[...] * Obviously a pre-requisite for clustering, integration and fusion of big data is the presence of efficient mechanisms for data storage and processing. Clearly, Big data storage technologies are a key enabler for advanced analytics that have the potential to transform society and the way key decisions are made, also in terms of policy. One of the first things organizations have to manage when dealing with big data, is where and how this data will be stored once it is acquired. The traditional methods of structured data storage and retrieval include relational databases and data warehouses.