What is Apache Cassandra? Benefits, Importance & Job Growth Explained

Before we discuss its relevance, let us understand the 3 basic processes of its system:  

• The Architecture of Cassandra
  The primary architecture of Cassandra consists of a cluster of nodes. It is structured as a peer-to-peer system and closely resembles DynamoDB and Google Bigtable. The great part about Cassandra’s architecture is that it can easily expand to accommodate more data. Adding more nodes can increase the amount of data the system needs to carry. Developers can also shrink the database system by reducing the number of nodes. Cassandra’s architecture gives it a considerable edge compared to previous SQL databases, as it can handle data-carrying capacity with utmost ease and perfection.
   
• Partitioning System
  In Cassandra, data is stored and retrieved using a partitioning system. A partitioner decides where the primary copy of a data set is stored. Every node is responsible for a set of tokens based on a partition key. The partition key allows you to determine where the data is stored.
   
• Replication Process
  Cassandra works on data replication across nodes. The secondary nodes are called replica nodes, and the number of replica nodes for a given data set depends on the Replication Factor (RF). A replication factor of 2 means both the nodes cover the same token range and store the same data. Even when one node stops functioning, temporarily or permanently, other nodes hold the same data, which means the data is never lost in such a scenario.

• Cassandra can easily deal with data velocity, data variety, and data complexity issues.
   
• Cassandra can handle massive data sets with perfection, making it a clear favorite with some of the leading companies such as Netflix, Instagram, eBay, Apple, etc. These companies rely on Cassandra to manage their ever-increasing data needs.
   
• Cassandra comes with a flexible data storage approach. It can accommodate all possible data formats, including structured, semi-structured and unstructured. It can accommodate changes dynamically to your data structure needs and project requirements.
   
• Cassandra can provide the much-needed flexibility to distribute data where you need it by replicating data across multiple data centers.
   
• Cassandra can perform blazing-fast writes and can store hundreds of terabytes of data without sacrificing read efficiency.
   
• Cassandra is highly scalable; it allows you adding of hardware to accommodate more customers and more data as per the requirements.

When you use Oracle or MySQL databases, extending them to support more users or storage capacity requires you to add more Central Processing Unit (CPU) power, Random Access Memory (RAM), or faster disks. Each of those costs a significant amount of money, additionally,  you still encounter some constraints. In contrast, Cassandra makes it easy to increase the amount of data it can manage. You can scale your operations horizontally using lower commodity hardware. To double your capacity or throughput, you need to double your nodes, which is a simplistic approach. 

For open-source software to be successful, there needs to be an ecosystem that helps it develop and get better with time. In the case of Cassandra, this is just the exact case with monitoring and troubleshooting systems, plugins, instrumentation systems, and backup systems in place. When you consider the sizable number of organizations and the people that are part of the Cassandra ecosystem and community, there is no shortage of articles, documentation, and people willing to help.

Having some of these key skills can help you grow and evolve as a Cassandra professional:

• Knowledge and understanding of database
• Knowledge related to NoSQL database
• Experience working with Java or any OOP language
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience working in agile or scrum environments

Big data is expected to grow at a staggering rate in the coming years. According to Expert Market Research, the global big data market reached $208 billion in 2020 and will reach $450 billion by 2026, growing at a steady annual growth of 10%.

According to the Dice.com salary survey, Apache Cassandra is a top-paying NoSQL skill and the second highest-paying overall skill across SQL, cloud, etc. This means the demand for professionals having expertise in Apache Cassandra is only set to increase. The survey also found that more than a quarter of respondents already had certifications in Hadoop, MongoDB, SQL Server, and Oracle but were still looking to get certified in Cassandra. By getting certified you can start a career in Big Data.

In 2023, a quick search on LinkedIn showed more than 2200 Cassandra jobs across different levels. The following 5 job profiles will be in hot demand in the coming years:

• Cassandra Developer
• Cassandra Database Administrator
• Functional Tester – Cassandra
• Data Architect Cassandra
• Data Engineer

The below graphic shows the trend related to Apache Cassandra jobs:

The different statistics and data trends indicate that learning Apache Cassandra will be a game changer in your professional life. The popularity of Cassandra is skyrocketing, and so are the career prospects in this field. The year 2023 is the perfect time to take Cassandra training and upskill yourself in this field.

Is Cassandra certification worth it? Here are the top 5 reasons you should learn Apache Cassandra:

• Promising Job Market and Career Growth Prospects
  Dice.com, a popular job searching platform, says that in this current era of big data, there is an increasing demand for Apache Cassandra professionals. Other popular job sites also indicate that learning Apache Cassandra in 2023 will be a wise option considering the ample growth opportunities offered in this domain. Apache Cassandra is an essential core skill that can help you grow personally and professionally. That is why it is important to master this skill as soon as possible.
   
• Distinguished User Base
  Apache Cassandra is seeing increased use, given its open-source capabilities. Top companies across promising sectors such as communications, social media, e-commerce, and IT are turning to Cassandra to scale their technology capabilities. Companies such as Twitter, eBay, etc. have deployed Cassandra in various parts of their operations. This indicates the distinguished user base and complex use case scenarios handled by Apache Cassandra. That is why you will see a growing demand for professionals with Apache Cassandra experience and expertise.
   
• Advantage in the Era of Big Data  
  Big data is here to make an impact when we talk about leading technology trends. This means that you need a NoSQL platform for handling big data challenges. This is where Apache Cassandra comes into the picture. With lots of data generated from different sources such as smartphones, satellites, etc. NoSQL databases have become the need of the hour. Cassandra is a far better option when compared to other platforms considering the unique features and system capabilities.
   
• The Shift from Relational to NoSQL 
  Many organizations are shifting their database approach and strategies to effectively store and manage complex data requirements. This is where you will see NoSQL being used frequently. For example, Netflix stores 95% of all their data, which includes the entire viewing history, in Cassandra, where the migration from Oracle already happened. The legacy Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) model has its own set of limitations regarding usage and data. That is why organizations have no choice but to upgrade from relational to NoSQL to handle complex customer and data problems.
   
• Top-Notch Performance 
  We are aware of the technical capabilities that Apache Cassandra offers to different organizations. As a leading platform, it sets a new benchmark for overall performance. This helps you build next-generation applications where performance and scalability are important.

Here are the top 5 recommended Apache Cassandra certification courses offered by Careervira to improve your skills. 

• Learning Apache Cassandra by O’Reilly 
  This course is designed and curated by an expert author Ruth Stryker to help you understand the basics related to Apache Cassandra. If you are just a beginner looking to understand the concepts of Cassandra, then this course will be a great value add to your existing technical skills. You must have some knowledge related to databases, SQL, and programming fundamentals before enrolling for this course. This self-paced Apache Cassandra tutorial course also includes instructor-moderated discussions. This is one of the trending courses on Careervira, a top online learning platform.
   
• Apache Cassandra Certification Training by Edureka 
  It is important to gain certification if you are looking to explore your next job opportunity. This Cassandra course allows you to accomplish just that. The online course, with a duration of 4 weeks, provides you with an opportunity to use Apache Cassandra, its data model, and its administration. You will learn system configurations, monitoring mechanisms, installation, as well as integration with other Apache frameworks such as Hadoop, Kafka, etc.
   
• Apache Cassandra 3.x Developer Associate Certification by Whizlabs 
  This is another brilliant certification course for professionals who are working as IT developers, database developers, and big data professionals and are looking to become a DataStax-certified Cassandra developer. The course comes with different practice tests that help you get familiar with different development-related challenges based on the changing technology and market trends. This course will add more value to professionals with prior experience with SQL and Java programming.
   
• Mastering Cassandra Essentials by O’Reilly
  It is important to be proficient in Apache Cassandra so that you are always relevant in the dynamic job market. This course helps you to master Cassandra's essentials because it is important to understand the basics before you proceed to make a promising career in this field. You can avail of this course to understand Cassandra’s technical and functional capabilities. It is designed so that it helps you understand how Cassandra can be used as a non-relational datastore.
   
• Data Modelling with Apache Cassandra by Pluralsight
  Data forms an integral component in any data science project requirements. That is why you need to model your data requirements smartly to maximize your results. This course will help you to apply data modeling based on different concepts. You can implement an entire data model using Apache Cassandra once you complete the course.

Careervira offers a range of courses for Apache Cassandra, but we have listed the top 5 courses you cannot afford to miss.

• Immense Growth Opportunities Offered by Big Data
  With the prolific use of big data, companies are increasingly employing open-source software and NoSQL database technology. This is where Apache Cassandra fits the bill. The unique growth opportunities in the field of big data ensure that there will be growing demand for professionals with the required data management skills.
   
• Skill Shortage
  Apache Cassandra is a preferred option when we talk about the recent ranking of technologies used by companies worldwide. Skill shortage remains a major challenge despite numerous attempts to address it. This results in high demand and high salaries for professionals skilled in Apache.
   
• Critical Job Profile
  Apache Cassandra is critical for the success or failure of a business in the long run because it is all about managing your data requirements effectively. When a job is critical to the future of a business, demand for people who can do that job rises in the market. 
   
• High Paying Job Opportunities
  The pay for Apache Cassandra and its related skills has risen significantly in recent years. If we consider the future job market and the massive growth prospects, we will see more and more professionals upskilling in this field.

Learning Apache Cassandra is good as it is a high-paying job, has immense opportunities for career growth, and has job criticality, which means it is critical for business growth in the long run. Besides individuals, organizations can also invest in learning and training programs for their developers, administrators, and architects so that they are well-equipped to handle complex customer requirements.

As per the survey from ambitionbox, the average annual salaries tend to increase based on the total years of experience. The Cassandra Database Administrator salaries in India range between ₹4.8 Lakhs to ₹21 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹8.2 Lakhs.

The below graphic provides the salary structure for Cassandra Database administrators in India:

As per Glassdoor, as of March 2023, the average annual pay for a Cassandra developer in the US is $68,700 per year.

The Cassandra engineers in the UK earn between £1,128 - £35,110 per year with an average salary of £41,780.

• Ample Job Opportunities in the Job Market 
  In the era of big data, there is an increasing demand for professionals with Apache Cassandra and NoSQL expertise. There are, thus plenty of job opportunities available on leading job sites such as Naukri, LinkedIn, Dice.com, etc. Considering the existing job market that offers great compensation packages, demand for such professionals will grow in the long run.
   
• Value of Industry Experience  
  The earnings are directly proportional to solid industry experience and expertise. As the total years of industry experience increase, the professional becomes well-equipped to handle challenging customer requirements. This means that they are earning more compared to those with less industry experience or who are just starting.
   
• Immense Growth Potential
  You can earn well if the skills offer immense growth potential in the long run. This is a similar case with Apache Cassandra and its related skills.

• Take Up Freelance Opportunities
  To improve existing skills, one can work as a freelance developer and develop skills working on real client projects. This helps earn additional income and gain real-world industry experience, which is integral for professional growth in the long run.
   
• Take Up Top Certification Courses  
  It is important to understand the changing market trends and customer needs. To increase current earnings, you should undertake important certification courses that add great value to your existing skill set. There are a lot of distinguished online platforms, such as Careervira, that offer affordable and high-value courses based on your existing skill set and industry experience. Taking up certification courses allows you to gain an edge over the competition when looking for the next job opportunity or career transition.
   
• Take Help from Industry Experts  
  It is important to take help from your industry leaders or mentors so that you can evaluate your existing skill set and how you can work on the areas that need improvement. The industry experts are aware of the existing market challenges, skills in demand, and potential growth prospects. You will only improve if you understand how the market will behave in years to come.
   
• Take Paid Mentoring or Coaching Sessions
  It is important to have mentors or coaches that can help you in your professional growth. Professionals looking for better income and career growth can take paid mentoring or coaching sessions to identify and improve their weaknesses. Mentors or coaches can identify the key skills that can help them to earn well by implementing a customized growth path.

Apache Cassandra has seen many improvements in the past few years. While version 4.0 was released last year, version 5.0 is planned for 2023.

As per the article from techcrunch, thousands of developers and leading companies such as Apple, Netflix, etc. want to see Apache Cassandra become cloud-native; when it is deployed at scale on Kubernetes in the cloud (with the cloud management performed by the Kubernetes operator).

Here are some of Apache Cassandra’s future functionalities:

• Cloud-based capabilities to simplify operations
• More contributions to the open-source community and technologies
• Developer ready with Application Programming Interface (APIs) to reduce the time to market

Apache Cassandra is evolving fast and is expected to have many rich features in its future releases. This is a good year to pursue Apache Cassandra Certification and learn Cassandra, and tap into the great market demand for this revolutionary open software.