What does the term "data silo" refer to?

The term "data silo" refers to isolated data storage that is not easily accessible across an organization. In many organizations, various departments or teams may manage their own data storage solutions without integrating their data with others, creating silos. This can lead to inefficiencies, as teams may work with duplicate data or lack access to critical information held by other teams. The lack of integration can hinder collaboration and data-driven decision-making, which are essential in a big data context where insights from various data sources can significantly enhance overall outcomes.

In contrast, integrated data storage across multiple platforms facilitates better communication and data accessibility, while real-time data processing solutions focus on the immediate handling of data rather than its storage status. Cloud-based storage services represent a method of hosting data but do not inherently resolve issues related to data silos.