CERN's Large Hadron Collider generates hundreds of millions of particle collisions each second. Recording, storing and analyzing these vast amounts of collisions present a massive data challenge because the collider produces roughly 20 million gigabytes of data each year. Data is measured at four points along its 27 kilometer length and each point has its own experiments and their own data collector with millions of sensors. 

To process all that data CERN stores the data partly on the premises in Geneva, but roughly 80 percent to data centers all around the world through the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG).

CERN recently started a new phase of its computing program that will address new topics crucial to the CERN scientific programme, such as cloud computing, business analytics, the next generation of hardware, and security for the myriads of network devices, according to the institute. The investment made over the three years represent more than 8 million Swiss Francs (US$8.4 million).

The scientists plan to operate the LHC at higher energy and luminosity to increase the chance of finding more exotic particles.

CERN needs to invest in computing, because the LHC experiments in 2011 took data at rates and volumes that exceeded the most optimistic forecasts. The research institute collaborates with HP, Siemens, Intel and Oracle to make sure the vast amount of data can be handled.