S ociety is in the midst of a data explosion – and businesses across the globe are feeling the reverberations . In fact , whilst surveying 2,200 IT decision makers for its Global Data Protection Index , Dell Technologies found that , on average , organisations managed an incredible 9.70PB of data in 2018 – up 569 % from the 1.45PB managed in 2016 . Yet , there ’ s not only more data , it ’ s also more treasured . The same study pointed out how 92 % of businesses recognise the potential value of data with 36 % already monetising it . It only goes to show that , for many businesses , data is now a type of asset , on par with financial or human capital .