IBM InfoSphere Information Server vs Teradata comparison

IBM InfoSphere Information ...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

Teradata and IBM InfoSphere Information Server compete in data management. IBM InfoSphere Information Server is viewed as superior due to its advanced features, overshadowing cost concerns.

Features: Teradata offers high scalability and advanced analytics capabilities, rapid data processing, and efficient complex query handling. IBM InfoSphere Information Server provides extensive data integration features, including data quality management and governance, supporting complex environments with data cleansing and metadata management.

Room for Improvement: Teradata can enhance its integration and governance capabilities, customize its tools to be more user-friendly, and expand its data quality features. IBM InfoSphere Information Server could improve its deployment process, simplify user experience for non-specialists, and reduce cost barriers for smaller businesses.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Teradata offers flexible and straightforward deployment with comprehensive support enhancing user experience. IBM InfoSphere Information Server's deployment is more complex, given its extensive capabilities, requiring expert handling, despite robust functionality.

Pricing and ROI: Teradata provides competitive pricing with a lower initial investment and quicker ROI, making it accessible to various businesses. IBM InfoSphere Information Server, despite higher setup costs, offers extensive features that assure long-term ROI for enterprises needing advanced data management solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM InfoSphere Information Server vs. Teradata Report (Updated: April 2025).

IBM InfoSphere Information Server vs. Teradata

April 2025

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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 InfoSphere Information ...

Ranking in Data Integration

32nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Metadata Management (7th)

Teradata

Ranking in Data Integration

17th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Customer Experience Management (6th), Backup and Recovery (20th), Relational Databases Tools (8th), Data Warehouse (3rd), BI (Business Intelligence) Tools (10th), Marketing Management (6th), Cloud Data Warehouse (6th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Data Integration category, the mindshare of IBM InfoSphere Information Server is 0.8%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Teradata is 1.0%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Data Integration

Featured Reviews

UmeshKumar1

Business Analyst Team Lead at Accenture

Prompt support, reliable, but lacking scalability

IBM InfoSphere Information Server has multiple tools in that product suite. However, we mainly use it as an integration tool I have been using IBM InfoSphere Information Server for approximately five years. IBM InfoSphere Information Server is stable. IBM InfoSphere Information Server should be…

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SurjitChoudhury

Data engineer at Cocos pt

Offers seamless integration capabilities and performance optimization features, including extensive indexing and advanced tuning capabilities

We created and constructed the warehouse. We used multiple loading processes like MultiLoad, FastLoad, and Teradata Pump. But those are loading processes, and Teradata is a powerful tool because if we consider older technologies, its architecture with nodes, virtual processes, and nodes is a unique concept. Later, other technologies like Informatica also adopted the concept of nodes from Informatica PowerCenter version 7.x. Previously, it was a client-server architecture, but later, it changed to the nodes concept. Like, we can have the database available 24/7, 365 days. If one node fails, other nodes can take care of it. Informatica adopted all those concepts when it changed its architecture. Even Oracle databases have since adapted their architecture to them. However, this particular Teradata company initially started with its own different type of architecture, which major companies later adopted. It has grown now, but initially, whatever query we sent it would be mapped into a particular component. After that, it goes to the virtual processor and down to the disk, where the actual physical data is loaded. So, in between, there's a map, which acts like a data dictionary. It also holds information about each piece of data, where it's loaded, and on which particular virtual processor or node the data resides. Because Teradata comes with a four-node architecture, or however many nodes we choose, the cost is determined by that initially. So, what type of data does each and every node hold? It's a shared-no architecture. So, whatever task is given to a virtual processor it will be processed. If there's a failure, then it will be taken care of by another virtual processor. Moreover, this solution has impacted the query time and data performance. In Teradata, there's a lot of joining, partitioning, and indexing of records. There are primary and secondary indexes, hash indexing, and other indexing processes. To improve query performance, we first analyze the query and tune it. If a join needs a secondary index, which plays a major role in filtering records, we might reconstruct that particular table with the secondary index. This tuning involves partitioning and indexing. We use these tools and technologies to fine-tune performance. When it comes to integration, tools like Informatica seamlessly connect with Teradata. We ensure the Teradata database is configured correctly in Informatica, including the proper hostname and properties for the load process. We didn't find any major complexity or issues with integration. But, these technologies are quite old now. With newer big data technologies, we've worked with a four-layer architecture, pulling data from Hadoop Lake to Teradata. We configure Teradata with the appropriate hostname and credentials, and use BTEQ queries to load data. Previously, we converted the data warehouse to a CLD model as per Teradata's standardized procedures, moving from an ETL to an EMT process. This allowed us to perform gap analysis on missing entities based on the model and retrieve them from the source system again. We found Teradata integration straightforward and compatible with other tools.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The integration with different technologies is the most valuable feature."

"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"This solution is extremely flexible and scalable."

"IBM InfoSphere Information Server is stable."

"It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

"The data mover is valuable over the last two years as it allows us to achieve data replication to our disaster recovery systems."

"Building a data warehouse with Teradata has definitely helped a lot of our downstream applications to more easily access information."

"Their extensive experience in data warehousing, the platform's performance, and their strong reputation in the market are the most valuable."

"It has reduced a lot of reworking on maintaining indexes, partitions, etc."

"Teradata's best feature is its speed with historical data."

"The initial setup was straightforward."

"It is a stable program."

More Teradata pros

Cons

"There are certain shortcomings in the cloud side of the solution, where improvements are required."

"IBM InfoSphere Information Server should be more scalable. It should have the option to change the configuration to run on a single, non-multiple node, or multi-threading processing."

"This solution would benefit from the engine being made more lightweight."

"Their technical support needs improvement."

"The SQL Assistant is very basic. This tool can be improved for usability."

"Teradata's pricing is quite high compared to Redshift, Synapse, or GCP alternatives."

"It is hard for some of our users to set up rules for cleansing and transforming data, so this is something that could be improved."

"Teradata needs to pay attention to the cloud-based solution to make sure it runs smoothly."

"The increasing volumes of data demand more and more performance."

"The tool's flexibility and capacity for expansion are areas of concern where improvements are required."

"When backups are performed, it locks the database, preventing user access, which is a concern."

"Query language and its functionality are rather limited, compared to Oracle or even SQL Server. However, it is possible to perform any kind of logic in it (though some workarounds may be required)."

More Teradata cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing cost of IBM InfoSphere Information Server depends on how many users there are."

"Teradata's licensing is on the expensive side."

"Teradata is a very expensive solution."

"I rate the product price a nine on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive."

"I would advise others to look into migration and setup as a fixed price and incorporate a SaaS option for other Teradata services."

"It is still a very expensive solution. While I very much like the pure technological supremacy of the software itself, I believe Teradata as a company needs to become more affordable. They are already losing the market to more flexible or cheaper competitors."

"In this day and age, we want to get things done quickly. So, we go to the AWS Marketplace."

"The price of Teradata is expensive. However, what they deliver they are outstanding. If you're looking for an inexpensive solution to run a database, this isn't your tool. It's the Ferrari of databases for data warehousing."

"The cost is substantial, totaling around $1.2 million, solely dedicated to upgrading the hardware."

More Teradata pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user232068

Senior Data Architect at a pharma/biotech company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Aug 5, 2015

Netezza vs. Teradata

Original published at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-i-choose-net Two leading Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) architectures for Data Warehousing (DW) are IBM PureData System for Analytics (formerly Netezza) and Teradata. I thought talking about the similarities and differences…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

22%

Government

14%

Insurance Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

26%

Computer Software Company

11%

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM InfoSphere Information Server?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

What needs improvement with IBM InfoSphere Information Server?

There are certain shortcomings in the cloud side of the solution, where improvements are required. In our company, we are presently in the process of doing a PoC phase since we have the solution cu...

What is your primary use case for IBM InfoSphere Information Server?

I use IBM InfoSphere Information Server in retail banking for transformation purposes.

Comparing Teradata and Oracle Database, which product do you think is better and why?

I have spoken to my colleagues about this comparison and in our collective opinion, the reason why some people may declare Teradata better than Oracle is the pricing. Both solutions are quite simi...

Which companies use Teradata and who is it most suitable for?

Before my organization implemented this solution, we researched which big brands were using Teradata, so we knew if it would be compatible with our field. According to the product's site, the comp...

Is Teradata a difficult solution to work with?

Teradata is not a difficult product to work with, especially since they offer you technical support at all levels if you just ask. There are some features that may cause difficulties - for example,...

IBM InfoSphere DataStage vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Comparisons

Compared 60% of the time

Oracle GoldenGate vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 15% of the time

Qlik Replicate vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 12% of the time

IBM InfoSphere Information Governance Catalog vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 8% of the time

IBM Watson Knowledge Catalog vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 5% of the time

More IBM InfoSphere Information Server Competitors

Oracle Exadata vs Teradata

Compared 14% of the time

SQL Server vs Teradata

Compared 10% of the time

Snowflake vs Teradata

Compared 7% of the time

MySQL vs Teradata

Compared 7% of the time

IBM Db2 Database vs Teradata

Compared 6% of the time

More Teradata Competitors

Product Reports

Download IBM InfoSphere Information Server product report

Data Integration

May 2025

IBM InfoSphere Information Server report

Download Teradata product report

April 2025

Also Known As

InfoSphere Information Server, IBM Information Server

IntelliFlex, Aster Data Map Reduce, , QueryGrid, Customer Interaction Manager, Digital Marketing Center, Data Mover, Data Stream Architecture

Overview

IBM InfoSphere Information Server is a market-leading data integration platform which includes a family of products that enable you to understand, cleanse, monitor, transform, and deliver data, as well as to collaborate to bridge the gap between business and IT. InfoSphere Information Server provides massively parallel processing (MPP) capabilities to deliver a highly scalable and flexible integration platform that handles a variety of data volumes (big, small, and everything in between).

IBM

Teradata is a scalable data analytics platform designed to meet enterprise demands for large-scale data management and processing, focusing on performance, scalability, and security for complex query executions.

As a leading data warehousing solution, Teradata integrates advanced analytics enabling organizations to derive insights from massive datasets. It supports high-volume data workloads with its architecture optimized for analytical queries. Users benefit from its robust scalability, allowing seamless expansion as data grows. Teradata's SQL engine is compatible with a wide range of data types, ensuring flexibility in data analysis. With advanced security measures, it protects sensitive data across various environments, providing peace of mind to users handling critical information.

What are the most important features of Teradata?

Linear Scalability: Easily expands data processing capabilities to handle increasing data loads without performance degradation.
Advanced Analytics: Supports complex analytical operations integrating machine learning and AI for predictive insights.
SQL Compatibility: Offers a comprehensive SQL interface that supports complex queries across diverse data types.
Data Security: Implements rigorous security protocols to protect data integrity and confidentiality.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Improved Decision-Making: Derive actionable insights quickly for strategic business decisions.
Cost Efficiency: Optimized resource usage reduces operational costs associated with data processing.
Increased Productivity: Streamlined data operations save time, allowing teams to focus on analysis.
Enhanced Scalability: Seamless growth without significant additional investment as data volumes increase.

Teradata is widely used in industries like finance, telecommunications, and healthcare, where data-driven decisions are critical. Companies leverage its robust analytics capabilities to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. In these sectors, quick access to data insights can significantly impact competitive advantage.

Sample Customers

Canadian National Railway Company, Chickasaw Nation Division of Commerce, Swedish Armed Forces, BG RCI, Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd., University of Arizona, Biogrid Australia

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