September 9

IDC’s regular analysis of our digital world has a new update that factors in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and forecasts continued growth in the global ‘DataSphere’. We’re breaking down some of the key insights here for you.

Measuring A Digital World Shaped By Data

IDC’s Global DataSphere report has been an analysis for the last number of years that focuses on measuring the amount of data created and consumed in the world. The DataSphere lives in three main locations identified by the IDC: core – mainly datacenters, edge – infrastructure and enterprise storage areas, and endpoints – PCs, portable devices and appliances. While we are all generally aware that a lot of data is being created (latest figure says more in last 3 years than previous 30 years put together), how we are using that data in our business and data lives and what ratio creation and consumption make up is changing according to the latest incarnation of the IDC study. Measurements give insight into market trends but also how our digital world is continually being shaped by data.

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The findings of the IDC DataSphere report show an accelerated growth forecast and a shifting landscape impacted by COVID-19. The report maintains predictions established in 2018 that growth will lead to global data reaching a whopping 175 zettabytes (ZB) by 2025. The climbing amount of data is accelerating though. We are now on track to create and consume 59 ZB this year which means the total storage base is doubling every four years! We will be creating “more than three times the data over the next five years than (we) did in the previous five”. So the COVID pandemic has not slowed the amount of data growth but its impact can be seen in the data’s makeup. Our consumption and usage habits are shifting and that is changing the types of data involved. The accelerated boom has been helped by larger amounts of video data being produced and consumed. A sharp rise in employees working from home and communications moving online being obvious contributing factors but not forgetting the regularly increasing amount of entertainment video on the consumer end. Another source of shift is continued data growth from devices with sensors in them – often referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT). Devices installed and connected with IoT technologies are estimated to have reached 26 billion in 2019. The number of sensors collecting data may soon surpass all other types of data according to the IDC forecast. A digital landscape comprised of a pandemic-impacted makeup of created, consumed, and sensed data in a trendline showing accelerated growth.

Making the engine of the digital economy run smoothly

These insights are interesting as we gauge the continuing growth and presence of the data in our digital world. The IDC report aims to offer intelligence that can aid in making the DataSphere part of productive business. Working to restore data availability and accessibility when it gets lost is of course our role here at CBL. Having recovery processes in place and planning to maintain business continuity as best possible. The report serves as a reminder of the importance of taking steps to manage the constantly growing influx of data. It is increasingly difficult to harness the power of any available big data insights if the chaos isn’t organized. Data is the raw material that becomes the fuel that powers the engine of the digital economy. As we move through an ever-changing landscape impacted by a pandemic and evolving use of technology making the engine run smoothly should always be a priority.

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Category: business

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