Many businesses rely on IBM i for core business applications like enterprise resource planning (ERP), but they run into problems when attempting to integrate data from their IBM i with modern analytics, cloud platforms, and other digital applications.
If your business uses IBM i, the data on your Power Systems is some of the most valuable data you own. It’s coming directly from the mission-critical systems that form the backbone of your business operations. Now, especially in today’s AI era, mining that data for insights and integrating it with other applications can unlock massive value.
However, many IBM i customers face the same issues that keep them from realizing this potential. Access requires batch jobs, heavy extract, transfer, load (ETL) pipelines, and custom integrations that are difficult and costly to engineer and maintain.
This leads to delayed insights, high engineering effort, and risks to production systems.
Because CloudFirst specializes in legacy infrastructure modernization and integrating IBM i systems within larger IT architectures, we knew there had to be a better way.
That’s why we created DataPulse, a fully managed solution to stream your IBM i data to the cloud in real time, all without impacting your system or requiring additional engineering.
This change data capture (CDC) solution is a game changer for companies that want to get more out of their business data while maintaining the reliability, stability, and security inherent in the IBM i platform.
What Is Change Data Capture?
Change data capture is a data integration solution that identifies and tracks incremental changes made to a source database, such as inserts, updates, and deletes, and delivers those changes in real time to downstream systems.
Instead of moving the entire dataset, CDC provides a change log that shows what changed, when it changed, and how it changed.
CDC is often confused with ETL and generic data integration tools.
Because ETL is a batch processing methodology, it can’t actually track what’s changed—rather, it provides a snapshot.
Generic data integration, on the other hand, may move or synchronize data between disparate systems (sometimes relying on CDC to do so under the hood), but it doesn’t actually solve the technical problem of streaming changes in a database from one place to another.
Especially when it comes to data stored on the IBM i, such as in Db2 databases, many applications are not equipped for native integration.
DataPulse by CloudFirst is the solution.
What Is DataPulse IBM i CDC?
DataPulse is an IBM i change data capture solution that streams IBM i data to the cloud in real time without impacting the host systems or requiring additional engineering.
DataPulse uses journal-based CDC to read changes directly from IBM i logs and then delivers that data directly to platforms like Snowflake, Kafka, AWS, Azure, GCP, SQL Server, and more.
Because the solution is fully managed by CloudFirst’s IBM i experts, we handle the entire life cycle, from deployment to monitoring to maintenance. This means we deliver outcomes—not just software—quickly and without requiring any pipeline maintenance on your end. CloudFirst is the only vendor in the space offering this level of service.
DataPulse is an IBM i–native CDC. While many vendors treat IBM i as an afterthought and may try to adapt an existing application for the i, DataPulse was built specifically for this particular application. By tapping into the operating system’s journal-based capture, we provide reliable and accurate data streaming with minimal system impact.
That means no heavy queries or batch loads slowing down your production systems. DataPulse is safe for mission-critical systems, it’s designed for operational environments, and it provides a fast time to value.
Getting started takes days, not months, and requires no complex setup or long implementation cycles. Contact us now to request a quote, or keep reading to learn more about whether DataPulse is the right option for your business and IT environment.
Who Is DataPulse Right For?
DataPulse has certain traits that make it a good fit for many companies. Here’s how to tell if DataPulse may be the solution you need to unlock the full business value of your IBM i data.
First off, IBM i is a core system of record. You don’t necessarily need to have all your data stored on the i, but if you have mission-critical applications like ERP or key business data that you want to analyze, then DataPulse is a strong contender.
This is especially true if you are transitioning to modern business intelligence/analytics tools or cloud-based data platforms, such as Snowflake or Databricks. DataPulse is the easiest, fastest, and most cost-effective way to make sure all of these technologies play nice with your IBM i.
Enterprises that choose DataPulse usually tell us they’re moving to a cloud platform like Snowflake, that their reporting is too slow, or that they need realtime data for modern apps/APIs or for AI-powered analytics. However, they may have limited data engineering resources or lack the internal CDC expertise to build their own pipeline infrastructure.
With use cases like these, our customers are already getting value from DataPulse:
- Realtime analytics and business intelligence
- Cloud data integration
- Application modernization
- Reporting offload
- Compliance and audit feeds
We understand that DataPulse may not be the right solution for every business, and that’s okay. We built it with a very specific user base in mind because we’re hyper-focused on serving the needs of IBM i users and supporting their modernization journeys.
Frequently Asked Questions About DataPulse IBM i CDC
What’s the difference between DataPulse and Fivetran?
Fivetran is primarily an ETL platform, and it does not natively support IBM i CDC. Fivetran relies on indirect access to databases on IBM i, and this prevents it from being able to provide realtime, low-impact streaming.
DataPulse is optimized specifically for IBM i CDC.
Why not use IBM’s CDC tools instead of DataPulse?
There’s no denying that IBM’s tools are powerful. However, they are also complex and expensive, requiring significant internal resources to operate. For businesses that want fast ROI and low operational overhead, DataPulse is a great option.
Couldn’t I build my own IBM i CDC?
You could. But then you’d be responsible for the ongoing engineering, monitoring, and maintenance. That means higher recurring costs and less time and energy to devote to other valuable projects. DataPulse removes this burden entirely.
We already have ETL. Why do we also need CDC?
ETL solves batch movement, but it’s not a realtime streaming or production-safe CDC. ETL is great for creating a monthly or quarterly report. CDC provides realtime visibility.
Bottom Line: DataPulse Is the IBM i–Native CDC Solution for IBM i Shops on Their Modernization Journeys
It’s time to unlock the full potential of the valuable business data stored on your IBM i. With CloudFirst’s DataPulse CDC solution, you’ll get realtime data streaming straight to the cloud, ready for integration, analysis, or agentic AI.
Don’t settle for batch delays, production impact, complexity, or slow implementation timelines. DataPulse is a low-risk, low-complexity solution that’s fast to deploy.
Other vendors either forget about the IBM i or treat it as an afterthought. Not CloudFirst. IBM Power Systems are in our DNA. Our specialty is combining this heritage with modern IT practices—cybersecurity, AI, and more—to help our customers get ready for tomorrow and go where others can’t.
DataPulse gives you realtime IBM i data in the cloud—without the cost, complexity, or risk of building it yourself.