations that inform decisions. But those tools traditionally relied on data already organized into defined categories that are easily compared. Making this data useful requires advances in machine learning and applications like natural language processing, as well as the infrastructure to support them.
Big data in the real world
Organizations that successfully confront the challenge of big data have transformed the way they make decisions.
Every link in the supply chain, for example, can benefit from insight into the highly dynamic relationships between businesses and their stakeholders. For instance, data analytics empowers supply chain professionals to make informed decisions, optimize routes, enhance inventory management and streamline operations, leading to increased efficiency and competitiveness.3
Business networks must grow and evolve to reliably access information and computing resources spread across diverse locations.
Another big data application is retail purchases, where online and offline experiences have begun to overlap. Successful omnichannel retail requires a grasp of consumers’ preferences, store behavior, browsing patterns and customer service history. Retailers, who successfully combine all these data points into a customized experience, can increase store revenues.
At the same time, the rewards of big data come with risks. Data management can consume substantial staff resources without careful planning, and the costs of off-site storage and processing can escalate rapidly. The information within datasets can also pose significant security and privacy challenges. Different industries and locations face different standards for securing data storage and transmission, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for U.S. patient information and the General Data Protection Regulation overseeing personal data in the European Union.
78% of executives say their organization does not have the in-house skills to fully achieve their cybersecurity objectives.4
Regardless of its nature, all data traversing private networks, public infrastructure and the cloud needs to be secured from unauthorized access. Given the growing technological sophistication required to maintain cybersecurity in the face of increasingly ingenious attacks, 80% of CIOs plan to increase spending on cyber and information security in 2024.5
Spectrum Enterprise scales big data opportunities
Big data demands solid, flexible connectivity. Spectrum Enterprise® empowers companies with solutions that make their networks fast, secure, scalable and reliably connected to the data that drives their decisions.
Fiber Internet Access
Support changing business requirements with a fast symmetrical internet service up to 100 Gbps delivered on our private fiber network. We will install and manage service all the way into your suite, and back it with an industry-leading service-level agreement (SLA) that includes a 100% uptime guarantee.†
Ethernet Services
Meet ever-growing data needs by connecting locations with a fast, reliable private wide area network (WAN) solution built on a dedicated fiber infrastructure. Bandwidth speeds up to 100 Gbps are available on our high-performance fiber network and is backed by our 100% uptime SLA all the way to the client suite.
Cloud Connect
Cloud Connect provides a fast, secure, reliable, direct connection for accessing Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and IBM Cloud. In addition to delivering superior performance, Cloud Connect also helps reduce data egress costs, so your business has a cost-effective way to access important data.
Managed Network Edge
Designed for businesses of any size and powered by Cisco Meraki, Managed Network Edge creates a highly efficient network that can support a wide range of traffic and reliably connects branch offices or public cloud locations. It includes all the services you need, like secure SD-WAN, networking equipment, security, remote access and more.
Enterprise Network Edge
Designed for enterprise businesses and powered by Fortinet, our advanced networking platform provides advanced configuration and a managed, secure SD-WAN to deliver exceptional performance. Enterprise Network Edge also integrates with legacy networks and helps minimize administrative overhead. Support your high-capacity data center connections, large workloads and hybrid SD-WANs networks, or seamlessly integrate public clouds and reduce reliance on legacy networks.
Wavelength Services
A high-availability, secure and dedicated solution, Wavelength Services delivers consistent, ultra-low latency performance to support data-intensive applications at speeds of up to 100 Gbps.
Key questions to consider when developing a big data strategy
- Is your IT infrastructure flexible enough to meet growing demands for data storage
and processing? - Do you have the right security solutions in place to protect data in the cloud and on-premises at your dispersed locations?
- Can you count on 100%, 24/7/365 U.S.-based support for business-critical services?
- Can you scale your bandwidth needs as data collection and project goals expand?
Build the foundation for your big data future with Spectrum Enterprise
Big data is only getting bigger. The influx of information from customers, business systems, sensors and a growing list of other sources can be an advantage when you have the ability to manage it.
Gain greater network efficiency, increased bandwidth, proactive cybersecurity protection and more with our comprehensive network modernization solutions. Each is customizable to your business, so you have the tools and support you need to grow.
†100% service uptime SLA applies only to Fiber Internet Access, Cloud Connect and Ethernet Services.
1. Sriram Subramanian, “From 5MB Hard Drives To 180 Zettabytes: The Data Migration Challenge,” Forbes, March 4, 2024.
2. “Number of Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices worldwide from 2019 to 2023, with forecasts from 2022 to 2030,” Statista.
3. Charan Lalwani, “Unlocking the Future: The Empowering Role of Data Analytics and AI,” Supply & Demand Chain Executive, October 17, 2023.
4. “Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2024,” World Economic Forum, January 2024.
5. “Gartner Survey of Over 2,400 CIOs Reveals That 45% of CIOs are Driving a Shift to Co-Ownership of Digital Leadership,” Gartner press release, October 17, 2023. Gartner is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
