Tony Baer, Principal Analyst, Software – Enterprise Solutions

Few topics have lately drawn more hype and scrutiny than Big Data. Having originated with Internet firms, Big Data has captured enterprise attention with examples that show how organizations, from public sector to financial services firms, telcos, and media derived insights that improved customer retention, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation.

Big Data has drawn media attention with examples that touch people’s lives, such as the massive data hunt that occurred in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing. Yet few technology trends have also drawn so many myths – such as that Big Data is a special project that can only be undertaken by uniquely skilled professionals, requiring its own dedicated infrastructure.

Although that was the model for early Big Data projects among Internet firms, that model is not sustainable for the enterprise. To hit the enterprise mainstream, Big Data must become a …