Discover and Access Data with Cloud Data Marketplace
Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:
- Describe Informatica Cloud Data Marketplace.
- List key CDMP features and capabilities.
- Define core CDMP terminology.
- Explain the data access lifecycle using CDMP from discovery to delivery.
Meet Informatica Cloud Data Marketplace
You know how a data marketplace transforms a complex data landscape into a user-friendly experience. Informatica Cloud Data Marketplace (CDMP) is the platform that makes this possible. It provides a centralized, ecommerce storefront where you shop for data instead of clothing or electronics. In CDMP, you search for what you need, read descriptions and reviews, and place orders. Behind the scenes, data owners govern access to ensure every order you receive meets high-quality organizational standards.
Informatica CDMP provides a self-service data platform that connects business users to the data they need in a governed, protected manner. It allows users to easily access the data they’re allowed to access.
CDMP is part of the Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) ecosystem. CDMP bridges the gap between data owners and end users such as analysts, managers, marketing professionals, and so on.
Key CDMP Features and Use Cases
CDMP helps you make data access seamless and efficient. Here are a few key features.
Data Discovery
CDMP acts as a powerful search engine for your organization’s data assets. Use keywords to find data, then refine your results with filters such as certified use and delivery method to instantly discover relevant assets.
You can also browse for data by categories. Assets include a rich summary, which ensures you understand the context and contents of the data. Compare data assets side-by-side to evaluate quality and technical specifications before you place an order.
Access Data
CDMP makes it easy for anyone to find and use data quickly, no matter where that data comes from. Data is organized into categories, like aisles in a grocery store, to make browsing easy. Each data collection, also known as data products, within a category provides a summary explaining what it contains, who owns it, what it can be used for, how reliable it is, when it was last updated—just like browsing aisles in a grocery store.
Data Governance and Quality
When you integrate CDMP with Cloud Data Governance and Catalog (CDGC), users can access data cataloged and classified by CDGC. Then, users can access trusted data that’s governed by your organization’s policies.
Integrated assets from CDGC surface enhanced customer profile information, glossary terms, data classification, and so on.
When you implement Cloud Data Quality rules, CDMP displays critical quality reports—including completeness, validity, and timeliness—directly on the data asset. These insights, powered by CDGC, help you verify that the data is ready for use.
Usage Metrics and Ratings
Just as you check ratings before buying a product, CDMP displays how popular and frequently accessed a data asset is. It provides data predictability by displaying the number of orders, intended uses, and delivery timelines. This “social proof” builds confidence and guides you toward reliable, widely used assets. Within CDMP, you can exchange insights and provide feedback on data assets, creating a collaborative community around your organization’s data.
Access Requests, Approvals, and Data Delivery
In CDMP, securing data is as easy as a single click. When you initiate a request, it routes through an approval workflow. If the workflow is manual, data owners review your request against established policies. This keeps data access controlled and compliant and ensures a fast, user-friendly experience.
In many cases, CDMP automates the entire process through APIs. The system uses pre-set rules to approve your request and deliver data to you instantly. This automation removes delays, so you can get to work right away.
After your request is approved, CDMP delivers the data manually or automatically, provisioned in the format you requested.
Data owners monitor and track visibility, maintain records of who has data access, when they got it, and who authorized it. Data owners can also revoke access to ensure ongoing compliance when needed.
Data Access Management
When used with Cloud Data Access Management (CDAM), CDMP empowers multiple users to order the same data product and receive a version tailored to specific policies, user groups, and usage context. This ensures individuals obtain the appropriate dataset based on their unique roles and permissions. It also provides a seamless, automated experience that eliminates manual delays.
Core CDMP Terminology Made Simple
Before you explore CDMP, get familiar with some key terms.
Term |
What It Means |
Everyday Example |
|---|---|---|
Data Product (or Data Collection) |
The "product page" for a collection of data assets which includes a description, ownership info, update history, list of data assets, and access terms |
A collection of standard gym equipment |
Data Asset |
Any piece of data available in the marketplace, such as a report, a database table, or a file |
A set of free weights or resistance bands used in gyms for strength training |
Category |
A group of similar data products |
An aisle in a store, for example an aisle dedicated to gym equipment |
Data Owner or Data Producer |
The stakeholder responsible for a specific data product |
The seller or vendor listing the product |
End User |
A business user who searches for and requests data from the marketplace |
A shopper browsing and buying products |
Delivery |
The process for sending approved data to an end user |
Receiving your order at your doorstep |
The Data Access Lifecycle in Action
Meet Alex, a marketing analyst at a healthcare provider. He needs customer demographic data to plan a new campaign. Follow Alex as he uses a standard process to find and use trusted data in CDMP.
Discovery
Alex logs in to CDMP and searches for data that contains customer demographics. CDMP returns a list of relevant data collections, also known as data products. Alex reviews descriptions, ownership details, and ratings for each result. CDMP also surfaces related data products in the Other Items tab of the search results page. CDMP surfaces regional health trends that perfectly align with the campaign’s objectives, a valuable connection that Alex hadn’t initially considered.
Evaluation
Alex selects a data product that would contain details of customer demographics. The data product page displays information that helps you evaluate whether the product would be a good fit for your needs.
- A clear description of what the data contains
- The last updated date
- The data owner
- The rating of the data product from other users
- Certified use that indicates that data is approved for internal marketing use
Alex is confident this is the right data.
Access Request
Alex decides to request access to the data. He submits a short form explaining why he needs the data and how he’ll use it. The request routes to the data owner for approval.
Approval
Since the data Alex requested requires manual approvals, the data owner receives a notification in CDMP. They review Alex's request, confirm it aligns with approved usage policies, and approve it with one click. Alex gets an email notification that the request has been approved.
Delivery
CDMP delivers the dataset to Alex in the format he wanted—a downloadable file that connects directly to Alex's analytics tool. Alex is ready to start building the campaign.
Feedback
After using the data, Alex rates and provides feedback on the data in CDMP. He mentions that the data was clean, up-to-date, and exactly what he needed. This feedback helps other users in the organization make better choices when they browse the marketplace.
Informatica CDMP provides your organization a unified view for trusted business data. It empowers business users to discover, evaluate, request, and receive the data they need without waiting a long time for approvals. From the intelligent search and rich listing pages, to the seamless approval workflows and smart AI recommendations, CDMP makes data access as easy as online shopping.