Big Data: Challenges, Techniques, and Future Directions

Abstract Big Data refers to wide-ranging technologies that allow businesses of all kinds to analyze large amounts of structured/unstructured data. Due to rapid changes in how we conduct business (use of digital platforms, IoT devices, social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram), and cloud computing), there has been a significant increase in the amount of data generated Big Data technologies enable people in all types of enterprises (businesses, government agencies, and researchers) to extract (gather) the useful information from their large volumes of data to enhance decision-making processes and efficient operations. At the same time, using Big Data has also introduced many challenges, including data storage challenges; data security; processing speed; and scalability. This research paper includes information regarding Basic concepts of Big Data, basic characteristics of Big Data; major challenges to implementing Big Data; currently popular methodology/techniques for implementing Big Data; and future areas of research relating to Big Data.Furthermore, this research paper will offer an overview of the possibility that can be realized by utilizing new technologies, such as AI; Edge Computing; and Quantum Computing to increase the ability to process large quantities of data.