KWASU-CSC 204

Big Data Computing and Security

Department of Computer Science
Kwara State University
Course Outline
• Introduction to Big Data Analytics
• Big Data Ecosystem.
• Big Data Security Analytics Architecture
• Big Data in Cybersecurity
• Application of Big Data in Cybersecurity.
• Big Data for Network Forensics
• Network Forensic process and Application of Big Data
• Analytics for Network Forensics
• Design consideration for Big Data Software Tool
• Dynamic Analytics-Driven Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Exploitation.
• Identification and Attribution of Vulnerability Exploitation
• Vulnerability Assessment Tool, Vulnerability Management
• Secure Management of Cyber Event
• Root Cause Analysis in Cybersecurity
• Data Visualization for Cybersecurity.
• Machine Unlearning: Repairing Learning Model
 UNIT 1:
INTRODUCTION TO BIG DATA
ANALYTICS
What is traditional data?
This refers to structured data that is typically stored in relational databases, easily searchable,
and follows a predefined format. Examples include customer information (name, address, phone
number), financial transactions(sales, purchases), and inventory records(product quantities,
stock levels), sales reports(monthly sales figures, revenue).
Examples of tools used for traditional data processing are: Microsoft excel, oracle, Teradata etc.

What is Big Data?

Big data is a massive and complex dataset that are rapidly generated and transmitted from
various sources. Examples include: social media data, E-Commerce data, financial market data,
streaming services etc.
Characteristics of Big Data
1. Volume: Big Data indicates huge ‘volumes’ of data that is being generated on a
daily basis from various sources like social media platforms, business processes,
machines, networks, human interactions, etc.
2. Velocity: The speed at which data is generated, collected, and processed. e.g
Social media platforms like Twitter process millions of tweets per second.
3. Variety: This simply means different types and format of data e.g Emails, videos,
and images collected from customer interactions.
4. Veracity: This means the accuracy and trustworthiness of the data. Data
collected from social media may contain spam or misinformation.
5. Value: This means the usefulness of the data for decision-making e.g Health
organizations analyze patient data to improve treatment plans, Customer browsing
and purchase history is used to display personalized ads which increases
conversion rates and sales.
Classifications of big data
1. Structured Data: They are organized in a fixed format, typically stored in relational databases (tables with rows
and columns). Examples are:
• Bank transactions (amount, date, account number).
• Employee records in HR databases (name, ID, salary).
• Student grades stored in a school management system.
• Sales data in Excel sheets.
2. Semi-Structured Data: This type of data has some structure but can’t be recorded in a tabular format in
relational databases. Examples are:
• XML(Extensible Markup Language) files for configuration or web services.
• Emails messages
• Log files
3. Unstructured Data: This type of Data has no predefined format or organization,
making it more complex to store and analyze. Examples are:
• Images and Videos
• Audio files
• Social media posts
• Scanned documents
Sources of big data
Big Data comes from a wide variety of sources, both human and machine-generated. The following are the sources
of Big data:
1. Social Media Data
Data generated by users on social platforms. Examples are:
• Facebook posts, likes, comments
• Tweets on Twitter/X
• Instagram images and hashtags
• YouTube video views and comments
• LinkedIn user activity
2. Machine and Sensor Data (IoT)
Data collected from devices, machines, and sensors. Examples are:
• Smart home devices (e.g., thermostats, security cameras)
• Industrial machinery sensors
• GPS data from vehicles
• Health monitors (e.g. Fitbit, Apple Watch)
• Traffic and weather sensors
3. Transactional Data
Generated from financial and commercial transactions.
Examples:
• Online shopping receipts
• Bank deposits and withdrawals
• Credit card payments
• Utility bills
• Hotel or flight bookings
4. Web and Clickstream Data
Captured from user interactions with websites.
Examples:
• Page views
• Clicks and mouse movements
• Search queries
• Time spent on site
• Downloads and form submissions
Differences between Traditional Data and Big Data
Traditional Data Big Data
1. Traditional Data is typically smaller in Big Data is massive and complex
volume
2. Traditional Data is structured Big Data includes structured, semi-structured, and
unstructured data
3. Traditional data comes from internal sources Big Data comes from diverse sources, including social
media, financial market
4. Traditional data is stored in relational Big Data is often stored in NoSQL databases or
databases distributed file systems.
5. Traditional data is typically static Big Data is often dynamic and constantly changing

6. Traditional data is relatively simple to Big Data is complex and requires specialized tools and
process expertise
7. Traditional data provides insights into Big Data can provide real-time insights and predictive
historical trends analytics
What is Big Data Analytics
Big Data Analytics is the process of examining large and complex datasets (big data)
to uncover market trends, customer preferences, and other useful business
insights.
Big Data Analytics:
• Works with huge volumes of data (terabytes to petabytes).
• Can process data in real-time or near real-time.
• Handles structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data (e.g., text, images,
videos, logs, etc.).
• Requires advanced tools and techniques such as machine learning, data mining
etc.
Types of Big Data Analytics
Big Data Analytics is typically categorized into four types:
1. Descriptive Analytics – “What happened?”
• Summarizes past data to understand trends and patterns.
• Example: Monthly sales reports, website traffic dashboards.
2. Diagnostic Analytics – “Why did it happen?”
• Investigates the causes behind certain outcomes.
• Example: Sales dropped last quarter due to low holiday inventory.
3. Predictive Analytics – “What is likely to happen?”
• Uses historical data to forecast future events.
• Example: Predicting customer loss, sales forecasts, or equipment failure.
4. Prescriptive Analytics – “What should we do?”
• Suggests actions based on predictive models.
• Example: Recommending the best marketing strategy or optimal pricing model.
Application of Big Data Analytics
1. Healthcare
Applications:
• Predictive analytics for early disease detection
Example: Hospitals use patient history and real-time vitals to predict heart
attacks.
• Hospital resource management
Example: Emergency departments forecast patient inflow to allocate staff and
beds.
2. Retail & E-commerce
Applications:
• Personalized recommendations
Example: Amazon suggests items based on user browsing and purchase history.
• Dynamic pricing strategies
Example: E-commerce sites adjust prices based on demand and competition.
3. Banking & Finance
Applications:
• Fraud detection
Example: Banks flag suspicious transactions using real-time analytics.
• Credit risk assessment
Example: Lenders analyze financial history and social data to assess loan risk.
4. Transportation & Logistics
Applications:
• Route optimization
Example: Delivery services like FedEx use GPS and traffic data to reduce delays.
• Demand forecasting
Example: Airlines adjust schedules based on seasonal booking trends.
5. Media & Entertainment
Applications:
• Content recommendation
Example: Netflix suggests movies based on user watch history and ratings.
• Audience sentiment analysis
Example: Studios analyze social media to gauge reactions to movie trailers.
6. Government & Public Sector
Applications:
• Crime pattern analysis
Example: Police departments use data to predict high-crime areas.
• Public health surveillance
Example: Governments track disease outbreaks using social media and hospital
reports.
7. Real Estate & Construction
Applications:
• Market trend analysis
Example: Real estate firms predict property value changes using economic data.
• Project risk assessment
Example: Construction companies assess risks based on past project delays and
conditions.
Categories of Big Data Tools
1. Data Storage Tools
These store massive amounts of data in a scalable and fault-tolerant manner.
• Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS)
• Stores data across many machines.
• NoSQL Databases
• Examples: MongoDB (document-based), Cassandra (column-based)
• Suitable for semi-structured/unstructured data.

2. Data Processing Frameworks

These handle the processing and computation of data across distributed systems.
• Apache Hadoop (MapReduce)
• A programming model for processing large datasets in parallel.
• Apache Spark
• In-memory processing, much faster than Hadoop.
• Supports batch, real-time, and machine learning workloads.
3. Data Analytics and Machine Learning Platforms
It is Used to build predictive models and derive insights.
• MLlib (Apache Spark)
• Built-in machine learning library for Spark.
• TensorFlow / PyTorch
• Deep learning frameworks often used on large-scale datasets.

4. Data Visualization Tools

Help present data insights in graphical and interactive formats.
• Tableau
• Popular for interactive dashboards; integrates with big data sources.
• Power BI
• Microsoft’s tool for creating real-time dashboards.
• Apache Superset
• Open-source alternative for data visualization.
5. Cloud-Based Big Data Platforms
Offer on-demand computing power and storage for big data workloads.
• AWS EMR (Elastic MapReduce)
• Managed Hadoop/Spark clusters.
• Google Cloud Dataproc
• Managed big data tools on Google Cloud.
• Azure HDInsight
• Microsoft’s cloud platform for big data analytics.
Big Data Analytics Life Cycle
1. Business Problem Definition
• Goal: Clearly define the problem or objective.
• Understand what the organization wants to achieve (e.g., increase sales, reduce churn,
detect fraud).
• Involves stakeholders like business analysts, managers, and domain experts.

2. Data Collection
• Gather relevant data from various sources: databases, APIs, IoT devices, social media,
logs, etc.
• The data can be structured (e.g., spreadsheets), semi-structured (e.g., logs), or
unstructured (e.g., videos, images).

3. Data Preparation (Data Wrangling)

• Clean and transform raw data into a usable format.
• Tasks include handling missing values, removing duplicates, standardizing formats, and
integrating datasets.
4. Data Storage and Management
• Store data securely and make it accessible for analysis.
• May involve distributed storage systems for scalability and fault tolerance.

5. Data Processing
• Use batch or real-time processing to explore and filter large volumes of data.
• Create data pipelines to automate workflows.

6. Data Analysis and Modeling

• Apply statistical analysis, machine learning, or AI techniques to discover insights
or make predictions.
7. Data Visualization
• Communicate insights through charts, graphs, dashboards, and reports.
• Makes the results easy to understand for non-technical stakeholders.

8. Deployment and Operationalization

• Integrate the analytical model or solution into a live business environment.
• Ensure the model runs automatically and produces insights on demand.
Examples:
• Recommender system on an e-commerce site.
• Real-time fraud alerts in banking apps.

9. Monitoring and Maintenance

• Continuously monitor the performance of the deployed solution.
• Update models as new data comes in (model retraining).
• Fix any errors or anomalies.
Benefits of Big Data Analytics
1. Better Decision Making: Organizations use data-driven insights to make
informed choices. E.g. Retailers adjust inventory based on real-time sales trends
and seasonal patterns.
2. Enhanced Customer Experience: Allows businesses to personalize products and
services. E.g. Netflix recommends shows based on viewing history and preferences.
3. Innovation and Product Development: Reveals market gaps and customer
needs. E.g. Tech companies use user feedback and usage data to design better
software features.
4. Competitive Advantage: Companies that leverage big data can outperform
rivals. E.g. Amazon uses big data to optimize pricing, logistics, and customer
targeting.
5. Real-Time Analytics: Enables instant insights and actions. E.g. Financial
institutions monitor transactions in real-time for suspicious activity.
Challenges of Big Data Analytics
1. Data Quality: Inconsistent, incomplete, or inaccurate data can lead to misleading
results.

2. Data Integration: Data often come from multiple sources and in different
formats(structured, unstructured, and semi-structured), making it challenging to combine
into a single, usable dataset.

3.Data Security: Protecting sensitive data from breaches.

Examples: Financial institutions protecting customer transaction data, Healthcare
organizations securing patient medical records.

4. Scalability: Handling large volumes of data.

5. Talent gap: Finding skilled professionals with analytics expertise.

6. Interpretation: Even with strong analysis, turning insights into practical business
strategies can be difficult, especially if decision-makers don’t fully understand the data.
 UNIT 2:
BIG DATA ECOSYSTEM
Big Data Ecosystem refers to the collection of technologies, frameworks, and processes used to
collect, store, process, analyze, and visualize large volumes of diverse and complex data
commonly known as "big data." It includes both hardware and software components working
together to handle data that is too large or fast for traditional systems.
Purpose of the Big Data Ecosystem
• The primary purposes of the big data ecosystem are:
1. Efficient Data Management: To collect, store, and manage massive datasets from various
sources (structured, semi-structured, and unstructured).
2. High-Speed Processing: To enable fast processing of data using tools like Apache Spark and
Hadoop, allowing for real-time or near-real-time insights.
3. Advanced Analytics: To perform complex analysis, including machine learning, data mining,
and predictive analytics for better decision-making.
4. Visualization: To present insights in understandable visual formats using tools like Tableau,
Power BI, or Kibana.
Core Components of the Ecosystem
1. Data Sources: This refers to any origin or provider of data that feeds into a big data system for
storage, processing, and analysis. These sources can be internal or external, and they generate
data in various formats (structured, semi-structured, or unstructured).
2. Data Storage: This is a fundamental component of the big data ecosystem, responsible for
holding vast amounts of data in a secure, reliable, and accessible manner. Given the volume,
velocity, and variety of big data, traditional storage systems are not sufficient, hence, specialized
storage technologies are used. Examples are: Distributed File Systems, NoSQL databases.
a. Distributed File Systems: Distributed File Systems are storage architectures that spread data
across multiple nodes. These systems are essential in big data environments where traditional,
centralized storage cannot handle the volume, velocity, and variety of data.
Key Characteristics
i. Scalability: You can add more servers to the cluster as data grows.
ii. Fault Tolerance: Data is replicated across nodes; if one fails, others take over.
iii. High Availability: Ensures data is always accessible, even during node failures or maintenance.
iv. Distributed Access: This enables parallel data access.
Examples of distributed file system includes: Hadoop Distributed File System, Google file System.
Hadoop Distributed File System(HDFS): Splits data into blocks and distributes it across multiple nodes.
How the system works
➢Multiple Servers (Nodes): The organization sets up a cluster of servers — each one contributes storage
and compute resources.
➢Data is Split into Blocks: When a large file is uploaded (say, a video or log file), it is broken into smaller
blocks (e.g., 128MB or 256MB chunks).
➢Blocks Are Distributed Across Servers:
• Each block is stored on different servers.
• Redundancy is applied — the same block may be stored on 2 or 3 different nodes (replication) for
fault tolerance.
➢A Master Node (NameNode) keeps track of:
• Which block is stored on which server.
• File directory and metadata.
➢Worker Nodes (DataNodes) actually store the data and handle read/write operations.
b. NoSQL Databases: NoSQL databases are non-relational and they are designed to
handle large volume of semi-structured and unstructured data.
Types of NoSQL Databases:
i. Document-Oriented Databases
• Store data as documents (usually JavaScript Object Notation(JSON) or Extensible
Markup Language (XML)).
• Ideal for semi-structured data.
Examples:
• MongoDB
• CouchDB
• Amazon DocumentDB
Use Cases:
• User profiles and catalogues
• IoT data
ii. Column-oriented database
• Store data in columns instead of rows, suitable for analytics.
Examples:
• Apache Cassandra
• Apache HBase
Use Cases:
• Time-series data
• Event logging
• Recommendation systems
iii. Graph Databases
• Use nodes and edges to represent and store data relationships.
• Excellent for handling complex, interconnected data.
Key Concepts
Node: Represents an entity (person, place, or object)
Edge: Represents a relationship between two nodes
Examples:
• Neo4j
• ArangoDB
• Amazon Neptune
Use Cases:
• Social networks
• Fraud detection
• Network graphs
iv. Key-Value Stores
• Data is stored as key-value pairs.
• Extremely fast and scalable for simple lookups.
Examples:
• Redis
• Amazon DynamoDB
• Riak
Use Cases:
• Caching
• Session management
• Real-time analytics
3. Big Data Processing Frameworks
These are software systems that enable efficient storage, processing, and analysis of
large-scale data, often in a distributed computing environment. Here are the most
widely used frameworks:
Apache Hadoop MapReduce: This is a batch processing engine that splits tasks into two
phases:
• Map: Filters and sorts data.
• Reduce: Aggregates the results.
• Use Case: Data Archiving
Apache Spark: This is an in-memory data processing framework that supports batch and
streaming processing, and machine learning.
• Faster than Hadoop due to in-memory computation
• Use Case: Machine learning, real-time analytics
Apache Flink: This is a stream-processing framework for distributed, high-performing,
always-available, and accurate data streaming applications. It is especially well-suited for
real-time big data analytics.
• Use Case: Event Detection, Fraud Detection.
4. Data Management and Access
a. Data warehouse: this is a centralized system designed to store large volumes of historical and
current data for reporting, analysis, and decision-making. It stores structured data from
transactional systems, relational databases, and other sources.

Key functions of data warehouse

i. Data Integration: Collects and combines data from different sources (e.g., Enterprise Resource
Planning, Customer Relationship Management, IoT).
ii. Data Transformation: Cleanses and formats data for consistency and usability.
iii. Data Storage: Stores large volumes of historical, structured data in a centralized repository.
iv. Data Retrieval: Enables complex queries, aggregations, and slicing/dicing of data.

Data Warehouse Integration approaches

1. Extract-Load-Transform(ELT):
Process order:
i. Extract data from sources
ii. Load raw data as it is into the data warehouse
iii. Transform data inside the data warehouse using its processing power
Best for:
Modern cloud-based data warehouses (like BigQuery, Snowflake, Amazon Redshift) that can handle large-scale
transformations efficiently.
Advantages of ELT
• Faster loading of raw data
• Leverages scalable computing power of data warehouse
• Flexibility to transform data multiple ways later

Disadvantages of ELT:
• Raw data stored in warehouse possibly consumes more space
• Requires powerful warehouse
• Data consistency challenge

2. Extract-Transform-Load(ETL)
Process order:
i. Extract data from source systems
ii. Transform the data before loading (cleaning, filtering, aggregating)
iii. Load the transformed data into the data warehouse
Best for:
Traditional data warehouses with limited processing power, structured data.(e.g Apache Nifi, Talend, Informatica
etc.)
Advantages of ETL:
• Data arrives clean and ready for analysis
• Control over transformation logic
• ETL processes can catch and handle errors early during transformation, reducing corrupted or
invalid data entering the warehouse.
Disadvantages of ETL:
• Additional processing step before loading
• High latency

b. Data Query tool: This allow users to interact with a data warehouse or database
to extract, filter, aggregate, and visualize data using SQL or graphical interfaces.
Examples are: SQL Workbench/J, Dbeaver, DataGrip etc.
5. Visualization and Monitoring Tools
Visualization tools: These tools convert raw data into interactive charts, graphs, and dashboards
for easy interpretation by business analysts, executives, and data scientists.
Key Features:
• Drag-and-drop dashboards
• Real-time data refresh
• Connects to data warehouses, SQL engines, or APIs
• Supports charts, maps, gauges, and custom visuals
Some popular tools used for visualization are: Tableau, Power BI, Grafana etc.

Monitoring Tools: These are essential for ensuring that big data pipelines, clusters, and
applications run smoothly. They track system health, performance, data flow, and failures.
Key Functions:
• Track CPU, memory, disk usage
• Alerting and anomaly detection
• Data pipeline status (e.g., failed ETL jobs)
Some examples of monitoring tools are: Prometheus, Datadog, Apache Ambari etc.
 UNIT 3:
BIG DATA SECURITY ANALYTICS
ARCHITECTURE
Big Data Security Analytics Architecture is a critical framework designed to protect vast
amounts of data while ensuring analytical efficiency. These includes:
1. Data Ingestion and Processing
Data ingestion and processing are fundamental to Big Data Security Analytics, ensuring
that vast amounts of information are securely collected, stored, and analysed without
exposing sensitive data to cyber threats. Here’s a deep dive into the key aspects:
a. Secure Data Collection Mechanisms
Before data can be analyzed for security insights, it must be gathered from various
sources, including network traffic, logs, application interactions, and external APIs.
Ensuring security at this initial step prevents exposure of raw, sensitive information.
• Encrypted Data Streams: Using Transport Layer Security (TLS) for encrypted data
transmission prevents interception by malicious entities. For example, a smart factory
deploys IoT sensors to monitor equipment health. To prevent cyber-attacks, the factory
encrypts sensor data using TLS before transmitting it to the cloud. This prevents
unauthorized interception or data manipulation.
• Source Authentication: Ensuring that data sources are verified and trusted before
allowing them to feed into the system reduces risks of poisoning data with malicious
inputs.
b. Encryption During Transit and Storage
Encryption is a key aspect of data security during ingestion and processing. It prevents unauthorized
entities from reading sensitive data even if intercepted

Symmetric Encryption
• Uses a single key for both encryption and decryption.
• Faster but requires secure key distribution.
• Example: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is widely used for data protection.
Asymmetric Encryption
• Uses a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.
• Suitable for secure communication and key exchange.
• Example: RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) is commonly used in secure web transactions.

• End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): Ensuring that data remains encrypted until it reaches its destination
mitigates the risks of man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
c. Privacy-Preserving Data Processing
Privacy is crucial in big data analytics, especially when processing personal or confidential
information. Secure processing mechanisms ensure compliance with regulations while
enabling insights extraction.
• Homomorphic Encryption: A method that allows computations on encrypted data
without the need to decrypt it, ensuring privacy at all stages of analysis.
• Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC): Allows multiple entities to jointly compute
security analytics without exposing individual datasets to each other.

d. Secure Data Pipelines

• Data Integrity Verification: Ensuring that data entering the pipeline hasn’t been
tampered with.
• Access Controls for Data Processing Nodes: Every stage of the pipeline must be
protected with proper authentication and authorization checks to prevent unauthorized
modifications.
• Audit Logging & Monitoring: Comprehensive logging mechanisms track every
interaction with data to facilitate forensic analysis in case of anomalies.
2. Threat Detection and Prevention in Big Data Security Analytics
Threat detection and prevention are at the core of Big Data Security Analytics, ensuring that organizations can
identify and neutralize cyber threats before they escalate. With the sheer volume of data generated in modern
environments, advanced techniques are required to sift through logs, network traffic, and behavioral patterns to
detect anomalies effectively.
a. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) monitors network and system activities for suspicious behavior and known
attack patterns. IDS solutions can be categorized into the following types:

• Signature-Based IDS: Detects threats based on predefined attack signatures. This method is effective for known
threats but struggles with new or unknown attack patterns. For example, A multinational company implements a
signature-based IDS to scan its systems for known malware signatures. When an employee unknowingly
downloads an infected file containing ransomware, the IDS detects the malware and halts its execution before
encryption can begin
• Anomaly-Based IDS: Uses machine learning to identify deviations from normal network behavior, enabling
detection of zero-day threats. For example, A financial institution uses an anomaly-based IDS to monitor
transaction patterns. When a customer's account suddenly initiates multiple large transfers to unknown
recipients, the IDS flags it as potential fraud, preventing unauthorized transactions.
• Hybrid IDS: Combines both signature-based and anomaly-based detection for broader security coverage.
b. Behavioral Analytics for Anomaly Detection
Traditional security measures often rely on static rules that may not adapt to evolving threats. Behavioral analytics
introduces a dynamic approach by learning patterns over time and flagging unusual activities. It can be classified
into:
• User Behavior Analytics (UBA): Monitors user actions to detect unauthorized access, insider threats, or account
compromise. For example, In a healthcare organization, an employee suddenly accesses thousands of patient
records outside their usual working hours. User Behavior Analytics (UBA) identifies this as abnormal behavior and
alerts administrators before sensitive data is leaked.
• Network Behavior Analysis (NBA): Identifies anomalies in network traffic, such as unusual data transfer volumes
or unexpected connections. For example, A university network experiences a sudden surge in outbound data
transfers. Network Behavior Analysis (NBA) reveals that a compromised server is transmitting sensitive research
data to an unknown IP address, allowing immediate intervention.

c. Machine Learning-Driven Threat Intelligence

Machine learning enhances threat detection by allowing security systems to adapt and improve continuously. For
example, in a phishing email detection, An AI-powered security system analyzes email patterns and flags messages
with suspicious links or social engineering tactics. When an employee receives an email impersonating their CEO
asking for urgent wire transfers, the system blocks the message before they fall for the scam. Machine learning-
driven threat intelligence can be classified into:
• Supervised Learning Models: Trained on historical attack data to recognize common patterns in cyber threats.
• Unsupervised Learning Models: Identify anomalies without predefined attack patterns, useful for detecting
emerging threats.
d. Threat Hunting and Automated Detection
Threat hunting is a proactive approach to security that involves searching for
hidden threats before they manifest into full-scale breaches. For instance, a cloud
provider notices repeated failed login attempts to administrator accounts.
Automated threat detection immediately flags the source IP and blocks future
access, preventing an account takeover attempt. Threat hunting and automated
detection involves:
• Indicator of Compromise (IoC) Analysis: Security analysts examine IoCs, such as
suspicious IP addresses or unusual file modifications, to detect compromises.
• Threat Intelligence Integration: Feeds from external sources help security teams
stay updated on the latest attack trends and vulnerabilities.
• Automated Threat Response: Security orchestration tools initiate
countermeasures, such as isolating infected devices or blocking malicious IPs in
real time.
e. Real-Time Security Dashboards
Security dashboards provide an overview of security incidents, enabling analysts to
respond quickly to threats. For instance, an online retail company uses security
dashboards to monitor payment transactions. If multiple failed credit card
attempts occur within seconds, the system instantly blocks the fraudulent activity
to prevent financial losses. Real-Time Security dashboard involves some key
concepts which are:
• Centralized Logging and Monitoring: Collects logs from multiple sources for a
unified view of security activities.
• Visualization and Alerts: Uses graphs and alerts to highlight trends in cyber
threats.
By leveraging real-time monitoring, organizations can accelerate their response to
security incidents.
3. Access Control and Authentication
Access control and authentication are critical components of Big Data Security
Analytics Architecture, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive
data and resources while preventing unauthorized access. As organizations manage
vast amounts of security data, implementing robust access control mechanisms
and identity management systems helps mitigate risks associated with data
breaches, insider threats, and cyber attacks. Some of the key concepts here are:
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):RBAC assigns permissions based on
predefined roles. For instance, a database administrator has full access, while a
regular employee can only read data.
• Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA):MFA strengthens authentication by requiring
users to verify their identity through multiple factors, such as passwords,
biometrics, or security tokens.
4. Data Governance and Compliance
Data governance and compliance are essential for managing and protecting data,
especially in large-scale environments. Organizations must establish policies, controls,
and frameworks to ensure data integrity, security, and compliance with legal regulations.
a. Data Governance
Data governance is a set of practices and frameworks that define how data is collected,
stored, processed, and protected. It ensures data accuracy, accessibility, security, and
accountability.
Key Principles of Data Governance:
• Data Quality Management: Ensures accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data across
an organization.
• Data Ownership and Stewardship: Defines roles and responsibilities for managing data.
• Metadata Management: Helps track data lineage, classification, and usage.
• Risk Management: Identifies potential threats and enforces data protection measures.
Example:
A multinational corporation establishes a data governance committee to oversee policies
and compliance across different regions. The committee ensures that personal data
collected from customers is securely processed while adhering to international
regulations.
b. Compliance with Regulatory Frameworks
Compliance ensures organizations follow legal requirements to protect user privacy
and sensitive information. Non-compliance can result in penalties, lawsuits, and
reputational damage.
Major Compliance Regulations:
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Governs personal data protection in
the EU, requiring explicit consent for data collection and allowing users to
request deletion of their personal data.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): Protects patient
health records and mandates security measures for healthcare providers.
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX): Requires financial institutions to maintain accurate
financial reporting and prevent fraud.
Example:
A healthcare provider implements HIPAA compliance by encrypting patient
records, limiting access based on roles, and establishing audit trails to monitor any
modifications to sensitive data.
c. Data Classification and Access Control
Data classification helps organizations categorize information based on sensitivity, ensuring that
access controls are appropriately applied.
Common Data Classifications:
• Public Data: Can be shared without restrictions (e.g., website content).
• Internal Data: Restricted to employees but not considered highly sensitive (e.g., company
policies).
• Confidential Data: Requires strict access control and encryption (e.g., financial reports).
• Highly Sensitive Data: Needs the strongest security protections (e.g., biometric data,
encryption keys).
Example:
A government cybersecurity agency classifies intelligence reports into different levels:
"Confidential," "Secret," and "Top Secret." Access is granted based on security clearance levels,
ensuring unauthorized individuals cannot retrieve sensitive information.
d. Policy Enforcement and Auditing
Organizations enforce policies to ensure compliance with governance standards. Auditing
provides visibility into data usage, security incidents, and policy violations.
Policy Enforcement Strategies:
• Automated Compliance Monitoring: AI-driven systems track data access and flag policy
violations.
• Access Logs & Audit Trails: Maintain records of who accessed, modified, or transmitted
data.
e. Secure Metadata Management
Metadata provides essential information about data, including its origin, usage, and
security classification. Secure metadata management helps maintain governance by
tracking data movements and enforcing access controls.
Example:
• A cloud analytics platform logs metadata about every dataset imported into its system,
ensuring that administrators can trace its history, verify access permissions, and prevent
unauthorized modifications.
5. Security Analytics Frameworks and Tools
Security analytics frameworks and tools are designed to enhance threat detection, incident
response, and risk management in large-scale data environments. These frameworks leverage big
data techniques, artificial intelligence, and automation to analyze security events, uncover
threats, and strengthen organizational defense mechanisms. This involves:
a. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
SIEM systems collect and analyze security data from various sources to detect threats and
generate alerts. These platforms provide real-time monitoring, historical data analysis, and
compliance management.
Key Features of SIEM:
• Centralized Log Collection: Aggregates logs from firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and
servers.
• Correlation and Pattern Detection: Uses algorithms to identify suspicious activities across
multiple systems.
• Automated Alerts and Incident Reports: Notifies security teams of unusual behavior.

Examples of SIEM Solutions:

• Splunk: This is a powerful SIEM that applies AI-driven analytics to security data.
• IBM QRadar: This Provides behavioral threat detection and automated responses.
b. User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
UEBA focuses on detecting abnormal behavior by analyzing user actions and entity
interactions in an organization’s network. It is highly effective in identifying
insider threats and compromised accounts.
Key Features of UEBA:
• Behavioral Baseline Modeling: Establishes normal activity profiles for users and
systems.
• Anomaly Detection: Flags deviations from normal behavior, such as unusual login
times.
• Machine Learning for Adaptive Security: Continuously improves detection
models.
Example of UEBA Tools:
• Exabeam: Uses behavioral analytics to detect identity-based threats.
c. Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)
SOAR platforms automate security workflows, enabling faster threat response and
reducing manual intervention. These tools integrate with SIEM and UEBA systems
for improved security efficiency.
Key Features of SOAR:
• Automated Threat Remediation: Executes predefined response actions, such as
blocking malicious IPs.
• Incident Playbooks: Provides structured responses for different attack types.
• Integration with Security Tools: Connects with SIEM, firewalls, and cloud security
platforms.
Examples of SOAR Solutions:
• Splunk Phantom: Enables automated workflows for security teams.
d. Cloud Security Analytics
With increasing adoption of cloud infrastructure, security analytics platforms help
organizations safeguard cloud environments.
Key Features of Cloud Security Analytics:
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): Monitors cloud application usage for
security risks.
• Cloud Threat Detection: Identifies unauthorized data transfers or unusual login
attempts.
• Integration with SIEM and SOAR: Ensures full visibility into cloud security events.
Examples of Cloud Security Analytics Tools:
• Google Chronicle: Provides advanced cloud-based security analytics.
• AWS Security Hub: Unifies security alerts across AWS environments.
6. Incident Response and Recovery in Big Data Security Analytics
Incident response and recovery are crucial components of cybersecurity, ensuring
organizations can efficiently detect, mitigate, and recover from security breaches. Given
the scale of big data environments, a structured approach is necessary to minimize
downtime, prevent further damage, and restore operations.
Understanding Incident Response
Incident response refers to the structured process of detecting, investigating, and
responding to security incidents. Organizations implement response frameworks to
quickly handle cyber threats while minimizing business disruptions.
Key Phases of Incident Response:
• Preparation: Establishing security policies, tools, and teams to handle incidents
efficiently.
• Detection & Analysis: Identifying an incident, analyzing logs, and assessing its impact.
• Containment: Isolating affected systems to prevent further damage.
• Eradication: Removing the threat and patching vulnerabilities.
• Recovery: Restoring operations and verifying security before resuming normal
activities.
• Post-incident Analysis and Continuous Improvement: Evaluating the incident to
improve future response strategies.