Data is everywhere. IBM projects that, every day, we generate 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. In relative terms, this means 90% of the data in the world has been created in the last two years. These numbers are a strong indication of the ubiquity of big data and the corresponding need for analytical skills and resources, because as the data piles up, managing and analyzing these data resources in the most optimal way become critical success factors in creating competitive advantage and strategic leverage.