

Control-M and IBM Sterling File Gateway compete in the enterprise IT solutions market, focusing on job scheduling and secure file transfer respectively. While Control-M demonstrates stronger capabilities in job scheduling automation, IBM Sterling is superior in secure file transfers.
Features: Control-M is designed for job scheduling, offering seamless automation and integration across platforms. It includes job monitoring and control modules that integrate with applications like SAP and DB, along with virtual terminal functionalities. IBM Sterling File Gateway specializes in secure file transfers and data management, supporting various transfer protocols and handling large volumes of data securely. Its features cater to secure file transmission, flexible file routing, and comprehensive partner management.
Room for Improvement: Control-M could improve by expanding output analysis to include arithmetic operations and enhancing its reporting flexibility and ease of customization. Users also note challenges with version compatibility and integrating new modules. IBM Sterling File Gateway can enhance its user interface to make it less cumbersome and simplify its complex features. Better management for large bulk file transfers and easier cloud and AI technology integration are also desired.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Control-M and IBM Sterling File Gateway support various deployment models including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid setups. Control-M is favored for its versatility and adaptability to different infrastructures, with strong customer service highlighted by quick response times. IBM Sterling File Gateway also offers robust technical support, though some challenges remain due to its complex features.
Pricing and ROI: Both solutions are considered costly. Control-M’s pricing model based on jobs or nodes makes it suitable for large enterprises, offering ROI through process simplification and automation. IBM Sterling File Gateway is recognized for its secure file transfer capabilities, offering value depending on specific enterprise needs, though cost remains a significant consideration for both.
The main return on investment with Helix Control-M has been a reduction in downtime and minimization of manual interventions, which has improved our operational efficiency.
You can run a million batch jobs or tasks at night when all of your highly skilled people are at home sleeping.
By implementing automation tools, you can minimize human errors and improve efficiency.
They quickly evolve with changing technology trends, easily adopt new features, and incorporate them into the product.
The support is accurate, and BMC is always ready to help with queries and complex incidents.
The technical support is very polite, helpful, and available 24/7.
Regarding the technical support of IBM Sterling File Gateway, I would rate their job about nine.
Our license doesn't limit our ability to configure Control-M as needed, allowing us to easily create new agents or environments.
I am paying for a top-end tool which rarely experiences issues, with most problems stemming from the applications being managed rather than the tooling itself.
It can absorb more workload wherever needed.
Control-M itself is robust, and it would receive a rating of 10.
The downtime is higher compared to AWS.
The testing and development phases need to be more rigorous before releasing patches.
They could provide more documentation and tutorials to make the initial setup easier to understand.
We've experienced main problems with MFTE where having one setup means when an error occurs, the entire service goes down.
Documentation should be maintained for all versions since they provided the application.
When there is an audit requiring proof that a file has gone in a secure way, most customers have not been able to prove it.
The licensing cost is very high, and they often consider switching to IBM Workload Scheduler or other options.
Control-M tends to be more expensive compared to other solutions, but users get great value from it.
Control-M is among the highest-priced solutions in the market.
Automation is more advanced, deployment is fast, and version control has been simplified.
The user interface is comprehensive and lets me view all my jobs on one page, monitor everything, and access the job history.
If I have a staff that operates Control-M on Windows Server, they will easily pick it up if they need to run it on Unix or mainframes. It's the same interface, saving time and improving efficiency.
The software has automation that at a fixed point in time triggers the copying of file A to B.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Control-M | 6.9% |
| IBM Sterling File Gateway | 7.0% |
| Other | 86.1% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 37 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 23 |
| Large Enterprise | 145 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 4 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 4 |
| Large Enterprise | 12 |
Control-M, from BMC, provides robust orchestration capabilities for managing hybrid cloud workflows, available both on-premise and as a SaaS option. With offerings starting at $29,000 annually, it supports growing teams in automating and scheduling enterprise workload processes.
Control-M serves as a versatile tool for businesses, enabling automation across diverse platforms like SAP, mainframes, and cloud environments. It simplifies job scheduling with an intuitive GUI and integrates with multiple applications and platforms. Users benefit from managed file transfers, role-based administration, and self-service portals, enhancing security and workflow management. While the platform offers comprehensive alerting, reporting, and batch impact management, feedback has highlighted areas for improvement such as more flexible job execution, enhanced reporting capabilities, and better integration with third-party tools. Additionally, licensing costs and support during upgrades are common concerns. Organizations value Control-M for its ability to facilitate secure file transfers and support business-critical operations, minimizing manual intervention and ensuring efficiency.
What are the key features of Control-M?Control-M is instrumental in industries managing complex workflows and IT operations. In finance, it offers accurate real-time data processing. Supply chain sectors benefit from its orchestration capabilities to streamline operations and minimize disruption. IT departments leverage integration capabilities to optimize workflow processes, ensuring seamless application management.
Securely manage transfer files with authentication, encryption and audit trails while you retain administrative control of data using a library of templates.
Sterling File Gateway can help you increase secure and dependable file transfer with your trading partners. It consolidates disparate centers of file transfer activity and facilitates the security-rich exchange of file-based data over the Internet. It helps companies avoid the risk and operational issues that can result from using loosely controlled file-transfer servers.
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