The Coolest Big Data System And Platform Vendors Of The 2019 Big Data 100

April 30, 2019, 10:13 AM EDT

Part 2 of CRN's 2019 Big Data 100 looks at the companies you need to know that provide big data systems and platforms.

IBM

Top Executive: CEO Ginni Rometty

IBM is a long-time player in the big data arena, from its Cognos business analytics and reporting tool to its advanced Watson AI systems. The company's solutions span a broad range of analytics, data management, data science and AI, and unified data governance and integration.

IBM's products include the Db2 database (including cloud, data warehouse and SQL engine editions), the Informix database, the Netezza data warehouse appliance, the SPSS statistical analysis software and Cognos. IBM InfoSphere Information Server combines data integration, data quality and data governance capabilities.

But Watson is increasingly the core of many of IBM's big data efforts. The Watson Discovery Service, for example, is a suite of APIs that help businesses ingest and analyze big data.

MapR Technologies

Top Executive: CEO John Schroeder

MapR offers the MapR Data Platform, based on MapReduce technology and a high-performance NoSQL database, for big data analytics and AI tasks. The system incorporates a number of analytical and open-source tools including Apache Hadoop, Hbase, Spark, Drill and Hive.

In November MapR debuted the Clarity Program, including a new product release and a free assessment service, in a bid to snag Hortonworks customers worried about the merger with Cloudera.

Micro Focus

Top Executive: CEO Stephen Murdoch

Micro Focus provides a range of enterprise applications and software systems, including DevOps, IT management and security. In big data the company offers software and solutions for information management and predictive analytics.

The company's portfolio includes the Vertica analytical database for real-time analytics, which was acquired from Hewlett Packard Enterprise in 2017. Other products include the Idol cognitive search and discovery tool, the ArcSight Data Platform and ArcSight User Behavior Analytics.

Learn More: Dell EMC | Database and System Software | Cloud Platforms

Rick Whiting

Rick Whiting has been with CRN since 2006 and is currently a feature/special projects editor. Whiting manages a number of CRN’s signature annual editorial projects including Channel Chiefs, Partner Program Guide, Big Data 100, Emerging Vendors, Tech Innovators and Products of the Year. He also covers the Big Data beat for CRN. He can be reached at rwhiting@thechannelcompany.com.