What role does cloud computing play in big data?

Cloud computing plays a crucial role in big data by providing scalable storage and processing power. This capability is vital for organizations dealing with large volumes of data, as traditional on-premises infrastructure often struggles to keep up with the demands of big data analytics.

Scalability is key—cloud services allow businesses to dynamically increase or decrease their resources depending on their needs, enabling them to handle variable data workloads efficiently. This flexibility is essential in a big data context where the volume, velocity, and variety of data can be unpredictable.

Additionally, cloud platforms often come equipped with powerful processing capabilities that allow organizations to perform complex computations and analyses on large datasets quickly. This not only empowers better decision-making but also fosters innovation, as companies can explore new insights from their data without the constraints of physical infrastructure.

In contrast, some of the other options do not align with the comprehensive role of cloud computing in big data. For instance, while cloud computing does facilitate access to data, it does not eliminate the need for data storage. Similarly, cloud computing is not exclusively for data visualization, as it encompasses a wide array of services including data storage, computing, machine learning, and more, essential for handling various aspects of big data analysis. Lastly, rather than restricting access to data,