When it comes to big data, adopting new technologies that accelerate time to market remains a struggle for many organizations. Despite clear potential, relatively few Hadoop projects have actually reached production, in part due to the complexity of the ecosystem. Automation can help IT overcome this complexity, making it possible to deliver on the promise of big data and create the digital services the business needs, when it needs them. This white paper explores the challenges that slow many Hadoop projects and how they can be solved through automation at the setup, development, and production stages.