Strengths
Tableau is a robust data discovery and exploration program that enables us to display any data, explore numerous perspectives, and seamlessly merge several datasets using a drag-and-drop interface. There is no need for complicated scripting. Publishing the report to the Tableau server simplifies distributing the investigation results. It does not need scripting. Therefore, any user with data access may immediately begin utilizing it. There is no sophisticated software configuration required. The desktop version used by most customers is fairly simple to install. One may examine data using various visual tools, such as colors, lines, charts, or graphs. Tableau enables the cost-free integration of diverse relational, semi-structured, and unstructured data sources in real time (Datameer, 2022). It supports all types of data collecting and management devices. The tableau server offers a single area for managing all published data sources inside the company (Datameer, 2022). It supports several data types and organizes all data into four categories: String, Number, Boolean, and Date time.
Spotfire is an enterprise analytics tool used to extract useful business data. It is an intelligent, adaptable tool for data visualization and predictive analysis of corporate data. Additionally, Spotfire includes an excellent dashboard and an interactive analytical application. Spotfire’s data visualization capabilities are among the finest business intelligence solutions (Trust Radius, 2022). Spotfire’s data discovery function delivers intelligent visual data-finding advantages. Spotfire enables the cleansing and unification of complicated and disorganized data and the conversion of that data into a readily accessible format (Trust Radius, 2022).
Weaknesses
Spotfire does not provide any unique visualization types. Additionally, it is challenging to personalize visualizations and charges too much in comparison to Tableau (Peterson, 2021). Some users express their dissatisfaction with the analytical capabilities of the tool, and comment that the software lacks user friendly design (Unknown, 2017).
In contrast, Tableau is not geared toward creating the complex computations. As layers are added to dashboards, users rapidly encounter difficulties, such as excruciatingly sluggish response times and corrupted workbooks, despite the relative ease with which they may construct dashboards’ core capabilities (Datameer, 2022). Due to Tableau’s lack of a scripting layer, there is no simple method to save variables in order to save an aggregate number (Datameer, 2022). Tableau does include level-of-detail (LOD) capabilities to assist with resolving this problem, but they are not intuitive and need assistance from a Tableau expert user (Datameer, 2022).
Opportunities
The advantage of Tableau software is that it does not need technical or programming expertise to utilize. People from many sectors, including industry, academics, students, and enthusiasts, have shown interest in the instrument. Numerous possibilities to safeguard data without the need for programming. Built-in security features include low-level security and authorization. In contrast, NLQ-powered search, AI-driven suggestions, and direct manipulation are three new ways that Spotfire supports the analytical preferences of its customers, according to the vendor, allowing users to develop insights fast and effortlessly (Trust Radius, 2022).
Threats
Due to the nature of contemporary IT systems, the technology is susceptible to cyberattacks in both instances. Spotfire discovered in 2022 a difficult-to-exploit vulnerability that enables a low-privileged attacker with network access to conduct blind Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) on the vulnerable system. It impacted versions 12.0.0 of TIBCO Spotfire Analytics Platform for AWS Marketplace and TIBCO Spotfire Server (TIBCO, 2022). Successful exploitation of this vulnerability might allow security breaches to update, insert, or remove Spotfire Server data and create a partial suspension of service (TIBCO, 2022). This vulnerability might enable an attacker to get access to non-vulnerable system resources (TIBCO, 2022). Blending software of Tableau presents serious issues and constraints. At the same time, the data engine of Tableau is not designed to connect to raw data if the customer has millions of rows or terabytes of information (Datameer, 2022). Using Tableau Desktop’s custom SQL capabilities, these datasets may be reduced in size prior to transmitting and blending in Tableau (Datameer, 2022). However, this necessitates not just extensive data transportation but also data replication.
References
Peterson, A. (2021) [Review of the product, TIBCO Spotfire]. TrustRadius.
Overview: Level of detail expressions. Tableau. (n.d.).
Pros and cons of Tibco Spotfire 2022. Trust Radius. (2022).
Strengths and weaknesses of Tableau Desktop. Datameer. (2022).
Tibco Security Advisory: September 20, 2022. TIBCO Software. (2022).