Oracle’s wants to eliminate data silos with Big Data SQL

Oracle is hoping to turn heads in the crowded data analysis market with Big Data SQL, a software tool that can run a single SQL query against Oracle’s own database as well as Hadoop and NoSQL data stores. The software is an option for Oracle’s Big Data Appliance, which incorporates Cloudera’s Hadoop distribution, said Neil Mendelson, vice president of product development, big data and analytics. There’s a lot of experimentation going on in enterprises around so-called big data, but certain factors are impeding customers from moving these projects into production mode, namely a lack of integration between Hadoop and other systems, difficulty obtaining the right talent and concerns about security, Mendelson said.

Hadoop continues to operate as a looming influence in the world of big data, and that holds true with the unveiling of the next step in Oracle’s big data roadmap. The Redwood Shores, Calif.-headquartered corporation introduced Oracle Big Data SQL, SQL-based software streamlining data running between the Oracle Database with NoSQL and Hadoop frameworks. The approach is touted to minimize data movement, which could translate to faster performance rates for crunching numbers while also reducing security risks while in transit. Big Data SQL promises to be able to query any and all kinds of structured and unstructured data. Oracle Database’s security and encryption features can also be blanketed over Hadoop and NoSQL data. Beyond extending enterprise governance credit, Oracle connected plenty of dots within its portfolio as well. Big Data SQL runs on Oracle’s Big Data Appliance and is set up to play well with the tech titan’s flagship Exadata database machine. The Big Data SQL engine also borrowed other familiar portfolio elements such as Smart Scan technology for local data queries from Exadata. The Big Data Appliance itself was built on top of Oracle’s cloud distribution, which has been in the works for the last three years.