ABSTRACT
Big data has been the lifeblood of innovations and has led the information technology industry to innovate new technologies to use big data in a meaningful way. Data security and integrity have been at the forefront of technological innovations. The protection of data privacy and privacy leakage problems creates great security risks for organizations. In addition, when data is forged from data files stored in a database, due to the storage of large amounts of data, it is difficult to detect when data is compromised or tampered with. Blockchain technology creates an immutable and decentralized environment mitigating tampering with data. Basic blockchain theory interlocks smart contracts, consensus mechanisms, block structures, and group signature algorithms at the foundation of the technology. Peer-to-peer network – in a peer-to-peer network, there is no central authority therefore there are no central system standards. Transactions and blocks in a blockchain are transmitted between participating nodes. Once the blockchain receives that data, it verifies the transaction's validity. If validated, it is accepted. The utilization of blockchain radically improves data integrity, and openness, and promotes the execution of trustworthy, transparent, safe, and democratized services and applications. Access rights determine what type of blockchain to use. This chapter prudently disseminates the importance of big data, and current technology flaws, and highlights the usefulness of blockchain technology as the next-generation solution for big data storage, access, and analysis to bring value to organizations and consumers.
