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IBM Cloud Pak for Data vs SAS Access comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

IBM Cloud Pak for Data
Ranking in Data Integration
15th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
22
Ranking in other categories
Data Virtualization (3rd)
SAS Access
Ranking in Data Integration
58th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Data Integration category, the mindshare of IBM Cloud Pak for Data is 1.1%, down from 1.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAS Access is 0.8%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Data Integration Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
IBM Cloud Pak for Data1.1%
SAS Access0.8%
Other98.1%
Data Integration
 

Featured Reviews

Raman Shihan - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Data Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Unified data workflows have transformed how I manage sensitive analytics and end-to-end AI
One of the things that IBM Cloud Pak for Data does well is the data privacy and security that it offers. Since most of my data is very sensitive, IBM privacy framework helps me secure it very conveniently. In my experience, some of the best features that I encounter in IBM Cloud Pak for Data are the AI and Watson Assistant, which is very good. The analytics dashboard featuring all the recent history is very good with IBM. Searching for data through the unified search option is super cool. Among those features, the artificial intelligence that solves everything automatically stands out as most valuable in my day-to-day work, saving a lot of time. I can also store my data in many clouds with all the desired data. The customer service system is excellent and always willing to help. I would also add that the project analytics dashboard, ability to manage data across different cloud platforms, and end-to-end AI lifecycle are very great. IBM Cloud Pak for Data has positively impacted my organization by helping me see some return on investments. I have the ability to access all my data much quicker through the unified search option. It has also improved data security and governance in my organization very well. I've seen a 30% increase in productivity through the introduction of AI with IBM Cloud Pak for Data, which has really simplified a lot of operations that were manually tackled.
Robert Heck - PeerSpot reviewer
Co Owner at Hecht und Heck GmbH
The solution is stable, scalable, and flexible
I rate the solution eight out of ten. The number of people required to maintain the solution is dependent on the other applications running. The solution in itself does not require a lot of maintenance. The solution is flexible and I recommend it when you have more complex applications with special requirements.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"IBM Cloud Pak for Data is a powerful cloud-native all-in-one easy-to-use solution that enables us to put data to work quickly and effectively."
"IBM Cloud Pak for Data is a very useful tool because it has the entire gamut of tools, starting from collecting the data from various sources using direct integration or through data virtualization and then organizing it into catalogs and applying their organization's policies or if they have other enforcement policies on top of that."
"IBM Cloud Pak for Data has enabled us to access diffuse data quickly across hybrid networks and given our teams an edge in data management through automation while adhering to compliance regulations."
"IBM Cloud Pak for Data is a great tool because if you need to connect to or get data from multiple data sources, it is the best solution, enabling data-driven decisions that are very accurate."
"The overall performance of IBM Cloud Pak for Data, particularly with IBM DataStage for ETL processes, is very good, the customers I have are all very happy, they are looking for expansion, and the experience is very good with it, providing them with the results needed and more."
"One of Cloud Pak's best features is the Watson Knowledge Catalog, which helps you implement data governance."
"Its data preparation capabilities are highly valuable."
"You can model the data there, connect the data models with the business processes and create data lineage processes."
"The most valuable aspect of the solution is the ease of access to the data in those databases."
"The most valuable part of SAS/ACCESS is what it is made for: connecting to remote systems that are not part of your physical SAS environment."
"The SAS/ACCESS ability to connect creates an elegant simplicity."
"The most valuable feature is you have native access to the external databases."
 

Cons

"What I would love to see is an end-to-end, almost a training demo database of some sort, where one of the biggest problems with data management is demonstrated."
"To improve IBM Cloud Pak for Data, I suggest more out-of-the-box integration, enhancement of analytics to be sharper, and the deployment options should be very flexible."
"The tool depends on the control plane, an OpenShift container platform utilized as an orchestration layer...So, we have communicated this issue to IBM and asked if it is feasible to adapt the solution to work on a Kubernetes platform that we support."
"One of the improvements I think should be made to IBM Cloud Pak for Data is that the cost of the product is a bit higher."
"The interface could improve because sometimes it becomes slow. Sometimes there is a delay between clicks when using the software, which can make the development process slow. It can take a few seconds to complete one action, and then a few more seconds to do the next one."
"One challenge I'm facing with IBM Cloud Pak for Data is native features have been decommissioned, such as XML input and output."
"The solution could have more connectors."
"The solution's user experience is an area that has room for improvement."
"The pricing model needs to be reconsidered and adjusted."
"The primary way that this product can be improved is by adjusting their pricing model."
"The solution's pricing and licensing are expensive."
"I can't really recall any missing feature or general improvement that is needed. We don't really add too many new kinds of databases and therefore our needs are already met."
"The solution can provide access to the newer databases that come out sooner."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's quite expensive."
"Cloud Pak's cost is a little high."
"IBM Cloud Pak for Data is expensive. If we include the training time and the machine learning, it's expensive. The cost of the execution is more reasonable."
"For the licensing of the solution, there is a yearly payment that needs to be made. Also, since it is expensive, cost-wise, I rate the solution an eight or nine out of ten."
"The solution's pricing is competitive with that of other vendors."
"The solution is expensive."
"I don't have the exact licensing cost for IBM Cloud Pak for Data, as my company is still finalizing requirements, including monthly, yearly, and three-year licensing fees. Still, on a scale of one to five, I'd rate it a three because, compared to other vendors, it's more complicated."
"I think that this product is too expensive for smaller companies."
"The solution's pricing and licensing are expensive."
"The pricing model is complex and is based on modular packages as well as the size of the applicable environment."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
20%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
7%
University
5%
Construction Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business10
Large Enterprise20
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Cloud Pak for Data?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that the cost of the product can be a bit higher, especially for a company working on a tight budget.
What needs improvement with IBM Cloud Pak for Data?
One of the improvements I think should be made to IBM Cloud Pak for Data is that the cost of the product is a bit higher. Besides cost, I think something that is needed for improvement is that more...
What is your primary use case for IBM Cloud Pak for Data?
My main use case for IBM Cloud Pak for Data is that it is fully scalable and a scalable platform for data. I use it to provide data solutions for my customers. I also use it to provide various indu...
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Also Known As

Cloud Pak for Data
SAS/Access
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Qatar Development Bank, GuideWell, Skanderborg Music Festival
Los Angeles County, West Midlands Police, Credit Guarantee Corporation, Canada Post, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Cloud Pak for Data vs. SAS Access and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.
900,125 professionals have used our research since 2012.