Big data market will get bigger - IDC

Market to expand by almost a third until 2016, says analyst

The big data market is set to swell at seven times the rate of the overall ICT market over the coming years, according to IDC.

The market watcher expects the technology and services market for big data to swell by 31.7 per cent a year until 2016, when it will hit $23.8bn (£14.9bn).

According to IDC, big data incorporates technology and services from a wide range of existing and new market segments.

The growth of individual segments will vary from 21.1 per cent for services to 53.4 per cent for storage, which will benefit from its dual use in big data environments, the analyst said.

IDC's report also highlights the skills shortages facing the big data industry as end users struggle to keep pace. This will drive a growing number of buyers towards cloud solutions and appliances, it said.

That backs up recent research from Gartner which found that, while big data demand will reach 4.4 million jobs globally by 2015, only one in three of those positions will be filled.

HP today became the latest vendor to pitch in to help as it unveiled a Big Data Solutions Certification programme aimed at bringing both end users and channel partners up to speed on its Vertica analytics platform.

Byron Berk, manager of services and training at HP Vertica, said: "Our partners and customers are eager to complete a formal certification process that establishes their qualifications as big data experts.

"By offering the new HP Vertica Big Data Solutions certification, we are empowering organisations to combine the power of the industry-leading HP Vertica Analytics platform with the advanced analytics skills of their IT professionals."