Forrester: Big Data Processing Will Go Cloud-Based in 2011

Forrester compiled and published a report, "The 10 Most Important Cloud Predictions for I&O Leaders." The report predicts that 2011 will be the year of the convergence of cloud computing and big data processing.

Experts believe that business analytics tools will increasingly become cloud-based, and CIOs should be prepared for this.

The development trends of cloud technologies and big data processing technologies largely overlap. The report's authors believe that solutions such as Amazon Elastic MapReduce, Splunk, and GoodData can be used to create enterprise business intelligence systems. Cloud systems are simple and offer the same capabilities as modern analytics systems, but at a lower cost.

In the report, experts advise IT directors to actively promote business analytics solutions within their companies.

Forrester also recommends considering commercial opportunities for using data from business intelligence systems by offering paid access to other companies. IT departments can also assist in creating "cloud self-service portals" for accessing this data.

The remaining expert advice presented in this report addresses service delivery models, standards, and security.