Prediction #4: – Specialized infrastructure will continue to evolve – One of the great appeals of big data using Hadoop is the potential to utilize commodity hardware to scale out massive data repositories. My prediction is that we will see more innovation on this front, with hardware makers and platforms like CenturyLink Cloud offering infrastructure that is purpose-built for big data in the cloud. As data velocity increases, the networks connecting big data platforms will leverage pervasive network performance and intelligence tools, such as those offered by cPacket Networks. The goal will be to enable the integration of real-time traffic data from multiple points on the network, with advanced predictive analytics that can greatly enhance security and operational integrity.