Big data solutions enable us to change how we do business by exploiting previously unused sources of information in ways that were not possible just a few years ago. In IBM® Smarter Planet® terms, big data helps us to change the way that the world works. The purpose of this IBM RedpaperTM publication is to consider the performance and capacity implications of big data solutions, which must be taken into account for them to be viable. This paper describes the benefits that big data approaches can provide. We then cover performance and capacity considerations for creating big data solutions. We conclude with what this means for big data solutions, both now and in the future. Intended readers for this paper include decision-makers, consultants, and IT architects.