Software features are good, but certification that they actually work is even better — particularly in the open source channel, where users don’t always enjoy the same kind of warranties that are common in the proprietary ecosystem. In this respect, the world of open source Big Data management became a little more stable with the recent announcement that MapR’s distribution of Apache Hadoop has been certified for Talend Open Studio for Big Data. Here’s the scoop.

It should be clear by now that managing and processing Big Data is becoming big business. As The VAR Guy himself put it earlier this week in observations on recent developments within Google’s data centers:

Admittedly, the developments at Google to which The VAR Guy was referring don’t have as much to do with data management software — such as the kind developed by Talend — as with data center hardware. But the conclusion that data management is becoming the next big thing holds true all the same. The most exciting facets of the cloud may be those oriented toward the user, but ultimately, it’s on the back end — both hardware and software — where the greatest challenges and opportunities lie.

The Big Data Channel Grows Up

And that’s why the announcement of the certification of MapR’s Hadoop for use with Talend Open Studio for Big Data is more noteworthy than it might sound. To be sure, MapR’s Hadoop distribution represents only one of many out there, and Talend is about more than just Hadoop. It’s also true that MapR’s recent certification of Talend was accompanied by similar moves for other data management platforms.

Nonetheless, the news is an indication of the growing importance of collaboration between different segments of the Big Data channel, which itself signals this niche’s march toward maturity. Until relatively recently Big Data was not even conceptualized by many people as a channel unto itself, and the data management solutions that existed were fractured and poorly integrated.

Now, however, things are changing. Not only is Big Data software becoming more powerful, but partnerships between different stakeholders in the channel are helping to define it and make it more accessible for users. Put together, these developments will make it easier for IT organizations to adopt more streamlined data management strategies, instead of relying on the ad hoc approaches that many currently retain.

And in that respect, the evolution of the Big Data channel is little different than the emergence of the cloud itself. The explosion of discourse about cloud computing and the expansion of channel partnerships in that niche elevated the cloud to the top of IT administrators’ list of priorities. The same process, it seems, is under way now with respect to Big Data.

Without a doubt, it will be a while before we hear as much hype about Big Data as we do the cloud. But this is a growing channel that merits close observation in the months and years to come. Stay tuned.