Conceptually, big data can be difficult for people to understand. If they can't fully understand it, then it's difficult for them to see how it fits into their strategic IT plans. To help explain the concepts behind big data and its place in IT infrastructure, IBM has developed a "Zone Architecture" built around five zones that relate to how organizations manage data and run analytics. Rick Clements, director of product marketing for IBM Big Data, described the Zone Architecture, as well as the use cases and types of products typically used within each zone