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The Top 6 Data Ingestion Tools for 2021

Data ingestion is increasingly a necessity for enterprise businesses. In a world with more and more data, the tools that effectively compile and process that data are more than commodities – they’re a strategic advantage.

The bottom line is that you need to get your data ingestion tools right if you want to succeed in the next decade.

But, as the need for data ingestion has increased, so too has the number of data ingestion tools on the market. Finding the right solution can be challenging. We’re here to help you sort through the noise and find the tools that make the most sense for you.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at six of the top data ingestion tools on the market today.

1. StarQuest Data Replicator

Admittedly, we’re a little biased. But we believe that our data ingestion software is the best on the market for a variety of enterprise data ingestion needs.

StarQuest Data Replicator (SQDR) sits between source and destination databases, allowing for real-time replication, vendor agnostic heterogeneous DMBS pairings, and relational and NoSQL database compatibility using an intuitive GUI. It can exploit Apache Kafka, and it supports use cases on newer DBMS platforms like Salesforce and Snowflake.

Notably, SQDR has a near-zero footprint on production servers. It’s also built to automatically restore replication following connectivity loss, without processes being compromised (something many other solutions struggle with).

SQDR is also supported by our industry-leading support team, which clients have called “The best vendor support I have ever encountered.”

Finally, SQDR typically allows for cost-savings of up to 90% when compared against market competitors. This is due to our per-core pricing model and our tailored implementations that are designed to meet your requirements (not to sell you services you don’t need).

To learn more about how SQDR can serve your organization’s data ingestion requirements, get in touch with us to schedule a free demo.

The bottom line: SQDR is a robust and cost-efficient data ingestion and replication solution for nearly any use case.

2. IBM InfoSphere Data Replication

Nobody has ever gotten fired, the saying goes, for hiring IBM; the company is always, at the least, a safe choice. As you might expect from one of the world’s leading computing firms, their data replication product – InfoSphere – is a solid option, particularly for data replication for IBM’s Db2.

Here’s how IBM describes the platform:

“IBM InfoSphere Data Replication provides log-based change data capture with transactional integrity to support big data integration and consolidation, warehousing and analytics initiatives at scale.”

It’s built for continuous availability and works for heterogeneous database pairings, but it’s best suited for IBM’s Db2. Additionally, while it is a robust solution for enterprises, if you’re looking for cost-efficiency, you may want to look elsewhere – it does, unsurprisingly, carry an enterprise-level price tag.

Finally, it’s worth noting that choosing IBM InfoSphere Data Replication can lead to vendor lock-in on the IBM platform, which may be undesirable depending on your use case. The solution is made by IBM, after all, so of course it is not vendor agnostic.

The bottom line: IBM InfoSpere Data Replication is an enterprise-level solution for IBM’s Db2 that carries an enterprise-level price tag.

3. Oracle GoldenGate

Oracle is another Fortune 500 firm that’s well known for offering reliable computing solutions. Their solution in the data ingestion space is Oracle GoldenGate. Here’s how the company describes the solution:

“Oracle GoldenGate is a comprehensive software package for real-time data integration and replication in heterogeneous IT environments. The product set enables high availability solutions, real-time data integration, transactional change data capture, data replication, transformations, and verification between operational and analytical enterprise systems.”

As with IBM’s solution, GoldenGate’s biggest benefit is its tight integration with its proprietary DBMS product, which, in this case, is Oracle Database. That said, it is built for heterogeneous data transfer. Like IBM, Oracle is a worthwhile solution to consider if cost-efficiency isn’t a high priority and if vendor lock-in isn’t a concern.

The bottom line: Oracle’s GoldenGate works well for Oracle Database but carries an enterprise-level price tag and may lead toward vendor lock-in.

4. Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft is the final of what we consider to be the “big three” proprietary data replication solutions. The company’s SQL Server, while sometimes framed as a “legacy” solution by up-and-coming vendors, is still one of the most widely used and commonly worked on database environments on the planet.

Microsoft doesn’t have a distinctly branded data replication solution, but SQL Server does have capabilities built in for use cases that involve homogeneous replication. As Microsoft describes it, “SQL Server provides a powerful and flexible system for synchronizing data across your enterprise.”

Again, as with the previous two solutions we’ve discussed, Microsoft is known for building solutions that lead toward vendor lock-in. If you aren’t concerned with that and simply need homogeneous replication, Microsoft’s own solutions may be an option. If you need heterogeneous replication, however, or if you want to move toward open standards, other options will be more appealing.

The bottom line: Microsoft SQL Server works well for homogeneous replication in Microsoft environments, but doesn’t integrate well with non-Microsoft solutions and encourages vendor lock-in.

5. HVR Software

HVR Software is a newer solution. Originally, the company specialized in Oracle database ingestion and replication, but the solution has grown to encompass all of the industry-standard platforms (which you can view on their homepage). Here’s how they describe their capabilities on their website:

“[It’s] everything you need for efficient high-volume data replication and integration, whether you need to move your data between databases, to the cloud, or multi-cloud integration, into a data lake or data warehouse.”

If you’re considering investing in a simpler data ingestion option that’s best suited for Oracle Database, HVR Software may make your list.

The bottom line: HVR is best for Oracle Database and cloud environments, but it may not have the robust functionality of other solutions.

6. Qlik (formerly Attunity)

Qlik is another company that, while not as widely recognized as IBM or Oracle, has developed some name recognition for its data management offerings. The company bought Attunity Replicate several years ago, and now offers that solution under the brand name Qlik Replicate.

Here’s how they describe its capabilities:

“Qlik Replicate empowers organizations to accelerate data replication, ingestion and streaming across a wide variety of heterogeneous databases, data warehouses, and big data platforms.”

The product is one of a suite of tools (including Qlik Sense, Qlik View, Qlik Compose, and more) that the company offers. It can be effective, but like the big three listed above, it’s inclusion as part of a broader data management package may lead to vendor lock-in.

The bottom line: Qlik Replicate may be worth considering if you’re willing to invest in Qlik’s data management suite. If you’re looking for data ingestion as a single component, it may not be the most desirable solution.

Ready to Get Started with Data Ingestion?

There are a lot of data ingestion tools on the market; hopefully, the information above has helped you to clarify some options that could meet your business needs. If you’re looking for a robust data ingestion solution at an affordable price point, let’s talk.

At StarQuest, we’re experts at data ingestion. As mentioned above, our powerful SQDR software can be utilized for replication and ingestion from an extensive range of data sources.

If you’re looking for data ingestion for migration, data warehousing, application development, auditing, disaster recovery, or another use case – we can help.

Get in touch with us to discuss your data ingestion needs. We can set you up with a no-charge trial of our software using the DBMS of your choice, and help you take the first step toward a solution that will benefit your business.