IBM unveils InfoSphere BigInsights platform for big data analysis

IBM has released the InfoSphere BigInsights platform for its SmartCloud Enterprise cloud service in an effort to enter the big data analysis market.

The cloud platform allows enterprises to build and manage archives for unstructured information such as media files and social networking data, and to study customer feedback and supplement traditional databasing analysis tools.

IBM said that its big data cloud service offers rapid deployment options without the need for extensive knowledge of the Hadoop platform.

The company is offering InfoSphere BigInsights in free and paid editions. The basic service allows customers to test the system through the use of sample analytics tools and platforms. The paid offering then allows companies to configure and deploy Hadoop clusters as well as a sandbox for developing new programs.

David Barnes, IBM's programme director for emerging technologies, told V3 that InfoSphere BigInsights is part of an effort to introduce customers to big data while addressing what the company sees as a shortfall in qualified developers for Hadoop and other big data platforms.

"For a lot of customers it is going to be getting your feet wet with structured and unstructured data," he said. "Historically, Hadoop has not been an easy thing to use but it is still extremely powerful."

IBM also offers tools to help developers and administrators hone their skills on the Hadoop platform via the BigData University site, which includes free and paid courses as well as tutorial videos and training exercises on big data platforms.