1. A method for operating a big-data platform comprising: at a data analysis platform, receiving discrete client data; storing the client data in a network accessible distributed storage system that includes: storing the client data in a real-time storage system in a row format; merging the client data into a columnar-based distributed archive storage system; receiving a data query through a query interface; and processing the data query by selectively interfacing with the client data from the real-time storage system and archive storage system, according to a data mapping and reduction process, wherein processing the data query comprises cooperatively querying the real-time storage system and the archive storage system and distributing the data query over the real-time storage system and the archive storage system to retrieve a single cohesive query result, wherein merging the client data into a columnar-based distributed archive storage system comprises storing the client data in the archive storage system in a columnar format, and wherein interfacing with the client data from the archive storage system comprises: converting, by using a query processing cluster, at least a portion of the data query to the mapping process and the reduction process; and executing the mapping process and the reduction process by using the query processing cluster.