Expert break/fix and managed support for IBM® PureData for Analytics and Cloud Pak for Data appliances, from former IBM Netezza® engineers, at a fraction of IBM’s price.
We bring specialist Netezza knowledge that no generalised support provider can match. Here is what sets our support apart.
All our support engineers are former IBM Netezza specialists. When you raise a ticket, you speak to someone who has seen your exact problem before.
Fixed pricing per system, no matter the size. Volume, non-production, and small system discounts available. No surprises on your invoice.
Managed-tier customers receive Smart Management Frameworks, NZ Controller and a Virtual DBA service bundled at preferential pricing, substantially below standalone list, fully integrated into your support contract and billed on a single invoice.
9×5 coverage runs Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM local time, excluding public holidays. 24×7 coverage provides round-the-clock support every day of the year. Escalation paths and SLAs are clearly defined from day one.
We support both legacy PureData for Analytics appliances and Netezza Performance Server for Cloud Pak for Data, from a single support desk, on a single invoice.
Teams in the United Kingdom, Europe, and New Zealand. We have you covered across time zones with local engineering expertise.
Smart Associates offers three tiers of support for customers running legacy Netezza/PureData for Analytics systems and Netezza Performance Server for Cloud Pak for Data, including Hammerhead. Whether your system continues to be supported by IBM or not, our pricing is flat-rate per system with discounts for volume, non-production systems, and smaller appliances.
| Feature | Essential | Comprehensive | Managed Popular |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage Hours | |||
| 9×5: Mon–Fri, 9 AM – 5 PM local time (excl. public holidays) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24×7: round-the-clock, 365 days/year | Available | Available | Available |
| Help Desk & Ticketing | |||
| Web and email ticketing system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integration with Netezza built-in event monitoring | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Software Support | |||
| Remote software break/fix support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Software and firmware upgrades or downgrades | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best practice and technical advisory | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduled system health checks and remediation plans | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Security vulnerability risk mitigation advice | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Performance tuning and workload management recommendations | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hardware Support | |||
| Remote hardware break/fix support | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed-price on-site field engineering & replacement parts | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Managed tier bundle | |||
| NZ Controller – web management GUI for the appliances under support | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Virtual DBA – automated, AI-driven problem investigation and resolution planning | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Smart Management Frameworks | |||
| Smart Database Replication – near real-time DR and backup | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Smart Access Control – automated user, group, and permission Entra ID/LDAP synchronisation | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| SuperTuning – automated performance optimisation | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| SuperGovernance – automated query activity monitoring | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| SuperCuration – automated data deletion, aggregation, obfuscation | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Smart System Management – automated housekeeping tasks | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Optional Add-ons | |||
| Migration, development, training, and advisory services (fee applies) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Moving your support to Smart Associates is straightforward. Here is the process from first contact to live coverage.
Smart Associates now supports Netezza Performance Server for Cloud Pak for Data, including Hammerhead systems. Moving your support to us means:
IBM has progressively ended support for the Striper (2024), Mako (2025), and Hammerhead CP4D (March 2026) platforms. If you are still running these systems, Smart Associates provides the expert continuity you need to keep them running safely and cost-effectively.
Talk to us about your EOS situationDownload the complete user guide for our Netezza Support Plus service, including onboarding procedures, SLA details, and escalation paths.
Download PDFStraight answers about third-party Netezza support, IBM end of support, pricing, and how Smart Associates can help.
Smart Associates is a specialist third-party support provider for IBM Netezza, PureData for Analytics, and Cloud Pak for Data (Netezza Performance Server). Founded in 2003 and staffed by former IBM Netezza engineers, Smart Associates provides 9×5 and 24×7 managed support as a direct alternative to IBM’s own support contracts — covering legacy appliances through to the N4001.
When IBM ends support for a Netezza platform, organisations have several options:
1. Third-party support — from a specialist like Smart Associates, providing break/fix, hardware cover, and managed services at a fraction of IBM’s price.
2. Migration — to a modern cloud platform such as Databricks, Snowflake, or PostgreSQL.
3. Hybrid approach — maintaining the existing system under third-party support while planning a phased migration. Many organisations choose this route to extend their runway without operational risk.
IBM has been systematically ending support for its Netezza hardware platforms:
• IBM PureData N2001/N2002 (Striper) — support ended April 2024
• IBM PureData N3001 (Mako) — support ended April 2025
• CP4D Hammerhead & NPS on OpenShift — support ended March 2026
• IBM N4001 — currently IBM-supported; Smart Associates also covers this platform.
Organisations running EOS systems without third-party cover face security, compliance, and operational risk.
Yes. Smart Associates provides remote and on-site hardware break/fix support for IBM Netezza appliances, including fixed-price field engineering and replacement parts, on its Comprehensive and Managed support tiers. This covers legacy PureData for Analytics appliances (Striper, Mako) as well as Cloud Pak for Data systems.
Onboarding typically takes 3-5 working days from the initial discovery call to a signed contract, after which live coverage begins immediately. Smart Associates provisions ticketing system access, configures alert monitoring, and deploys Smart Management Frameworks (on the Managed tier) as part of standard onboarding.
Smart Associates charges flat-rate pricing per system, regardless of system size. Volume discounts, non-production discounts, and small system discounts are available. Pricing is provided on request via a no-obligation quote, typically within 3 working days. Three tiers are available — Essential, Comprehensive, and Managed — each with optional 24×7 cover.
Essential — remote software break/fix and ticketing.
Comprehensive — adds hardware support, firmware upgrades, health checks, performance tuning, and security advisory.
Managed — the full-service tier. Bundles Smart Management Frameworks, NZ Controller, Virtual DBA, database replication, access control, and automated governance — all on a single invoice at preferential pricing.
Yes. Smart Associates’ support engineers are former IBM Netezza specialists, some of whom supported Netezza before IBM acquired the company. Customers deal directly with engineers who have deep, first-hand platform knowledge — not a generalist helpdesk.
Smart Associates is headquartered in Surrey, United Kingdom, with teams in Europe and Auckland, New Zealand. This provides follow-the-sun coverage for clients globally, with 24×7 support available across all tiers.
No. Smart Associates is an independent third-party support provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IBM. IBM, Netezza, PureData, and Cloud Pak for Data are trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM and/or its affiliates.
Yes. Smart Associates supports both legacy PureData for Analytics appliances and Netezza Performance Server for Cloud Pak for Data, including Hammerhead systems, from a single support desk on a single invoice. Customers can also replicate data between CP4D and PureData systems using Smart Database Replication.
Yes. Smart Associates provides data migration and continuous replication services from IBM Netezza to Databricks, PostgreSQL, and other platforms using their Smart Data Frameworks product. Migration advisory is also available as an add-on to Managed tier support contracts.
Get a no-obligation quote within 3 working days. Our team will review your systems and confirm flat-rate pricing for your specific environment.
