IoE and Big Data Part 2: Defining the Information Architecture

For an IT department, big data may be the largest and most complex challenge that comes with the Internet of Everything (IoE). We must be able to manage, process, and make that data available to many users and applications so they can turn it into valuable business insights.

Within Cisco IT, we are meeting this challenge by defining a new information architecture, which is described in this post. The Part 1 post discusses how to evaluate IoE use cases and gain business value from the data they produce.

The new architecture addresses data collection, storage, processing, and consumption by users and applications. It considers factors such as:

The broad range of data sources and diverse data types

Our platforms for data processing including Hadoop, SAP Hana, and a legacy data warehouse

Tools for data visualization, modeling, and analytics

Applications and interfaces for data access and reporting

Based on this architecture, Cisco IT has developed an operational intelligence platform that indexes numerous system monitoring logs and generates dashboard alerts. Our operations teams now have a simple place to look for issues and to work together on resolution.

You can read more about the new Cisco IT data architecture in the article: Powering the IoE with Big Data Analytics. Also, learn about some of the use cases for IoE and big data in the article: The Internet of Everything and the Data for the Connected Enterprise.

What kinds of changes do you think big data will bring to your information architecture?