As far as giant ‘technological leaps forward’ are concerned, you’re going to hard-pressed to find one as significant as the emergence of Big Data.  The truth is, Big Data has a myriad of uses or applications which it can support; including everything from predictive analysis of trends to the future of health care and even law enforcement.  In short, we’re standing on the edge of a new frontier, and past this boundary it’s possible that Big Data will be a featured component in most endeavors from this point on.

Why is Big Data so important you ask?  It’s not that Big Data is “important”, per se, its growing significance is more of a response to the increasing accumulation or build-up of information itself.  In other words, Big Data is (or was) an eventuality in many ways; something that was bound to be created by virtue of the fact that individuals, computers, servers and networks have become more “connected”.  Also, once it was discovered that collected information had specific value, the drive or need to capture more became somewhat obvious.  To put it another way, once a few people discovered that the “cow” (Big Data) was producing “milk” (value added through analysis, etc.), everyone wanted a “taste”, so to speak.

Similarly, the emergence of systems capable of moving and storing chunks of so-called “Big Data”, were created out of basic necessity.  It’s just like the old saying goes, “necessity is the mother of all invention”, and the entire field of Big Data was essentially birthed because of the natural aggregation of information which we all involuntarily contributed to.   In this way, Big Data is both a problem as well as a solution – a potential source of revenue and an expression of certain technological limitations which must be overcome.

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Most people are genuinely pro-Big Data, given its many potential beneficial uses, for example.  However, when one brings up the notion that Big Data might be used to help “Big Brother” to eliminate all traces of personal freedom and informational privacy, well, you’ll see more than a few people ready to speak out.  It would be foolish to assume that such a technology will never be used for nefarious or selfish reasons; certainly some government might decide to use it to help centralize their power and authority at some point in the future.  However, it’s also irrational to run away from the technology out of fear.  Simply put, Big Data is here to stay because it offers a potential for growth and helps society deal with a potentially catastrophic “information overload”-type scenario.

Perhaps the best approach to ensuring that Big Data remains firmly planted on the side of sovereignty and freedom is to educate ourselves (and others) about it.  For instance, if more people were to become aware of how Big Data is being used, it could alter their informational habits and perhaps make them become slightly more “reserved” (with regards to how much information they share).

Naturally, those who are unaware or indifferent to Big Data and mass information accumulation won’t change their behavior in the slightest; we already see this type of thought process existing in all levels of society.  The point is, no one is putting forth any effort to hide the potential long-term effects of Big Data; clearly, it could be used by the greedy for whatever purpose.  But one has to ask oneself an important question at some point, how is this situation any different from anything else in life?  There are always going to be individuals who seek to take forms of technology and use them in an almost criminal way to either extract wealth or exercise control, right?

Since there are in fact many people who are open and aware to the possibility of Big Data being used in a negative manner, it’s entirely logical to assume that such actions can be prevented over the long-term.  In other words, it’s up to the Big Data “naysayer” to act as a watchdog and remain vigilant.  Once again, it would seem that the appropriate course of action would be to educate as many people as possible (the IT crowd in particular) about all facets of Big Data, inside and out.  Likewise, education and training in Big Data should also be explored at the level of the general population, if only in a passing manner.

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Given the fact that Big Data is really the result of the combined activities, records and information of billions of human beings, you can clearly see that it’s simply the product of interaction, an eventuality of sorts.  We’re actually quite lucky that we’ve found a way to extract further value from Big Data; just imagine the bleak prospect of hordes of data endlessly accumulating with no purpose or function, that’s the alternative.  In the midst of this struggle against a quickening buildup of information, the notion that we might be able to create additional economic growth is actually very comforting.  After all, if there were no uses for Big Data, wouldn’t it be the technological equivalent of a black hole?

Additionally, retaining personal privacy will likely become a hot topic as the use of Big Data increases.  As soon as someone discovers that you can add extra value to the sale of products or service (based on their ability to protect personal privacy), a new segment will emerge to service those customers.  In other words, when Big Data is everywhere and privacy becomes suspect, businesses will jump at the chance to offer more privacy options to their customers, especially if there’s a profit to be made in the process.

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By now, most of you out there (especially those who are business owners or managers) should be clearly aware of the effect that technology has on any profit-driven operation.  The growth potential of certain technologies affects not only the outwardly perceived services that a business provides to its customers, but also those provided internally to employees.  Growth in terms of technological capability isn’t something that can really be avoided.  The simple fact of the matter is that new developments are always taking place and if you’re not adopting these capabilities then it might be hard to keep up with the competition.  But the real question is, why would any business actively rail against keeping their technological know-how up-to-date?  Likewise, why would some organizations feel that keeping their services organized is of low priority or of minor concern?

Perhaps a more fitting analysis would be that most businesses simply don’t realize that their service catalog needs to be managed in the same way that other areas are supervised?   As one might expect, it’s impossible to verify that an IT operation is sound, under most circumstances, if there are “rogue elements” within the system that are unmanaged or not fully labeled / organized.  Likewise, if the goal is to take an inventory of all available IT assets and ensure compatibility across the board when multiple services are tapped, it’s going to be a much more difficult task if there is a lack of order present.  This is especially true when it is critical for certain individuals or groups to have access to certain services while others might not (perhaps for security reasons).

In a nutshell, this is what service catalog management is all about; keeping available and active assets / services organized so that they can function independently and as part of an interrelated infrastructure.  Needless to say, once you start adding multiple services to your IT roster it quickly becomes apparent that some form of managerial approach is needed in order to simply provide basic access (over any length of time).  Also, maintaining the functionality of these services depends on the ability of the IT workers to understand how the system is set up and how users are accessing specific services.

But just what is a service catalog anyway (you might be wondering)?  Basically, a service catalog is a facet of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) that seeks to provide a reference containing all the active services an organization offers.  As previously stated, a service catalog may also pertain to those services which are used by either customer or employee.

For each service listed in a catalog, the following information is presented:

• An explanation of the service and/or it’s capabilities
• An outline of the service level agreement and/or any related timeframes dictating restrictions on said service
• Access protocols (who has admittance to use the service)
• Expenses
• How to use or execute the service

From an outward perspective, this information helps those who actually use these services to quickly grasp their basic capabilities and quickly determine if they have access to them or not.  Let’s imagine that we have two companies; company A and company B.  Both organizations happen to have an extensive number of services available to their customers; additionally, both tend to get a lot of daily site visitors / users.  In this example, company A has a perfectly managed service catalog in place while company B neglected to create one.  Because of the service catalog, many of company A’s users were able to determine what each service does and if they can access it.  The same couldn’t be said of company b however, their users flooded the organization’s call center and customer service department with thousands of calls, complaints, concerns and questions.  In other words, because company B neglected to consider service catalog management, they inadvertently jeopardized another one of their departments as well as the integrity of their IT infrastructure.

The previous case in point is of course just one example of how service catalogs help to ensure a smooth IT operation.  More recently, service catalog management has become very vital in the world of Cloud Computing.  In fact, service catalogs are now used during the building stages of private cloud construction to let users define their own services instead of having to rely on the vendor.  Generally speaking, service options might be split up into various categories, like inherent latency, costs, as well as performance.  In this way, service catalogs can be used with cloud computing infrastructure options to present users with self-service portals that let them build their own clouds.  So you might say that service catalog management for the cloud helps to establish sets of automatically deployable options that are clearly defined.

In summation, service catalog management is able to help ensure efficient and organized IT operation both internally and externally, with employees and customers alike.  Armed with a definitive list of services an organization can better serve their consumer base and maintain order (both short and long-term) with regards to their available IT assets.  Conversely, businesses that completely neglect service catalog management are actually opening themselves up to additional problems and decreasing the overall efficiency and usefulness of their IT resources.

We live in a world that it hungry for software.  Whether it’s corporations developing specific types of software to help manage its internal operations, or dedicated developers who are producing specific products to send to the market, software testing is critical and in demand.  It used to be that even a basic series of tests might require a significant investment in terms of additional infrastructure.  Now, thanks to cloud testing, virtually any sized company can now conduct the various tests required to ensure that their software is stable and effective.

But before we get into the exact reasons why cloud testing is likely to make a huge impact on all types of software development, let’s break it down.  First off, the basic purpose of cloud testing is to ensure the integrity of load balancers, firewalls and even the hardware running everything.    Specifically, there are normally 7 types of tests that are carried out:

Stress test
Using the scalability of the cloud as a substitute for real traffic, the software or system is flooded in an effort to push it to, near, or beyond the breaking point.  This allows one to accurately gauge the basic limitations of what you’re testing.

Load Test
A Load Test can help to accurately determine what the subject is capable of dealing with and responding to.  This also allows one to work on enhancing overall performance.

Performance Test
During a performance test various types of workloads might be simulated.  The end goal is to identify quantifiable values like thresholds, bottle-necking points, etc…Armed with this critical knowledge it is possible to set up contingencies to alter the responses to certain types of traffic (given certain conditions).

Functional Testing
In short, functional testing is carried out in order to ensure compatibility with host environments as well as the reactions across a large set of standard system requirements.

Compatibility Testing
While similar to functional testing, compatibility testing deals with operating systems and their measured responses to newly created software.

Browser Performance Testing
Browser performance testing is a common type of test that’s usually applied to applications destined for use in or with the most popular browsers and browser-based OS’s.

Latency Testing
Latency testing is used to determine the delay present (if any) between initiating an action and getting a result from an application.

So, the question remains, why would a software developer want to seek out cloud-based testing exactly?  Simply put, budgetary constraints often make it impossible for certain companies to carry out their required tests.  Up until cloud-based testing emerged, a great deal of money, time and effort was often placed in ensuring the functionality of software in development.  Likewise, creating a better product often meant developing a better testing framework!  In other words, a software developer would have to create a testing framework that’s as (or more) impressive than the product that they’re working on.  Needless to say, it’s usually better to leave certain types of development projects to the specialists in that particular field.  For example, if a software development company spends most of their time, money, and energy on creating testing frameworks, they’re probably not working on software (which is their true goal and purpose).

Thanks to cloud testing, software developers can simply elect to sign up for an on-demand cloud-based service.  This not only helps them keep testing costs low, it also affords the knowledge and experience of the testing service providers, not to mention the use of their equipment and infrastructure.  Additionally, while most of those seeking out cloud testing tend to be cloud subscribers as opposed to owners (public vs. private clouds) it’s worth mentioning that cloud testing is suitable for either camp.

However, these are all largely economic reasons.  The truth is, cloud testing is a step up from traditional methods because it is able to combine both the accumulated knowledge of specialists in the testing field as well as the power and efficiency of cloud computing itself.  Moreover, cloud testing just makes sense; after all, we’re talking about drastically improving the quality of developed software while at the same time trimming the costs which are traditionally associated with testing as a whole.

Also, for those that might be worried about granting access to either your system or software to complete strangers – it is possible to conduct thorough tests while at the same time limiting access to critical components.  For example, if you’re hiring contract workers to perform certain duties with regards to testing, they will not be able to automatically gain access to your company’s infrastructure or information without having been previously authorized.  In other words, there is little to worry about when it comes to security concerns in the midst of a big software testing operation.

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It is said that “knowledge is power”; certainly anyone that has been involved in business for any length of time can attest to the truth in that statement.  It is only through accumulated knowledge that organizations are able to expand their sphere of influence and profit from emerging opportunities.  Moreover, in order to actually identify an opportunity, experience is often required.  In other words, knowledge and experience are among any business’ most valuable assets.

Knowledge Management is essentially a way of approaching business-oriented strategies and practices utilizing the abilities and insights of personnel as tools.  Think of it this way:  if you’re not tapping into the true abilities of your employees, or allowing them to present you with their thoughts, findings and opinions, you’re missing out.  Simply put, individuals that are embedded within certain departments will obviously have a much clearer idea of what’s going on within their unit.  By taking everyone’s ideas and knowledge into consideration, a more comprehensive business strategy will likely emerge.

What makes knowledge management so powerful is that it isn’t tied down to one specific area of an organization.  Every single department in a company should fall under the influence of knowledge management, including IT, business management, production, and even areas like customer service.  For example, if a company is releasing a new product and consumers were voicing technical concerns about it directly to those employed in help desk positions, would it not be beneficial for those customer service specialists to rely this information to those who have the ability to actually fix the problems?  

In the field of knowledge management, there are several different areas of concentration, or focus.  Wikipedia defines them as follows:

• Techno-centric – focuses on technology, ideally those that enhance knowledge sharing and creation.
• Organizational – focuses on how an organization can be designed to facilitate knowledge processes best.
• Ecological – focuses on the interaction of people, identity, knowledge, and environmental factors as a complex adaptive system akin to a natural ecosystem.

By taking each of these areas into consideration, both individually and grouped as a whole, you can develop a more complete approach to knowledge management that takes nearly every facet of your organization into account.  You might even say that this is crucial, as technology is reliant on how human beings use it within their organized social structures.  Likewise, it’s critical that it be determined how a business functions from an ecological point-of-view, because that will tell you how accumulated knowledge is actually being used.

However, perhaps the most practical and valuable use of knowledge management exists within the IT sector.  There are so many individual elements associated with running a massive IT operation that it’s almost impossible to keep track of everything that’s going on.  IT managers have to rely on the abilities of their subordinates to ensure that the many minor, yet routine problems that are encountered are dealt with.  Likewise, whenever an issue comes to light (as is usually the case), logs are supposed to be created which detail what the problem was and how it was resolved.  This allows the entire IT department to gain an immediate insight into any perceived weaknesses in the infrastructure (also, it contributes directly to knowledge management).  In such cases, a person who is charged with knowledge management would likely take all of the recorded issues encountered within a period of time and begin formulating new strategies, enacting changes to policy, or even upgrading / purchasing new hardware.

Even though knowledge management in IT is going to primarily deal with specific technical issues, the end goal is to help create additional business value for the entire organization.  This is where things get sort of ‘tricky’ and targeted training might need to be considered or advised.  Often times, certain individuals’ opinions or observations within the IT sphere aren’t given ample consideration.  More often than not, this leads to situations where the best “fix” isn’t offered; which in turn means that different people within the same department could be working on solutions for the same problem!  This type of predicament demonstrates how time and energy can be wasted; furthermore, such inefficiencies also prevent other problems from being addressed in a timely manner.  By the same token, business-minded people tend to label such wastes as potential profit losses.

One could also argue that a lack of an organized approach to knowledge management also implies that certain opportunities are being lost or overlooked.   By taking all the accumulated knowledge and considerations of every single department into account, one often discovers that there are certain “profitable combinations” of processes or services that can be created.  There’s often very little intercommunication taking place across different areas of the corporate structure, so you can’t simply leave it to individuals that are completely shut off or “compartmentalized” to “connect the dots” and bring these new ideas and concepts to light.  In reality, knowledge management is best tool for forging these connections and successfully executing business-oriented objectives.

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When reading about or discussing the topic of analytics you tend to hear some people refer to the term ‘web analytics’ as if it were the same thing as ‘social analytics’.  Yes, it’s true that they’re largely based on the same technologies and information gathering techniques; likewise, they’re also very similar.  However, web analytics are not exactly the same thing as social analytics.

First off, let’s define ‘web analytics’ – it is a process or series of processes which seeks to collect and analyze various forms of data collected from internet users, often without their knowledge.  The purpose of web analytics is simple; it let’s organizations determine or outline the nature of web traffic for various purposes like marketing or ensuring the integrity of one’s IT operation.  In short, web analytics can be used to both bolster the technical proficiency, the capabilities, or security of a site (or sites) as well as figure out better ways to attract new types of traffic.

Social analytics is really just one facet of web analytics; specifically, it is using web analytics to determine how users interface with a specific organization.  So, just to clarify; web analytics comprises two ways of utilizing gathered information for benefit – ensuring overall functionality as well as gathering business intelligence.  Naturally, social analytics falls into the latter category because it is primarily concerned with outlining how users interface with an organization’s online assets, specifically across social media platforms.  Additionally, social analytics might also include a breakdown of specific instances of how certain activities might be spread through social media.  In other words, the idea is to perhaps measure the effects across a wider spectrum of sources that interface with certain assets of a company or organization.  Conversely, web analytics tends to apply only to site-specific resources and data (however it can extend to include social media analytics as well, if need be).

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So basically, social analytics is merely an individual component of the larger classification which is known as web analytics.  Despite this, social analytics has become very important to a great number of businesses.  By analyzing trends, search terms, and more specific user data like age groups, browsing schedules, and even what types of hardware / software are in use, companies can often pinpoint certain ways to increase their appeal.  For instance, if a business learns through analysis of social analytics data that many of their site visitors are also big fans of a particular sports franchise they might seek to forge a promotional deal with them.  In essence, this would allow the company to appeal to them on multiple levels simultaneously, which statistically tends to increase overall sales figures.

Moreover, the great thing about social analytics is that nearly anyone can learn to use them; in fact, there are some great services out there like Google Analytics which are completely free to use.  Likewise, businesses of all shapes and sizes rely on Google Analytics for their web analytics data.  While Google’s analytics service features many separate components, each of which goes into great depth in terms of analysis, it should be noted that their social reports resource is particularly useful.  This allows you to easily track all of the activities occurring across multiple social media platforms all from one simple, easy-to-read interface.

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Those businesses that want to truly take advantage of the insight gained from web and social analytics should strongly consider complete certification in web analytics.  If your company or small business is about to hire new IT personnel, it might be a good idea to make sure that they have some basic experience with web analytics.  On the other hand, professional development studies in web analytics is actually quite cheap, so perhaps it would be better to simply require a portion of one’s IT force to complete a training program.

If your organization has neglected to start its own web analytics program you should make an effort to do so ASAP.  Simply put, any group should be able to use gathered data to not only increase its total site traffic, but also amplify user interaction and perhaps even directly bolster sales / profits.  By undermining or avoiding web analytics, you are essentially disregarding a very clear opportunity to connect with what many might call your true audience or consumer base.  Alternatively, if you’re not interested in a fully-fledged web analytics suite containing all the bells and whistles, you should at the very least consider a social analytics platform like Kontagent.  It is primarily devoted toward analyzing your connected social media network in order to identify specific metrics which will enable you to expand your influence.