IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management focuses on data masking, test data management, and GDPR compliance, offering benefits like performance and storage optimization through data archiving.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) | 6.1% |
| Perforce Delphix | 17.5% |
| Broadcom Test Data Manager | 13.9% |
| Other | 62.5% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 1 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 1 |
| Large Enterprise | 10 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 47 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 9 |
| Large Enterprise | 53 |
IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management is essential in managing data across non-production environments. It supports data extraction, sub-setting, and load processes, facilitating PII and PHI data protection. Organizations benefit from its flexibility, masking consistency, and cross-database applicability. Despite the need for enhanced data masking options and a more modern interface, IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management provides robust capabilities for handling data through its life cycle, working with popular databases like Oracle, MS SQL Server, and DB2 without direct DB2i connectivity. Efficiency in data validation and transformation is acknowledged though improvements in test data generation and licensing terms are sought.
What key features does IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management offer?IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management is utilized in industries like financial, healthcare, and automotive for data archiving, masking, and test data management. It facilitates production-like data management, addressing data validation and transformation needs throughout the data life cycle, utilizing platforms such as Oracle, MS SQL Server, and DB2.
IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) was previously known as IBM Optim Test Data Management, Optim Test Data Management, IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management.
Dignity Health
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Project Manager at Mphasis | 3.5 | I use IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management mainly for data masking, appreciating its compatibility with both legacy and non-legacy systems. After evaluating alternatives, we chose it specifically for its versatile system support. |
| Sr. HR Execuitve - Employee Relations at HGS - Hinduja Global Solutions | 4.5 | I use IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management to track the entire product life cycle. Its most valuable feature is generating metrics, but it needs improvement in report generation speed. It is user-friendly and efficient overall. |
| Test Engineer at cigniti | 4.0 | I use IBM InfoSphere Optim TDM for data management. It's flexible, stable, and scalable with good features. I recommend it, but it needs improved security, more features, and a simpler initial setup process. |
| Technical Lead at Wipro Technologies | 4.0 | I've used this for over five years for data archiving, test data management, and masking. It improved performance and storage, but I believe the self-service UI for test data management needs improvement. |
| Data Modeler Manager / Application Development Manager at CIGNA Corporation | 5.0 | I've used this stable product for 5+ years to mask data across platforms, with simple setup and good initial customer service. However, I found installation cumbersome, the GUI clunky, and I developed my own masking features to meet business needs. |
| Technical Lead at Wipro Technologies | 4.0 | I have used IBM Optim for over five years, implementing its data archiving, TDM, and masking. It effectively saved storage and improved performance. While data masking is strong, the newer front-end is more complex than the original Core Optim. |
| Database Security Consultant at a tech services company | 4.5 | I have used IBM Optim TDM for over five years, improving test data quality and privacy for clients. Its data masking is valuable, but I wish to combine masking functions more easily without Lua procedures. |
| IT Leader in Global Technology, Corporate Systems at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees | 5.0 | I value this solution for its robust archiving, data privacy, and test data management capabilities, which improve performance and reduce storage. However, IBM's slow support for non-production issues significantly delays my projects, a major frustration. |
| Director-Projects at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees | 3.5 | I value this stable product's match keys and TDM streamlining, backed by excellent support over three years. However, its complex Lua scripting, difficult z/OS setup, and high cost are concerns with large data. |
| Systems Analyst at a consultancy with 201-500 employees | 4.0 | I've used IBM Optim for five years, mainly for data masking, finding its PVU licensing limiting. Setup was complex, and we experienced some stability and scalability issues, but support was decent. |
The solution is used mainly for data masking.
The solution can be used on both legacy and non-legacy systems.
I have been using the solution for five to six years.
IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management is a stable solution.
I rate the solution’s stability a six to seven out of ten.
I rate the solution’s technical support a seven or eight out of ten.
Neutral
The solution's initial setup is neither complex nor too easy. Around six or seven people, including database administrators, were involved in the solution's deployment.
On a scale from one to ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy, I rate the solution's initial setup a four to five out of ten.
Before choosing the solution, we evaluated other options. We chose IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management because it supports both legacy and non-legacy systems.
The solution does not need much maintenance. The solution is maintained by the infrastructure team. There is a separate team for the software installation. I would recommend the solution to other users.
Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.
We use the product to track across the entire product life cycle.
It is a good tool that benefits our organization in terms of ease of maintenance and project management. We can check and showcase various reports to the management team.
The platform's ability to generate metrics is the most valuable feature for data management. It is a user-friendly and easy-to-use tool.
TDM's efficiency in terms of generating reports needs improvement. It could work faster.
We have been using IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) for A year.
I rate the platform's stability a nine and a half.
Our internal team comprises over 300 members using IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM).
The initial setup could be complicated for a new user. However, the process is straightforward for our team. We installed the product on our system and later received assistance from the support team.
We initially faced challenges following the instructions outlined in the provided Excel sheet, specifically related to the configuration steps. Despite adhering to the documented test-type instructions, we encountered difficulties, resulting in a delay. Subsequently, we overcame these issues with the tech support team's assistance, ultimately completing the installation within an hour.
We purchase TDM's yearly license.
It is easy to track the overall progress across entire features as a part of a specific project. It helps us maintain the quality of the deliverables to the end-to-end customers. We can easily create test data. It works faster than manual testing.
It follows the essential standards for data masking, ensuring the data is secured enough. It is a good tool with a lot of benefits. It allows us to drive the projects more securely and with great transparency.
I rate it a nine out of ten.
I use IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) for data management. We usually do the data validation from the source to the target and apply the transformation logic.
I like the features compared to other tools. This tool is more flexible to use than other tools like an Oracle product or SAP product. I think IBM tools are more flexible, and this tool is also a good product.
I think it could be more secure. I don't have experience with the security aspects concerning PII data, but I think it can still be streamlined a little more. It could also have some more features, and the initial setup could be more straightforward.
I have been using IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) for about six months.
IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) is a stable solution. From my experience, the performance is good.
IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) is a scalable solution. We have five to six users using this solution.
We didn't hire an exclusive tech support team and had to rely on the IBM team. However, there was a bit of a delay in getting a response from them.
I used another solution, but I felt this one had more features. Overall, I would rate this higher than the prior one.
The initial setup and installation are a bit complex, but it's good overall. You will need about five to six technical professionals to maintain and manage this solution. You only need two administrators.
It took me about three hours to install this solution. I had some support from the Optim team, so it was good.
You have to pay yearly for the license, which comes at a reduced cost. The monthly payment option for a shorter project duration is also good.
I would recommend this solution to potential users.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management (TDM) an eight.
Data archiving on some of the packaged applications, test data management and data masking on custom as well as packaged applications.
Performance improvement in the application by archiving the obsolete data on some of the packaged applications.
Improvisation in the area of the self-service user interface for test data management is required to cater to test data needs.
Provide production-like data to lower environments, allowing us to eliminate risks of data exposure.
While allowing us to eliminate all sensitive data in lower environments, it also allows us to integrate in-house developed libraries.
Even when a masking-on-demand feature was provided, we decided to write our own to meet the actual business needs. Currently embedded in an Oracle instance, it allows us to reach all kinds of RDBMS.
Areas of improvement:
Additional features: Unless I missed something, the direct connectivity to DB2i rather than going through a federated server.
Fairly stable, I moved from 9.1 through 11.3 FP6 with no incidents.
IBM InfoSphere Optim Test Data Management can be found in the following platforms: Windows, Linux, *nix and z/OS. This presents a great opportunity to scale code, develop multiplatform libraries as I did. Update the code once and deploy to all platforms.
Great, up to the point when you actually figure it out and no longer require assistance. Unless, you need support to interpret the log files.
Fairly simple once the documents were digested and skimmed for the target platforms.
In-house, by myself.
N/A.
I have worked with IBM Optim tool, and implemented it in automobile, finance, and health care organizations on all its four solutions - Data Archiving (DG), Test Data Management (TDM), Data Masking (DP) and Application Retirement.
Data archiving saved much storage and improved production performance. We were able to achieve data privatization.
Its data masking feature is very effective and the latest improvisation in this is UMask which I expect to be another powerful add-on.
The Core Optim was much better than the newer front-end release Designer & Manager, which added more complexity. However, the newer release has more elaborate reports.
I have implemented IBM Optim Test Data Management on several clients from the financial and healthcare industries. Dozens of database servers were covered and running RDBMS, like Oracle, MS SQL Server, and DB2.
My clients improved the quality of test data in their non-production environments and the privacy of sensitive information.
Data masking features are the most valuable, as non-production environments are used by diverse parties and data privacy has to be guaranteed.
I would like to be able to combine different masking functions on the same column map, making more complex masking without the need to write a Lua procedure.
We use these functions:
This product archives all types of relational databases. It is the original archive solution for business.
Archive
Moving data that is no longer needed in daily processing on to archive files, resulting in:
Data Privacy
Subsetter (Test Data Management)
IBM treats non-production deploys with a lower priority to resolve problems. When we archive, we select a similar-sized non-production environment first, before we archive production. We need the volume to determine how big to make the archive files and how long the archive jobs will run.
For more detail:
As the project manager for an archive solution, we first test our solution before we deploy it to production. This involves the IT-AD folks that maintain the application and business folks that own the data. Like any project plan it has a start date and an end date. Fudge is integrated into the project plan for accommodate on foreseen delays.
We build the archive solution in a non-production environment with production like volume of data. Let’s call this our test environment. When we encounter an problem that we can't resolve, we reach out to IBM. They build an environment to simulate the conditions that are causing our outage. Because this is not a production environment. IBM assigns a lower priority for a resolution. In the past it has taken weeks up to 2 months for a fix. Delaying the completion of the project plan, beyond the fudge added to the plan.
I have been using this product since it was originally sold by Princeton Softech.
It is a complex environment to maintain between keeping the Optim server releases working with the DBMS releases and the OS file system releases. We have a development environment (used for testing new software, releases, etc.), QA for testing the application archive, production for archiving production environments by application, and DR (disaster recovery). All changes to production need to be in sync with DR in case of a datacenter outage.
We keep all archived PST data on EMC Centera drives, which have bi-directional replication between production and DR sites.
Archive – There are two deployment methods:
Data Privacy:
IBM technical support uses labs to mimic our environment, which is fine. But we archive a non-production environment first prior to archival of an applications production database. Doing it this way, we can keep our business customers calm, as we can show we archive every record (record count) and reconcile down to the penny. If we are off, we do not move the archive to production. But IBM treats our archiving of non-production database with lesser priority. In the past, we have waited months for IBM to resolve the problem. Our only solution has been to light a fire under the bottom of the sales reps.
One issue is that IBM only wants to deal with one person. It makes sense from their point of view, to have a single point of contact. But from the customer side, it is a pain. Especially when the person is on vacation or out sick, everything grinds to a halt.
Optim established itself in-house because of their archive feature. We began to expand into data privacy and subsetter functions in later years.
EMC offers a product that archives PeopleSoft modules, which we purchased. Sadly, we could not get it to work properly. We soon discovered performance and scalability issues. When we tried archiving data, it was very sluggish. In the end, we used it to archive standalone tables, which proved useless.
Initial setup was straightforward.
Pricing is based on the number of CPUs or mainframe MIPS on the application DBMS. Over time, it made more sense to obtain an enterprise license with unlimited deploys.
All products go through a proof-of-concept to ensure they work as advertised and work within our environment.
I met with Informatica, as they offer a similar product. It performs the same functionality as Optim. When I asked why is Informatica better than IBM, I was told their technical support would smile when we asked questions. Needless to say, there is no reason to leave IBM.
I really appreciate using the match keys and comparing the records before and after masking. This is done by joining multiple tables to form a single record. This helps to get a faster validation of data.
The product has helped to streamline the Test Data Management (TDM) process. Without this product, participation from several stakeholders such as DBAs, Admins, and the Environment refresh team were required.
Scripting complex data masking requirement in Lua can be converted into a simpler, user-friendly interface.
Instead of a free text editor, which is used to code the functions (mostly "if-else" conditions), a drop-down like interface can be created to join various conditions and generate a policy for masking.
I have used the product for three years.
We have not encountered any issues with respect to stability.
We faced some challenges with a combination of complex referential integrity and a higher volume of data.
We have enjoyed excellent technical support.
IBM Optim was the first solution that we used.
This response is specific to a z/OS environment. The initial setup is complex and requires assistance from mainframe administrators.
The initial setup should be made simpler with a step-by-step or a one-click installation guide.
Pricing and licensing is higher compared to other products.
We evaluated and compared three other COTS TDM solutions.
I recommended that others complete a PoC/pilot before starting an implementation. Some of the diverse technology landscape might require a hybrid Test Data Management solution.
Data masking with consistency across databases and applications is the most valuable feature.
We only do data masking as of now because it is a compliance requirement. However, the benefits in sub-setting have not been realized yet. No application has availed of the service.
Licensing could be improved. The PVU licensing mechanism is a limiting factor to expanding the use of the tool.
I have been using IBM Optim for five years.
We did have some stability issues.
We did have some scalability issues.
I would give technical support a rating of 7/10.
We did not have a previous solution.
The setup was complex for me, because I am not familiar with ODBC. I have to learn how to use it, in order to connect to different databases.
Discuss the PVU limitations when it comes to extending the service with new apps.
I have no idea if our architecture team looked at alternatives. I started to use the tool as developer.
There are many flavors of Optim. Make sure you understand what you want.
