In this companion to last year's EMC-sponsored white paper, IDC again calibrates the size (bigger than first thought) and the growth (faster than expected) of the digital universe through 2011. IDC also explores new dimensions of the digital universe (e.g., the impact of specific industries on the digital universe; your digital shadow) and discusses the implications for individuals, organizations, and society.

The tools are in place—from Web 2.0 technologies and terabyte drives to unstructured data search software and the Semantic Web—to tame the digital universe and turn information growth into economic growth.

• The reasons why the Digital Universe is growing faster than estimated
• The concept of Digital Footprint for individuals
• The importance of trust in our digital economy enabling e-Business and e-Transactions
• The need for businesses and organizations to control, manage and protect their data