Delivering information you can trust

IBM Information Server, Version 8.0: Understanding and analyzing your data

Understanding and addressing delivers them all. For more information Highlights data quality: A critical early step on standardization and matching, visit What price tag would you place on the .com/software/data/integration/  Create a greater understanding value of truly understanding the data qualitystage of data source structure, content sources of your data-driven project? IBM Information Server inspires and quality According to industry analysts, over 80 percent of IT projects either fail or confidence in data quality  Ensure healthy data quality overrun their budgets due to a lack of IBM Information Server automates throughout the project life cycle data understanding. data profiling, analysis and monitoring,  Eliminate the risk and helping to not only simplify information uncertainty of proliferating bad IBM® Information Server can help you integration, but also inspire greater data throughout the enterprise quickly and easily understand your confidence in the quality of informa- data by providing data profiling as tion delivered. IBM Information Server well as monitoring capabilities. These allows you to meet the demanding insights can help you accelerate requirements of your enterprise today information-based projects—from while achieving the objectives that will data warehousing to infrastructure help sustain your growth for tomorrow. consolidation to master data manage- By using the data profiling capabilities ment and data governance. of IBM Information Server in the early phases of your data integration Data profiling (data source analysis) projects, you can: helps you understand your data by revealing insightful information about • Expedite delivery of data-driven the structure, content and quality of projects your data sources. Data quality is a • Minimize costs and resources core discipline of IBM Information of critical data integration projects Server because it enables the delivery • Eliminate the risk and impact of consistent, reusable, trusted infor- of proliferating incorrect and mation. The data quality continuum inaccurate data includes data profiling, standard- • Help ensure the timely delivery of ization, matching and data quality trusted information monitoring. IBM Information Server Delivering information you can trust

IBM Information Server profiles data by performing complete source-sys- tem analysis, including column and table analysis, primary and foreign key analysis, relationship analysis and redundancy analysis on your heterogeneous data sources. It also features extensive reporting capabili- ties, robust security, scheduling and a customizable dashboard, all in a state- of-the-art intuitive GUI (see Figure 1).

IBM Information Server data profiling and analysis features include:

Comprehensive data analysis— A complete set of metrics offers a com- Figure 1. Frequency distribution results from column analysis plete picture of your data from every possible angle and enables users to Extensive reporting—Over 35 what you need to do, when you need to immediately document all discovered reports are ready to use out of the box, do it (see Figure 2). data anomalies including data type, customizable for your environment. minimum, maximum, average, count Visual representation of analysis, Native parallel data profiling—Profile and nulls, and others. trends and metrics and incorporation high volumes of data easily without any of user notes all help you understand added configuration. Drill down—View individual records results quickly and efficiently. from profiling results in real time. For Secured analysis—Project-, role- example, if you discover an invalid Intuitive user interface—A rich, and user-based security controls value in a column, you can easily drill visual and graphically enabled user access to sensitive analytical infor- down to the actual record for further interface with intuitive navigation expe- mation. Controls can be as open or investigation. rience promotes the understanding of as restrictive as needed to meet information and improves usability and compliance requirements. productivity. A task-based approach to navigation helps you quickly perform

2 Delivering information you can trust

Broad support of data sources— enabling more accessibility and con- With IBM WebSphere® Information Profile IBM DB2®, Oracle, Microsoft sistency throughout the enterprise. Analyzer, leverage an understanding ® of source systems to uncover SQL Server, Sybase, IBM Informix , anomalies including: Microsoft® Access, text files, Open Active metadata across IBM Database Connectivity (ODBC) data Information Server simplifies the • Missing data sources and more. collection and management of meta- • Inaccurate and inconsistent data data across the entire integration Data profiling within a unified spectrum. Within the WebSphere • Duplicate data platform Information Analyzer module, profil- Leveraging a Service Oriented ing results are stored in the common Collaborative multiuser Architecture (SOA) to unlock informa- metadata repository. The result? environment—With support for tion from individual silos, WebSphere Profiling outcomes pertinent to IBM multiple analytical reviews, as well Information Analyzer, a product WebSphere DataStage® and IBM as asynchronous profiling, a project- module of IBM Information Server, WebSphere QualityStage™ users are based environment allows more than delivers data profiling and analysis instantly accessible without the need one user to work in a project-based functions within the context of a com- to export/import the data. context. plete information integration platform,

Baseline analysis—Compare results from current profiling sessions with the results from a prior profiling session, gaining insight into what may have changed in structure or content over time.

Integrated metadata—Share analytical results and profiling notes across all IBM Information Server modules.

Figure 2. Rich, task-based graphical user interface with customizable dashboard

3 Delivering information you can trust

IBM Information Server delivers cleansing, transforming and moving © Copyright IBM Corporation 2006 trusted information this information consistently and IBM Software Group Route 100 Organizations face an information securely throughout the enterprise, so Somers, NY 10589

challenge beginning with locating it can be accessed and used in new Printed in the United States of America information, getting it when it is needed ways to drive innovation, increase oper- November 2006 All Rights Reserved in the form needed, and once it is ational efficiency and help lower risk. AIX, DataStage, DB2, IBM, the IBM logo, found, discerning further insights from Informix and WebSphere are trademarks of System requirements it. Information validity and control are International Business Machines Corporation in WebSphere Information Analyzer—the the United States, other countries or both. additional concerns. The challenges IBM Information Server module that Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the only mount if businesses cannot ensure United States, other countries, or both. delivers information profiling and access to authoritative, consistent, Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of analysis functions—supports the fol- timely and complete information. Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other lowing operating systems: IBM AIX®, countries, or both. IBM Information Server is a revolu- Enterprise Linux®, SuSE Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. tionary new software platform that Enterprise Linux, Solaris, HP-UX and References in this publication to IBM products ® ® helps you derive more value from the Microsoft Windows . For current, or services do not imply that IBM intends to complex, heterogeneous informa- detailed hardware and software sys- make them available in all countries in which IBM operates. Offerings are subject to change, tion spread across your systems. It tem requirements for IBM information extension or withdrawal without notice.

enables your organization to integrate integration products, visit ibm.com/ All statements regarding IBM future direction disparate data and deliver trusted software/data/integration or intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and information wherever and whenever objectives only. For more information needed, in line and in context, to The information contained in this document is specific people, applications and To learn more about IBM Information provided for informational purposes only. While efforts were made to verify the completeness Integration Solutions, contact your processes. It helps business and IT and accuracy of the information contained in personnel collaborate to understand IBM marketing representative or IBM this document, it is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied. In Business Partner, or visit ibm.com/ the meaning, structure and content addition, this information is based on IBM’s of any type of information across any software/data/integration current product plans and strategy, which are subject to change by IBM without notice. IBM source. It provides breakthrough shall not be responsible for any damages arising productivity and performance for out of the use of, or otherwise related to, this document or any other documents. Nothing contained in this document is intended to, nor shall have the effect of, creating any warranties or representations from IBM Software.

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