IBM InfoSphere Reviews

Pros

Built around business terms and criteria, IBM InfoSphere does a great job of making things understandable. The lineage feature is especially powerful for showing where data is stored, how it moves and how it supports analytics. The interface is also clean and fairly user friendly although it could still use some refinement.

Cons

It mainly offers terms, labels and reports, without much beyond that. The query tool is an area that could definitely be better, since it isn't the most user-friendly.

Pros

A great option for information governance and data governance especially when it comes to maintaining a business glossary. It also works well for creating and managing business rules and business dictionaries.

Cons

The product�gets the job done but it doesn't feel like the strongest product available in this category. The interface also seems better suited to technical teams than to business users.

Pros

The platform is easy to work with and the way it visualizes data lineage makes it much easier to follow how data moves across systems.

Cons

Getting everything implemented and fully operational takes a considerable amount of time and effort before the solution is actually up and running.

Pros

Overall the tool is pretty simple to use for both administrators and catalog users to work with which makes day to day use much more manageable.

Cons

Its weaker part is the connection with the data lake and the ETL processes. Those could be better integrated and more reliable.

Pros

IBM InfoSphere gives a broad view of everything which makes it useful for understanding the full picture.

Cons

The installation process is too complex and that part is something I really don't like.

Pros

The tool does a good job of cataloging assets and supporting our governance requirements.

Cons

I am still too new to�the product�to point out any real downsides yet.

Pros

Having one central place to manage metadata is a really valuable concept but it doesn't feel fully used because the interface is slow and awkward to work with.

Cons

The interface isn't very user friendly and the setup process is confusing as well.

Pros

It works well within the IBM InfoSphere suite and also connects nicely with Oracle and SQL Server which makes it very useful across different systems.

Cons

Compared with Collibra, the usability is a little behind and not quite as refined.

Pros

The flexibility here has been a big plus especially when it comes to creating custom fields in the UI. On top of that the API makes it possible to export and import information across a variety of other tools and databases which is really useful. I have also been very happy with the technical lineage import features and the way visual lineage is rendered.

Cons

There are a few smaller annoyances but one of the biggest issues is that�the platform�doesn't provide a taxonomy structure for Rules. You can set up hierarchy for terms, categories and policies but not for rules. Because of that, rule access is very limited, since it's basically either enabled for all rules or disabled for all of them.

Pros

I must say the tools in this software are very user friendly and make working with it feel simple and efficient.

Cons

One thing I don't enjoy is the loading time and it also has occasional minor glitches now and then.

Pros

It really does everything I need from a software like this and the range of capabilities it offers has been excellent.

Cons

The only downside is that it could be more user-friendly, since it took me some time to get comfortable navigating through it.

Pros

IBM InfoSphere covers a lot of important areas really well especially data cataloging, protection and privacy, business flow diagrams and ETL processing.

Cons

I feel like the logging mechanism could definitely be better. Some connectivity packs, like the Pack for SAP Application, feel a bit expensive. It can also be confusing for new developers to understand that jobs can be built using different execution engines such as Parallel or Server.

Pros

Compared with other tools I have used before, IBM InfoSphere Information Governance Catalog has been a much better fit. It's very user-friendly, works seamlessly with the rest of our technology stack and delivers better results than we expected from similar products. Most IBM solutions we use are highly adaptable and this one stands out as one of the strongest products among them.

Cons

Since we've only been using it for less than six months, there really hasn't been anything to dislike so far and I don't expect any issues to come up anytime soon. I have already recommended it to several colleagues and our team seems to be very happy with it as well.

Pros

Across the organization, IBM has brought a wide mix of technical knowledge and subject matter expertise. It fits into different levels and departments well and it also integrates with other data platforms. When issues come up, they tend to resolve them quickly or put real effort into finding a practical workaround.

Cons

It really needs more attention on the user experience.�The platform�should be more user-friendly overall and another challenge is the number of components involved. Some people in my office struggle to understand how everything fits together.

Pros

IBM InfoSphere has been a dependable and valuable tool for understanding and analyzing information. It uses easy, familiar language which makes the terms and vocabulary being analyzed much easier to follow and understand.

Cons

Getting started with�the platform�can be challenging especially for new users or anyone without a strong technical background.

Pros

Having everything in one place really helps with identifying, managing and storing both IT and business data for day-to-day operations. It keeps workflows running well and gives users a central spot to search for and access important data terms and business information which makes the whole process feel more reliable and better organized.

Cons

The biggest drawback with a system like this is the cost. While the investment can make sense for larger companies and enterprise-level organizations, smaller businesses may find it hard to justify or simply get priced out.

Pros

The flexible payment plans are a big plus and really help maximize cash flow.

Cons

At first it is a bit tricky to use but it is like something we'll adjust to with time.

Pros

It's very user-friendly and has helped me get up to speed in my role much faster.

Cons

I really haven't come across much to dislike about�the product.

Pros

A well established platform that is user-friendly and easy to work with.

Cons

The data storage is a bit too limited for the kind of work I need to handle.