Chapter 8.2

Big Data/Existing System Interface

Abstract

Data architecture began with simple storage devices. But soon, the need to store lots of
data and to access the data quickly caused these early devices to disappear. In its place
came disk storage. With disk storage data could be accessed directly. But the need for
managing volumes of data surpassed that of disk storage. One day, there appeared big
data. And with big data came the ability to store effectively unlimited amounts of data.
But as big data grew, the older day-to-day systems did not go away. There began to be a
need for a rational way to interface legacy systems to big data.

Keywords

Storage device; Paper tape; Punched cards; Disk storage direct access of data; Big data;
Interfacing corporate data and big data

One of the challenges of information systems is determining how they all fit together. In
particular, how does big data fit with the existing system environment? There is no
question that big data brings new opportunities for information and decision-making to
the organization. And there is no question that big data has great promise. But big data is
not a replacement for the existing system environment. In fact, big data accomplishes one
task, and the existing system environment accomplishes another task. They are (or should
be!) complementary to each other.

So exactly, how does big data need to interface with and interact with the existing system
environment?

The Big Data/Existing Systems Interface

Fig. 8.2.1 shows the recommended way in which big data and existing systems interface
with each other.

Chapter 8.2: Big Data/Existing System Interface