An interesting perspective on big data and Hadoop from a Microsoft VP in Microsoft: Hadoop ‘Cornerstone’ Of Big Data’s Future

“Microsoft is here [Hadoop Summit 2013] because we’re in this partnership with Hortonworks, with the community, deeply involved to help get Hadoop out, literally, to a billion users,” Clark said.

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This is the real democratization of “big data”, i.e., big data for the masses.

About 5 years back, cloud computing was the best thing since sliced bread. Numerous books were written about what it is and how it will revolutionize everything. Really?
Move ahead few years, and we have a new kid on the block (or a shiny toy) called “big data”. Few books are already out on big data and how our lives would change forever. Maybe?
The search trends for “cloud computing” and “big data” indicate how cloud computing has lost is lustre, and “big data” is taking up the mindshare of boardrooms and data scientists alike.
Maybe there is a simple lesson for peddlers of the next IT revolution. Focus on talking less about what it is and what it can do, and more on creating measurable value for enterprises, i.e., positive impact on enterprises.
Maybe there is a more important lesson for buyers of “big data”. If your organization currently does not leverage existing data, ignore the IT peddlers, and instead focus on creating value from existing information assets – small, medium or big data. Once you have the organizational mindset, culture, and talent to act on insights and foresights from currently available data, even if they are in separate functional silos, then venture out into the world of “big data” in small steps.