Meta: While big data brings with it many challenges and requires expertise to manage it, the potential it offers cybersecurity cannot be underestimated.

Big data offers a lot of benefits when it comes to cybersecurity, despite the challenges associated with it. However, what is big data, and how can it help protect businesses against cyber crimes?
 

What is big data, and how does it apply to your business?

Big data is defined by the three Vs - variety, volume and velocity. The term is used to describe a very large dataset that is generally unstructured and low density. It's received at a fast rate and can be acted upon almost as quickly. What's included in this dataset is a mixture of data types, including but not limited to, text, video, and audio.

Data allows you to connect ideas and information to gain insights for your business to use.

Perhaps what makes big data important for most companies are the next two Vs that are beginning to be associated with the term - value and voracity. As almost anyone knows, the insight the right data can give is highly beneficial and can add a lot to a business. However, for this, the information needs to be accurate.
 

The challenges of big data

Volume, one of the three main Vs, is part of what makes big data so difficult. Storage is a problem many organisations face with it, and processing it is another. Analysing the information it provides and organising it into something useful takes time, and also requires experts to do it. The amount of potentially valuable data available can also make it a target for cyber threats.
 

Why big data is a cybersecurity saviour

Pull Quote: The information within big data on malware and cyber attacks can improve cybersecurity solutions.

Despite the added risk that it brings with it, big data can offer a lot to cybersecurity. The data patterns and information available within these sets help improve cybersecurity solutions. With the volumes of information gathered on different malware, cyber protection systems are moving from response only into proactive defence. Not only do the programs get trained to recognise known attacks, but big data allows them to see the patterns involved leading up to one, even if it's not an offensive that it's seen before.

Having such large datasets available for analysis also gives cybersecurity professionals the ability to respond in real time. Instead of needing to wait until enough data is gathered to see the connections, organisations with access to big data can pull the information together immediately. This allows them to respond instantly and with the right intelligence to make the correct decisions. While cybersecurity incidence response is still a growing area for big data, it has the potential to make waves.

If you'd like to know more about the benefits big data can bring to your digital business, contact us at FinXL.