ACCA Performance Management (F5) Certification Practice Exam

What is a significant risk associated with Big Data?

1. Increased availability of skilled workers

2. Improved security measures

3. Data protection challenges

4. Enhanced data quality

The correct answer is: Data protection challenges

The significant risk associated with Big Data is indeed data protection challenges. As the volume, variety, and velocity of data increase, organizations face profound difficulties in ensuring that this data is protected against unauthorized access, breaches, and misuse. The vast amounts of data collected often include sensitive personal information, which must be handled with care to comply with regulations and safeguard individuals' privacy. Moreover, managing the security of data across various platforms and systems becomes complex due to the sheer scale of the information being processed. With the proliferation of data sources, organizations must adapt their data governance strategies and implement robust security measures to mitigate the risks of losing data confidentiality and integrity. Other options presented may appear advantageous, such as enhanced availability of skilled workers or improved security measures, but these do not highlight the inherent risks that come with handling large datasets. Enhanced data quality may stem from better analytics and processing capabilities, yet it does not negate the fundamental challenges surrounding data protection in the context of Big Data.