Driving Innovation in Big Data and Cloud Computing
Saravanan Thirumazhisai Prabhagaran shared insights on how his architectural innovations are transforming large-scale data systems, delivering performance gains and cost efficiencies across the industry. He also highlighted the importance of aligning technology with business goals and preparing for the next wave of cloud-native advancements
With over 16 years of experience driving transformative change in Big Data and Cloud computing, Saravanan Thirumazhisai Prabhagaran stands as a beacon of innovation and leadership in the tech industry. A seasoned architect with a Master's in Computer Applications from Veltech Engineering College and certifications from AWS and Cloudera, Saravanan has seamlessly bridged academic insight with hands-on technical excellence.
“At the heart of every challenge lies an opportunity to innovate,” says Saravanan. His deep-seated passion for solving complex data problems has led him to spearhead mission-critical systems, most notably at FINRA CAT. There, he architected the External CAT Metastore Service (ECMS) and advanced the Analytical Rule Language Engine (ARLE), cutting query times from 20 hours to just 20 minutes—a staggering 6000% improvement—while slashing infrastructure costs by 75%.
Saravanan’s methodical approach to solution architecture begins with a thorough analysis of business goals, technical constraints, and performance metrics. “Architecture is not just about technology—it’s about aligning every decision with long-term business value,” he explains. His pragmatic philosophy has fueled strategic decisions like migrating to AWS Graviton instances and implementing open-source Presto, moves that collectively saved over $2 million annually for his organization.
His impact stretches beyond performance optimization. Saravanan's pioneering decoupled architecture at FINRA—separating compute, storage, and catalog services—has become a blueprint for scalable, cost-efficient big data systems. “We created a model that allows independent scaling and supports both transactional and analytical workloads. This has unlocked new levels of agility and insight for our stakeholders,” he notes.
Saravanan’s work supports key regulatory bodies including the SEC and NASDAQ. His architectural oversight enabled the design of over 4,000 big data business objects, ensuring continued system efficiency despite 15-20% annual data growth. He credits this success to his ability to bridge technical depth with stakeholder alignment. “Transparent communication and shared vision are what make architectural excellence sustainable,” he adds.
Looking ahead, Saravanan sees real-time processing, serverless computing, and edge analytics as critical frontiers. “The future lies in smarter, faster, and leaner data systems,” he says. “Innovation must be constant—not just in tools, but in how we think.”
Beyond technology, Saravanan is committed to mentoring the next generation of engineers. “Leadership is not only about building systems—it’s about building people,” he reflects.
From revolutionizing big data infrastructure to shaping future-ready cloud architectures, Saravanan Thirumazhisai Prabhagaran is not just keeping pace with change—he’s defining it.
