Course Syllabus

1. Module 1: Data Warehousing and ETL Fundamentals
2. This module introduces core data warehousing concepts and ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) basics. Learners study how data warehouses serve as centralized repositories for integrated data, enabling fast analytics without impacting source systems. Topics include star and snowflake schema design, dimension modeling, and types of ETL architectures (batch vs. real-time). The module covers common data integration patterns (ETL, ELT, data ingestion) and outlines a typical Informatica workflow: extract from sources, apply transformations, and load into a target warehouse. Hands-on exercises involve designing simple star-schema tables and planning ETL processes.
3. Key topics: Data warehouse definitions and architectures; fact/dimension tables and schema design; ETL pipeline concepts; business use cases for data integration.
4. Lab/Exercise: Create a sample star-schema design; outline an ETL plan for a given business scenario (e.g. loading sales data into a warehouse).
5. Module 2: Informatica PowerCenter Overview and Architecture
6. This module covers the PowerCenter platform. Students learn the PowerCenter architecture – including the Repository Service, Integration Service, and client tools (Designer, Workflow Manager, Workflow Monitor). We explore the Informatica Developer (PowerCenter Designer) tool, which provides a graphical canvas for building data mappings (as shown in the figure). Topics include installing and connecting to the PowerCenter repository, security basics, and understanding how workflows execute on the Integration Service. The instructor demonstrates the Designer GUI: defining sources/targets, creating simple mappings, and previewing data flow.
7. Key topics: PowerCenter components (Repository, Domains, Nodes); Designer/Workflow client overview; environment setup and connections.
8. Lab/Exercise: Navigate the PowerCenter interface; create a repository connection; define a relational source and target; build a basic mapping that reads and writes data.
9. Module 3: Building ETL Mappings in PowerCenter
10. In this hands-on module, learners work in PowerCenter Designer to build ETL mappings. Students create source and target definitions (relational tables, flat files) and construct data flows using transformations. Core transformations covered include Filter, Expression, Aggregator, and Normalizer. We explain active vs. passive transformations and practice connecting them in the mapping. This module also covers using lookups for data enrichment and joiner transformations to combine heterogeneous sources. Emphasis is on building reusable mapping objects and validating logic.
11. Key topics: Defining Sources/Targets in Designer; creating transformations (Filter, Expression, Lookup, Joiner, Aggregator); linking ports and mapping execution flow.
12. Lab/Exercise: Develop a mapping that extracts data from multiple tables, applies a transformation (e.g. uppercase conversion), and loads into target tables; use a lookup to add descriptive fields.
13. Module 4: Workflow Manager – Sessions and Execution
14. After building mappings, this module teaches how to run them in Workflow Manager. Students learn to create sessions and workflows to execute mappings. Topics include configuring session properties, setting connection credentials, and scheduling workflows. We discuss workflow tasks (start, command, email notifications) and dependencies. Students monitor execution using the Workflow Monitor, analyze logs, and handle errors. The module also covers basic troubleshooting: interpreting log files, resolving common errors, and using the debugger in PowerCenter.
15. Key topics: Creating and configuring sessions and workflows; scheduling and chaining workflows; monitoring runs (Workflow Monitor); error handling techniques.
16. Lab/Exercise: Build a workflow that runs the mapping from Module 3; configure session parameters; execute the workflow and validate target data; introduce an error to practice troubleshooting.
17. Module 5: Advanced PowerCenter Transformations and Optimization
18. This module explores advanced ETL transformations and best practices. Learners study complex transformations like Update Strategy (for insert/update logic), Router (complex filtering), Rank, and SQL Transformation. We cover mapping parameters and variables for dynamic behavior. Performance tuning techniques are introduced: partitioning workflows, pushdown optimization, and optimizing lookup caching. Debugging advanced mappings using breakpoints and the Data Viewer is practiced. Best practices for mapping design, version control, and repository cleanup are emphasized.
19. Key topics: Unconnected vs. connected lookups; update strategy and change data capture; Rank and SQL transformations; mapping parameters/files; performance tuning (pushdown, partitioning); using the debugger.
20. Lab/Exercise: Enhance the earlier mapping with an Update Strategy for incremental load; experiment with lookup cache options; rewrite a join using a different strategy; use the debugger to step through a data flow.
21. Module 6: Introduction to Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services (IICS)
22. Switching to cloud integration, this module covers the IICS Cloud Data Integration Students learn the IICS architecture (Secure Agents, Cloud Services) and compare it with on-prem PowerCenter. We install and configure a Secure Agent (on a VM) and create various cloud connections (e.g. to Amazon S3, Salesforce). The module introduces IICS terminologies (e.g. mapping tasks vs. sync tasks). The IICS Administrator interface is explored: navigating the Cloud UI, managing users/roles, and security settings.
23. Key topics: IICS architecture and services; configuring the Secure Agent; creating runtime environments and connections (flat file, databases, cloud apps).
24. Lab/Exercise: Install a Secure Agent; create connections to a sample database and a Salesforce account; verify connectivity.
25. Module 7: Building Cloud Mappings and Synchronization Tasks (IICS)
26. Learners now use the IICS Cloud Mapping Designer to implement data flows. We cover the Synchronization Task (simple one-to-one data sync) and Cloud Mapping Task (powerful drag-and-drop mapping). Students design mappings using IICS transformations analogous to PowerCenter (Filter, Expression, Lookup, Joiner, etc.). The CLAIRE recommendation engine is demonstrated for suggesting transformations. We discuss field rules and dynamic schema. Best practices for cloud mappings (e.g. using primary key columns for upserts) are covered.
27. Key topics: Synchronization tasks (source-target sync); Cloud Mapping Designer interface; creating and debugging mappings; advanced transformations (Mapplets, unconnected lookups).
28. Lab/Exercise: Create a Synchronization Task from a SQL source to a cloud target; design a mapping task in IICS with at least one lookup and filter; run the task and review job logs.
29. Module 8: Advanced Cloud Data Integration and Taskflows
30. This module dives into advanced IICS capabilities. Students learn to parameterize cloud mappings (task and mapping parameters), and create Taskflows to orchestrate multiple tasks. We cover Replication Tasks (bulk loading to a target database), Masking Tasks (data subsetting), and Mass Ingestion Tasks (ingesting large files via streaming). REST APIs in IICS are introduced for triggering tasks programmatically. Concepts of dynamic input (through File Listener) and exception handling in workflows are demonstrated.
31. Key topics: Mapping parameter files and task parameters; linear and event-based taskflows; data replication and ingestion tasks; using REST API to run tasks.
32. Lab/Exercise: Implement an IICS Taskflow that includes a mapping task and a data transfer task; create a parameter file to change runtime variables; test error handling by introducing a fault.
33. Module 9: Data Governance and Metadata Management
34. Understanding data governance, this module shows how Informatica supports compliance and metadata management. Students explore the Metadata Manager and how the repository tracks source-to-target lineage. We cover the importance of data lineage diagrams to answer “where did this data come from?”. Topics include tags/annotations, data quality rules (an overview), and how Informatica Axon/Data Catalog (if available) can catalog data assets. Emphasis is on capturing metadata during ETL and using lineage reports for impact analysis.
35. Key topics: Repository metadata (tables of metadata); data lineage and traceability; impact analysis for schema changes; data quality fundamentals.
36. Lab/Exercise: Generate and review a lineage report for a sample mapping (showing data flow from source to target); annotate transformations with business names.
37. Module 10: Real-World Use Cases and Capstone Project
38. This final module integrates learning in realistic scenarios. Case studies demonstrate solutions such as: migrating on-prem ETL jobs to the cloud, integrating CRM (Salesforce) and ERP data for analytics, or building a real-time data pipeline with IICS. The instructor outlines complete workflows from requirements to deployment. Students then work on a capstone project: given a business scenario, they must design a data integration solution using Informatica tools (PowerCenter and/or IICS). This may involve data extraction, transformation logic, scheduling, and reporting.
39. Key topics: End-to-end design of ETL/ELT processes; hybrid integration strategies (cloud + on-prem); data validation and reconciliation; performance considerations.
40. Lab/Exercise: Capstone project development and presentation; e.g., build an end-to-end ETL process loading a data mart from multiple sources, or set up an IICS pipeline that syncs a cloud CRM with a data warehouse.
41. Module 11: Hands-On Workshops and Exercises
42. Throughout the course, dedicated lab workshops reinforce each module’s concepts. Instructors guide students through exercises such as writing mappings, debugging jobs, and tuning workflows. Group labs foster collaboration on complex tasks (e.g. handling late-arriving data or mastering lookup caches). Regular quizzes and practical exercises ensure knowledge retention. By the end, participants have hands-on experience with a variety of Informatica tasks in both the PowerCenter client and the IICS cloud UI.
43. Key activities: Instructor-led lab sessions after each module; exercises on mapping design, workflow troubleshooting, and cloud integration tasks; peer-review of solutions; discussion of best practices.
44. Lab Examples: Building a multi-source aggregation mapping; setting up and running a secure file transfer with IICS; configuring error-handling in workflows.
45. Module 12: Certification Preparation
46. The final section prepares students for Informatica certifications (PowerCenter Developer and Cloud Data Integration Specialist). We review exam objectives: mapping and transformation functions, workflow operations, performance tuning, and cloud mapping concepts. Practice questions and hands-on scenarios emulate the exam format. Guidance is provided on study resources (official guides, community forums) and exam-taking strategies. This ensures attendees leave ready to attempt Informatica’s certification exams and validate their skills.
47. Key topics: Review of core concepts (ETL principles, PowerCenter and IICS tools, transformation logic); sample certification questions; exam tips.
48. Activities: Group mock exam; discussion of solution approaches; final Q&A session on any outstanding topics.

• Key Features  Hands-On Labs and Projects: Each module includes practical lab exercises where students build real ETL mappings and workflows. For example, students will create PowerCenter mappings in the Designer tool and execute them via the Workflow Manager, and similarly deploy cloud integration tasks in IICS.

    Real-World Scenarios and Use Cases: The course embeds industry use cases (e.g. retail sales analytics, customer 360 integration, or cloud migration projects) to demonstrate how Informatica is applied to solve data warehousing and integration challenges. Capstone projects simulate end-to-end data solutions.

    Comprehensive Curriculum (PowerCenter + IICS): The program covers both Informatica PowerCenter (on-prem ETL) and Intelligent Cloud Services (cloud ETL and data integration), reflecting modern hybrid architectures. Participants learn the architecture and tools for each platform, ensuring they can work in either environment.

    Data Governance and Metadata: A dedicated focus on data governance shows how Informatica’s metadata management and lineage features help meet compliance and quality requirement. Participants learn to use Informatica’s repository, metadata manager, and lineage diagrams to track data flow and ensure trusted data.

    Certification Preparation: The course is aligned with Informatica certification objectives. In the final section, students receive exam tips, practice questions, and a review of key topics for Informatica Developer (PowerCenter) and Cloud Data Integration certifications.