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Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) vs Microsoft MDS vs SAS MDM comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

Mindshare comparison

Data Management Platforms (DMP) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC)14.1%
Palantir Foundry25.9%
Adobe Audience Manager6.2%
Other53.8%
Data Management Platforms (DMP)
Master Data Management (MDM) Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft MDS13.0%
SAP Master Data Governance21.6%
TIBCO EBX12.6%
Other52.8%
Master Data Management (MDM) Software
Master Data Management (MDM) Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
SAS MDM2.7%
SAP Master Data Governance21.6%
Microsoft MDS13.0%
Other62.7%
Master Data Management (MDM) Software
 

Featured Reviews

SaurabhGaonshindhe - PeerSpot reviewer
Modular structure and AI features stream new reporting processes
One of my clients has a requirement; they want to integrate metadata into the process, which means, for example, if I just want to implement a new field into my database, that field needs to be reflected throughout, let's say, 200 mappings. This highlights the need for a data-driven approach. My experience with technical support from Informatica is quite interesting; I would rate it as nine out of ten for Informatica PowerCenter kind of products or the Informatica integration products, because my team can do some hands-on using their free licenses or one-month kind of products. However, for products Master Data Management or related to MDM or Data Governance, there is no way by which we can directly practice, and my team struggles at that point.
Satyam Saxena - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced data management and cost effective with flexible integration capabilities
If Microsoft MDS were part of Azure, it would be significantly more helpful. Additionally, integrating fuzzy duplication within MDS itself, rather than relying on SSIS, would streamline operations. The current requirement to store data in Azure tables after processing it in MDS, due to its lack of direct Azure integration, is a drawback.
reviewer1320117 - PeerSpot reviewer
When a client wants an analytics tool plus BI, that is when we look to this solution
Having used SAS in the past, in the role that I play, I always push for SAS and all the analytics. But without having done a full comparison with other tools, I do not feel I'm in a position to say that there are capabilities available with SAS that are not in the other tools. But from a practical perspective, I would definitely recommend this solution. I rate it at eight out of 10 because I still want to explore it a bit more. I have only used it for three clients, and not as a full-blown MDM asset. If you are running a complex use case, I may or may not be in a position to justify the use of this product at this point in time. I would be 80 percent comfortable doing so and that's why I'm giving it a score of eight.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The way that the solution scans is very useful."
"I think the integration feature is probably one of the key features in Informatica MDM...Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"One of the most valuable features is that I don't need to buy a subscription for any functionality. With Informatica Cloud Data Management, I have all the functionality and features available. If I need to make an integration, I can go to that integration service. If I need to mask, provide, or clean some information, I can easily just pick up that feature and use it. It's very simple, and I have all the functions and capabilities I need to work with data."
"I like the number of options that are presented with Informatica, fuzzy matching, and your screen."
"Axon does one interesting thing that I don't think other tools do as well. It lets you rate data and incorporates Informatica's data quality feature into it. There are little indications and graphics that show you how good the data quality is, and you can drill into it to see where potential issues lie."
"It is a very stable solution...It is a scalable solution."
"Informatica Cloud Data Integration is stable."
"You can extract and transfer your data as you wish it to be consumed later."
"It has been a long-standing tool in our organization since it was free."
"It's very easy to use."
"Technical support is very good."
"It has a very good feature called Excel plug-in. You just have to install the plug-in, and then it directly connects to the MDS instance where you can maintain and manage your data and publish it right through Excel. You don't need to go to the front end to make any changes. It has easy integration with SQL Server, and you can use SSIS to do the ETLs. It is a part of the Microsoft stack. It works with most of the Microsoft stuff."
"The tool is easy to use."
"The backup and restore functionality are the solution's most valuable aspects."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft MDS is its compatibility with ETL tools like SSIS, which simplifies operations for end-users."
"What I like about Microsoft, is that it has a huge database with many users."
"One good feature is that SAS MDM comes bundled with the entire stack so we are in a position to place it with the client. So when a client wants an analytics tool plus BI, and they want to bring in other elements, that is when we look to MDM, because it is a single vendor."
 

Cons

"Though EDC has maximum coverage, a few things were not available to scan, but I think EDC is evolving to address this issue."
"It is not easy to set up and configure the tool."
"Exploring the possibility of incorporating AI capabilities that can suggest additional rules would significantly streamline our data analysis process following data profiling."
"The cloud version of Axon is far behind the on-prem, and many of my clients want to go fully to the cloud. However, Axon has to be an on-prem installation. I would like to see their cloud products catch up with their on-prem capabilities."
"It can be improved in terms of performance and execution. I'm expecting better performance. It currently has some restrictions in terms of execution. For example, if we want to run it in the command mode and execute it, there are some restrictions, and we are facing some issues with a huge volume of data. These restrictions are not there in Informatica PowerCenter because we are able to execute a huge volume of data, and there are more ways to execute it."
"A general improvement in icons and the virtual interface would be good."
"The user interface can be a bit more functionality-aligned."
"Informatica MDM could be improved by adding drag and drop options, business data insights, and visualization reporting."
"There are occasions when the solution maintains SD and we get duplications of MDS."
"The Microsoft license cost could be lower."
"It would be a better option to have an on-cloud version."
"Stability can be fragile at times. If you are not attentive or make a mistake, it can cause problems."
"The solution could be better integrated into Microsoft's other products."
"The program's navigation tools could be improved."
"From my understanding, MS, as of 2021, will not maintain the product going forward."
"If Microsoft MDS were part of Azure, it would be significantly more helpful."
"The initial setup was slightly complex. We did face a couple of issues such as the SAML integration not being very smooth. And linking communication with the metadata server was a bit of a challenge. Eventually, we were able to configure it properly."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing structure is good, but having to pay for extra drivers to be used in an ICS environment makes me a little nervous."
"I rate the licensing cost of Informatica MDM a five out of ten."
"It's offers value for money. They're more competitive with respect to pricing and offerings."
"it's expensive, but if you're looking for a stable solution, Informatica MDM is a good one to choose."
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing nine and a half out of ten."
"The solution is very expensive."
"The product is very expensive"
"The product is not very pocket-friendly for small and medium-sized businesses, and it is understandable because of the kind of features the tool gives."
"Product licensing is very complicated. It would be helpful to have an online calculator to estimate the cost of a license."
"With Microsoft, we buy everything though an agreement, so we purchase volume licensing every year."
"SAP is more expensive than Microsoft."
"MDS is a part of the SQL Server enterprise license. I am not aware of any additional costs."
"I would like to see better pricing."
"The solution does require a license and we have enterprise licenses."
"Microsoft MDS is an expensive solution."
"The pricing of this solution is good."
Information not available
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Insurance Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Media Company
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business42
Midsize Enterprise24
Large Enterprise134
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise15
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

How does Azure Data Factory compare with Informatica Cloud Data Integration?
Azure Data Factory is a solid product offering many transformation functions; It has pre-load and post-load transfor...
Which Informatica product would you choose - PowerCenter or Cloud Data Integration?
Complex transformations can easily be achieved using PowerCenter, which has all the features and tools to establish a...
What are the biggest benefits of using Informatica Cloud Data Integration?
When it comes to cloud data integration, this solution can provide you with multiple benefits, including: Overhead r...
What do you like most about Microsoft MDS?
More generic related things can be included in the services.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft MDS?
Microsoft MDS is free. Currently, there is no pricing concern with the tool.
What needs improvement with Microsoft MDS?
Microsoft MDS is outdated and lacks modern capabilities. It is too slow and does not support automated mapping or AI-...
Ask a question
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Also Known As

ActiveVOS, Active Endpoints, BPM, Address Verification, Persistent Data Masking, Cloud Test Data Management, PIM, , Enterprise Data Catalog, Data Integration Hub, Cloud Data Integration, Data Quality, Cloud API and App Integration
Microsoft Master Data Services, Microsoft MDM, Microsoft SQL Server Master Data Services, MS MDS
SAS Master Data Management, DataFlux qMDM
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

The Travel Company, Carbonite
ETA a.s., Apeejay Surrendra Group, Blue Star Infotech, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, New Belgium Brewing
Aegon, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, Ausgrid, Bank of Queensland, Florida Department of Corrections, Generali Hellas, Gitanjali Group, Gloucestershire Constabulary, GS Home Shopping, HealthPartners, The Travel Corporation, Transitions Optical, Triad Analytic Solutions
Find out what your peers are saying about Palantir, Informatica, Cohesity and others in Data Management Platforms (DMP). Updated: September 2025.
868,570 professionals have used our research since 2012.