Big Data represents a very substantial and fast-growing opportunity. In order to truly reap the sizeable predicted benefits of Big Data, best practices must be established and shared, with data standards and information management standards playing a key role.

While Big Data is perhaps not an entirely new concept, it is certainly a hot topic of the modern, digital era. However, it is an evolving concept, and any standards created must take into account that what is classed as ‘Big Data’ today is likely to change rapidly over the next few years (and may even cease to be called ‘Big Data’).

Standards must therefore look beyond the ‘here and now’ of how Big Data is currently being used and instead seek to establish frameworks for dealing with data sets that represent a significant logistical challenge.

What are the challenges to embracing Big Data?

The true power of Big Data does not lie in gradual improvements in efficiency, but rather in changing the approach of entire organizations to become data-driven.

Data-driven approaches can revolutionize internal strategy and future planning, through optimizing efficiencies in logistics, to delivering a truly personalized experience to the customer. However, there are three main challenges that might be preventing businesses from capitalizing on these Big Data opportunities:

• Technical Challenges - at the heart of many organizations are decades-old ICT systems. Often cumbersome, disjointed, and inflexible, these ICT systems present a very tangible barrier to growth in Big Data usage. This is particularly a challenge when it comes to creating single, holistic data sources, as migrating data from one system to another is far from straightforward. For many organizations, investment in Big Data will need to be accompanied by investment in IT systems and will almost certainly involve the usage of cloud technology.

• Cultural Challenges – a lack of strategic leadership on Big Data is a serious challenge for many organizations. Without a strategic imperative at the highest level within businesses to ask the right questions, little will be truly achieved. Businesses must adopt a different attitude towards data; rather than seeing data sources as pieces of property that are owned by individual functions within the business, they must instead consider data as a single and unifying company resource. This requires cooperation and collaboration between all functions within the organization – something that isn’t always easy but is vital for becoming a data-driven organization.

• Perceptual Challenges - whilst some data is ‘un-sensitive’ – few people for example would be concerned about what is done with data regarding rainfall in London – much of the data involved in Big Data analytics includes at least an element of sensitive and often personal information. As such, customers and the public are vital stakeholders in Big Data initiatives. It is a cliché that as humans we are scared of things we don’t understand; however, it is also often true – not least when it comes to Big Data. As a result, in many cases, the public harbours serious concerns about Big Data usage.

To read more on the topic of managing data privacy, click here.

Key Standards that support Big Data

BSI wants to take a lead on Big Data standards.

By engaging the market, collaboratively developing standards content, and promoting best practices, it aims to provide businesses with the help they need in order to flourish. There is great potential for standards to help advance business success and market growth in Big Data, particularly in three areas:

• Best practice for ensuring quality in, and responsible use of, metadata.

• Best practice guidance for how to communicate Big Data activities.

• A ‘how to’ guide for any business considering embarking on a Big Data initiative.

Whilst standards for these areas continue to be developed, for example, BS ISO/IEC 27045 Information technology, the standard for Big Data security and privacy is currently in its draft stage, there are existing standards that your organization can adopt to manage and protect your companies’ data. These will give your business credibility and increase trust with your consumers. These standards are as follows;

• Data protection and privacy standards

BS 10012:27017+A1 (Specification for a personal information management system), BS ISO/IEC 29100 (Privacy framework), BS ISO/IEC 29101 (Privacy architecture framework), and BS EN ISO/IEC 27701 (Privacy information management systems).

• Data protection standards, including Personally Identifiable Information

BS ISO/IEC 29134 (Guidelines for privacy impact assessment), BS ISO/IEC 29184 (Online privacy notices and consent).

BS ISO/IEC 29151 (Code of practice for personally identifiable information (PII) protection), BS ISO/IEC 27018 (Code of practice for protection of PII in public clouds acting as PII Processors), and BS ISO/IEC CD 27555.2 (Guidelines on PII deletion).

• Privacy techniques standards

BS 10010 (Information classification, marking and handling), and BS ISO/IEC 20889 (Privacy-enhancing data de-identification terminology and classification of techniques).

Prepare your organization for the Big Data future, by adding these information management standards to your collection today.

Discover BSI Knowledge

As uses for big data continue to advance rapidly, accessing the standards your business needs to adapt to these emerging processes does not have to be complicated and time-consuming. Our tailored BSI Knowledge subscription service provides flexibility, access, visibility, and control over the standards and insights your team needs to get the most from your data opportunities. Request to learn more about how a BSI Knowledge subscription can help your business.