Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) made inroads into harnessing the power of Big Data today with the release of Intel Distribution for Apache Hadoop globally. The offering is hoped to allow businesses analyze Big Data in a secure and user friendly way.
Apache Hadoop is an open source software that allows the analysis of huge amounts of data, distributed on multiple systems. One of the most prominent users of the system is Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB). In 2012, the company announced that its Hadoop data amounted to 100 Petabytes, 1 million gigabytes, and was growing by half a Petabyte per day.
The Intel software is a modification of the open source Hadoop standard. The company’s modification allows users to feel more secure about their data, as it incorporates Intel encryption. One of the problems with big data storage, as we’ve seen again and again, is vulnerability to attack and data theft.
The platform is the fourth announced this week. Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) released a similar platform for the Hadoop system yesterday, as did EMC Corporation (NYSE:EMC). A less well known company, Hortonworks, also released a platform for Hadoop yesterday.
Big Data is the big buzzword in enterprise computing right now and firms looking to take advantage of the growing importance of enterprise services in the information technology world. The market looks like one ripe with opportunity, some firms, like Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) and International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) are ahead because they have more experience in the sphere.
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) is further behind, and is relying on the enterprise sector to revitalize its flagging business. Intel is looking to secure its position in enterprise as a name that businesses trust. The company’s security software, which has been used in enterprise for years, is a major asset, and it’s obviously intent on leveraging it.
Most commentators concentrate on Intel’s consumer, and general hardware, appeal. Despite that the enterprise services sector is a very real, and very big, opportunity for the firm. Today’s release shows that the company is ready to take advantage of that, and use everything at its disposal to get a share in the market.
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) shares have risen by more than 2% in today’s market. So far in 2013, the company’s shares have risen by 0.5%. Investors are optimistic about the company’s increased focus on enterprise, as well as the release of its next generation mobile processors.
