DemandTools vs. IBM Storage Protect

DemandTools is perfect for any system that constantly adds new records to its database. For example, in higher education, we are constantly purchasing search names from various vendors and DemandTools allows us to make sure we are not doubling up on the same records. It saves us money in the long run as we are not mailing out multiple copies of our brochures to the same person.

IBM Storage Protect is well-suited for large heterogenous environments, with skilled IT staff on-hand. You need a person (or group of people) to monitor day-to-day operations, tweak schedules where needed and be mindful of things that might go wrong. It is also well-suited if you have other IBM products that integrate well with Storage Protect, like Storage Protect Plus or IBM Defender. It is less suited for small companies, with only one person responsible for IT. Employing Storage Protect would be overkill and use too much time of the administrator.

Incentivized

• PowerGrid can review and make the updates simultaneously.
• Single Table Dedupe makes merg[ing] the records easy and can make updates at the same time.
• BulkBackup [is] just one click, majority data got updated.
• Scenarios save a lot of time for similar working load.

Incentivized

• Tight integration with Db2. As an IBM product, it works seamlessly with Db2. You can query what is stored in TSM via Db2 itself. You can also use DB scripts to maintain the items being stored there.
• Like most of its competitors, Tivoli handles deduplication well.
• Provides a GUI for browsing and maintaining items stored there. I rarely use this feature, due to the next item I will post:
• Command-line interface directly from my Db2 database servers.
• Both client and server-side deduplication, compression and encryption are available.
• If the requirements are zLinux and DB2 support then it's the most solid solution.
• Can be complex to implement, but once up and running, it is rock-solid and immensely scalable.
• Scalability is huge. Can be added onto easily.

Incentivized

• I wish I could make changes to my existing scenarios using save rather than having to create a whole new scenario. Maybe you can, I just haven't been able to.
• Some features aren't user intuitive and it takes a while to learn.

Incentivized

• Deployment and configuration is not easy for an unexperienced IBM Spectrum Protect administrator
• Operations center uses a lot of data and needs a lot of storage for larger environments
• Have not seen a redbook about it in the past 10 years

It's a great product. The only thing that holds us back is it was frustrating working with their sales team. We also don't like that when Validity purchased DemandTools they immediately started charging us quite a bit while it had been free for non-profit users when CRMFusion owned it. They also don't let you buy it for just 1 or 2 seats, you have to pay, I believe, in batches of 100 seats.

Incentivized

Not required, company closed. TSM is not used in my current role at my current job.

Incentivized

Allows for control in uploading lists, saved processes for checking duplicate records.

Allows for backup files and quick reverts if something goes wrong.

Extends reporting when Salesforce.com cannot support specific pieces of info being put together in a report.

Automated processes for set and forget hygiene tasks

In the present, a backup solution is a must-have, but then companies start using a solution for virtual machines, another solution for bare-metal servers, and another solution for their ERP. By using Spectrum Protect you can have all of that in a single pane of glass. This way you can have a simple recovery plan for all your information assets.

Incentivized

There has not been a time since I started 9 months ago that I've encountered any kind of downtime.

Incentivized

DemandTools is a bit clunky and slow at times

Incentivized

Support can be slow so do not expect quick turn for urgent issues.
Help for specific queries not not there. Product tech support is offered. It would be great if query support, even if paid, was offered
The training webinars help with the basics but not much if you need advanced functionality.

The few times we've called for support we eventually got an answer, but it's IBM and a very big company and getting to a support agent is hard.

Incentivized

The trainings are free live webinars that give you a solid base for getting started with the program. The only weakness is they don't have any advanced classes.

I had just started using Salesforce about 3 months before I did the implementation myself, and it was easy to do just following their step-by-step instructions.

Though RingLead has much more to offer in terms of automation (and it is in Salesforce rather than a separate program), DemandTools still has our heart. DemandTools is very cost-friendly and we were able to increase the value of DemandTools by programming in additional saved scenarios. I decreased admin time in the DemandTools suite by approximately 25% after implementing saved scenarios for every reoccurring update or list upload.

Incentivized

IBM Spectrum Protect is related to the other IBM Spectrum products listed because it is part of the suite and is also the main backup product for backup and restoration of information. With Veeam it is related as they present competence in different lines of technology, often the integration of both tools can be the best solution for clients looking for a successful backup strategy.

Incentivized

Not at the moment, but it can leverage the billing outcomes as per the scales.

Incentivized

It's done everything we've needed it to do.

Incentivized

• It is a tremendous time saver. It does things Salesforce doesn't even have the capability to do. Tasks that would take hours to manually complete.
• We can process a tremendous amount of data daily through one person, vs. weeks for the data to be cleaned, reviewed, routed and input.
• Saves on headcount by allowing a dedicated user to set up batches and jobs for other teams to ensure their data integrity.
• The return on investment isn't easily quantifiable but it is FELT in our department.

Incentivized

• Tivoli does well running file-level backups, but Exchange is clunky and restores are really hard. With no SharePoint agent, if you use SharePoint you will need another product like AvePoint DocAve. The web-based GUI console is MUCH improved over earlier versions, but you will still need to be a command-line guru to make Tivoli do everything, and local (node) config files still rule. This product was originally ported from Unix and retains may of its 'nix roots.

Incentivized