The Composite Information Server (CIS) is a multi-threaded, Java-based server that accesses existing data non-invasively, combines disparate data, abstracts complex data, and delivers it via data services or relational views. Targeted usages for the data services built and deployed on CIS include services-oriented architecture (SOA), operational BI and reporting, CDI-MDM, virtualized data marts and other data virtualization projects.

Composite data services form a middle layer of reusable services in a tiered approach that insulates applications from the physical implementation of the data. Data can be delivered on-demand, regardless of how or where it is stored or if the data spans multiple sources.

The Composite Information Server features the vendor's IQ (Intelligent Query) optimization technology. CIS provides caching capabilities, a metadata repository, and supports multiple methods of handling data security. CIS also includes the Composite Studio, a GUI-based tool for data modeling, data services building, services management, and security configuration.