Security Challenges in Distributed Big Data Systems

Distributed Big Data systems form the backbone of modern analytics-driven organizations,  enabling scalable storage, fast computation, and real-time processing. However, their distributed  and heterogeneous nature introduces complex security challenges that differ significantly from  traditional centralized systems. This extended essay examines major security concerns such as  data confidentiality, integrity, access control, insider threats, network-based attacks, and  infrastructural vulnerabilities. It also discusses why these issues are amplified in distributed  environments and presents a comprehensive overview of modern mitigation strategies. This  expanded version provides deeper insights, additional context, and elaborated arguments to meet  academic publication standards and maintain a 1000-word requirement.