The product is very stable and flexible. The product masks data throughout the entire structure. It helps us to work in a differential integrity environment. We conducted testing directly on our production environment in the past, but that’s no longer the case. We can now work with actual data in a production-like setting without production data. The shift to non-production data for testing and development has significantly improved our workflow. Developers can now work with fewer errors when deploying to production. The delivery of new software became faster, and errors significantly decreased. Working with actual data during the development phase allowed us to catch and address issues early rather than encountering them later during acceptance or production.
We have encountered challenges with different intgrity structures. In my experience, I’ve encountered challenges with implementing business cases. While the product remains stable, translating its use cases can be more complex. This involves both technical and functional considerations.
Based on my experience, I find that IBM’s technical support team excels in handling technical issues related to their software. They will help and assist you. However, when it comes to developing use cases, they might not be the right point of contact. For that, business partners would be more suitable.
In my experience, there’s a ticketing system in place when dealing with the product. Priorities come into play, especially during production situations. Additionally, constant communication with the support team occurs around the clock—24/7.
However, the team working on the tickets isn’t always consistent. If an issue persists beyond a specific timeframe, the responsibility may shift to colleagues in different countries.
The tool's installation part is tricky, and you need expert help. However, once installed, the product syncs. I rate the process a four out of ten. The deployment can be completed in a week. Its configuration depends on the use cases. You cannot determine a timeline for it.
IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Privacy's pricing is not expensive. It was less than what we expected. The licensing model for IBM Optim involves a one-time purchase followed by an annual subscription fee. This fee covers ongoing support and access to new versions. However, there are no options for extended or additional support.
When we comprehensively compared different tools, we chose IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Privacy not because it had the fanciest interface. The interface isn’t the best, but the functionality and capabilities are good. None of the tools we evaluated could deliver all the required functionalities, but the product stood out in functional capabilities. One of its most critical features was the ability to mask data while maintaining differential integrity structures.
I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.