Most IT leaders and business managers believe at least half of their data sits unused and thus “dark,” according to a survey released by Splunk.
The survey, which reached 1,300 managers and IT leaders across the globe, found that 63 percent of respondents in the U.S. believe half or more their data is dark data, while 36 percent believe that three quarters or more of their data is dark.
“Neglected by business and IT managers, dark data is an underused asset that demands a more sophisticated approach to how organizations collect, manage and analyze information,” the survey states.
Despite the large amount of dark data, organizations profess a desire to take full advantage of their data, as 90 percent agree that every organization needs to extract value from data to be successful. But challenges such as the large amount of dark data, a lack of needed skills, and lack of resources are keeping organizations from tackling the problem. The survey also found 77 percent of respondents agree that finding and capturing dark data should be a top priority for organizations.