Leading organizations understand the value of data in decision making and use it to their advantage by gathering, auditing and manipulating intelligence hidden in data. However, the challenge most businesses face is maneuvering around colossal amounts of machine-generated data that can be structured, unstructured or semi-structured. In this article, we discuss Splunk fundamentals and how it has taken on big data including job prospects and training for IT professionals in this lucrative field.
Splunk as a Software
We start off Splunk fundamentals by talking a bit about what is Splunk as a Software. In simple terms, Splunk is a powerful platform that is capable of analyzing large sets of data by running thousands of searches simultaneously in real-time through the Search Processing Language (SPL). It collates and indexes log data in any format and across all environments be it on-premise, hybrid or cloud.
By doing so, it uncovers patterns and anomalies and empowers businesses to achieve operational intelligence through deeper insights and deploy solutions more quickly. A powerful analytics platform, Splunk has enabled a shift from reactive to proactive problem-solving. It’s no wonder that organizations these days rely heavily on Splunk making it a top skill to have for IT professionals.
Splunk Job Prospects
The rapid expansion of big data applications has brought a surge in related jobs. Jobs in big data, specifically those related to the internet of things (IoT) and unstructured machine data have seen unprecedented growth over the last 5 years. Attractive Splunk job roles include:
- Security Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Solutions Architect
- Data Scientist/Engineer
- Data Analyst
- Database Manager
Splunk skills can provide you with opportunities in virtually every industry including healthcare, government, education, finance, insurance, retail, manufacturing, and information technology. Splunk is increasingly being adopted by organizations worldwide to mitigate cyber risks, improve service and operational efficiencies, reduce downtime, understand customer preferences and trends, and reduce operational costs.
As a Splunk professional, you could choose from three broad tracks described below:
Splunk Administrator:Â As an administrator, you would configure and manage Splunk. This would include installation, data input and management, monitoring user accounts and licenses, and troubleshooting.
Splunk Developer:Â As a developer, you would build apps using the Splunk framework, create advanced dashboards and visualizations by planning, creating, and packaging apps. Responsibilities would also include end-to-end solution development and maintenance.
Splunk Architect:Â An architect has a thorough understanding of Spunk deployment including complex Splunk environments. As an architect, you would plan the collection, distribution, and deployment of data including troubleshooting complex clusters.
Splunk Training
Whether you are a novice or an expert, Splunk can be learned by anyone with the right training. A good training course can give you a deep understanding of the Splunk platform and get you prepared for the Splunk certification. As a Splunk certified professional, you can take control of your career and demand the salary you deserve.
Below are salary estimates for Splunk Administrators in the United States as of July 2019:
Splunk is beneficial to all levels of personnel and Software Developers, Systems Administrators, Database Analysts, and Administrators are highly encouraged to take Splunk training. Although there are no essential prerequisites for learning Splunk, knowledge of Data Analytics is helpful.
Conclusion
That wraps up a quick overview of Splunk fundamentals. If you are a data enthusiast, getting Splunk training would open the door for a career filled with lucrative opportunities. With businesses all over the world moving more and more towards fact-based decision making, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
