In today’s digital age, the amount of data being generated is growing exponentially. This data, known as Big Data, presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses. To effectively manage and analyze this vast amount of data, a well-designed architecture is crucial. In this blog post, we will explore the basics of Big Data architecture and its importance in SQL Server.

The Big Data Cycle

Similar to other database applications, Big Data projects follow a development cycle. This cycle involves data capturing, transforming, integrating, analyzing, and building actionable reporting on top of the data. However, due to the nature of Big Data, the architecture is often different from traditional databases.

Before diving into the architecture, it is important to ask some key questions:

• How big is your total database?
• What is your requirement for reporting in terms of time?
• How important is data availability and what is the plan for disaster recovery?
• What are the plans for network and physical security of the data?
• What platform will be the driving force behind the data?

These questions help in determining the specific requirements and considerations for the Big Data architecture.

Building Blocks of Big Data Architecture

Designing the most optimal architecture for a Big Data solution is a complex task. However, we can discuss the basic building blocks of Big Data architecture:

1. Data Sources: Big Data architecture involves various data sources, including relational and non-relational data marts and data warehousing solutions.

2. Extract, Transform, and Integrate: These layers are essential for processing and integrating the different types of data in Big Data architecture.

3. Reports and Visualizations: The processed data is converted into meaningful reports and visualizations for end users.

4. Hardware Infrastructure: In Big Data architecture, hardware infrastructure plays a crucial role. Redundant physical infrastructure and failure over instances are implemented to ensure data availability.

5. NoSQL in Data Management: NoSQL, which stands for Not Only SQL, is a technology used in Big Data architecture to handle various types of data, including unstructured and relational data.

Conclusion

Big Data architecture is a critical component in effectively managing and analyzing large volumes of data. By understanding the basics of Big Data architecture and considering the specific requirements of your business, you can design a robust and scalable solution using SQL Server.

Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we will explore the buzzword “Hadoop” and its role in Big Data architecture.