Getting Started > Getting started with Data Integration
  

Getting started with Data Integration

You can create a data integration project in just a few steps.

Step 1. Check system requirements

Be sure you're using a compatible browser when you're designing your projects, and check the Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services Product Availability Matrix for operating systems, databases, and other systems that Data Integration supports.

Step 2. Configure a runtime environment

A runtime environment is the execution platform for running tasks. It consists of one or more Secure Agents. A Secure Agent is a lightweight program that runs tasks and enables secure communication between your organization and Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services.
You can use the following types of runtime environments:
Informatica Cloud Hosted Agent
When you want to access data in an SaaS environment, use the Informatica Cloud Hosted Agent. The Hosted Agent runs within the Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services hosting facility. If you choose this option, there is nothing to install.
The Hosted Agent can run tasks that use certain connectors. To find out if the connector that you use supports the Hosted Agent, see the help for that connector.
Secure Agent Groups
When you need to access data on-premises or when you want to access SaaS data without using the Hosted Agent, use a Secure Agent group. A Secure Agent group contains one or more Secure Agents. The agents in a group run within your network or in a cloud computing services environment like Microsoft Azure.
You can install one Secure Agent on a physical or virtual machine. Each agent that you install is added to its own group by default. To balance workloads and improve scalability, you can add multiple agents to a group.
To create a Secure Agent group on Microsoft Azure, click Configure a runtime environment on the Data Integration Home page. To create a Secure Agent group locally or in a different cloud computing services environment, download and install the Secure Agent from the Runtime Environments page in the Administrator service.

Step 3. Create a connection

Before you can use Data Integration to run data integration tasks, you need to create a connection. When you configure the connection, you choose the connector that enables the exchange of data between Data Integration and the source and target objects. Data Integration includes a wide variety of built-in connectors.
For example, if you want to create a task that uses Salesforce data, you create a Salesforce connection. The Salesforce connection uses the Salesforce connector to enable the exchange of data between Salesforce and Data Integration.
You can create a connection when you configure a mapping or task in Data Integration. You can also create connections on the Connections page in the Administrator service.

Step 4. Create your project and assets

Create a project to contain your data integration assets. You can also create folders within a project to organize your assets. Create projects and folders on the Explore page in Data Integration.
After you set up your project and folders, you're ready to create your assets. Assets include the following objects:
To create an asset, in Data Integration, click New in the navigation menu on the left.