Business Intelligence Lowdown

Xerox Unveils Two Applications

DocuShare CPX and DocuShare 5.0 are the latest enterprise content management software solutions from the Xerox Corporation, which has used a single technology platform as the foundation for both applications. While DocuShare CPX will help users share data, and work together on important processes, DocuShare 5.0 features core enterprise content management capabilities. Both applications will help organizations manage their documents and other content in accordance with the regulations set by various compliance agencies. Database Trends and Applications reports:

Unlike competitive ECM products, DocuShare software is entirely Web-based; works across multiple operating systems and can integrate with enterprise infrastructure databases from Oracle, IBM and Microsoft.

What Compliance Tools Comply

With all the hue and cry over compliance with mandatory regulations, how many organizations have bothered to update and upgrade the tools used for the process? Not many, if you look at a survey conducted by Unisphere Media. The report, Beyond Compliance: 2006 OAUG Compliance Issues Survey, sponsored by Teradata, reveals that 72 percent of companies still use spreadsheets for their compliance management requirements, 66 percent use the reporting tools that come bundled with their ERP applications, while a surprising 43 percent still use paper-based aspects to meet compliance requirements. Only 33 percent use advanced technology like data warehouses as part of their compliance process, with an even smaller 25 percent deploying business intelligence tools for the task.

Support For SQL Server 2005

The newest release of SQL Compliance Manager features ample support for Microsoft's SQL Server 2005, including x64-bit environments and tailored alerts depending to the seriousness of the security issue. Idera, which provides management and administration solutions for Microsoft's SQL Server, has released version 2.0 as a cost-effective option for companies to automate their compliance processes and make sure that their SQL databases are up to standard. The Compliance Manager allows all accesses, updates, and modifications to data and security settings to be audited in real time. Information related to the audit is stored in a secure, tamper-proof central storage system. The new ActiveAlert feature allows you to set well-defined policies that identify and raise alarms on activities and events that violate corporate audit standards. Database Trends and Applications reports:

Version 2.0 also includes audits for over 20 new trace events, over 40 new object categories, impersonation data and 400 object types unique to SQL Server 2005. The Compliance Manager architecture has been structured to take full advantage of the new SQL Server 2005 environment, including using the new secure audit data capture, using SQL Server 2005 databases as the SQL Compliance Manager repository, and using SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services as the reporting engine.

Email Management Tool

There's one more tool available out there for those of you who are wishing for a god-sent plan to help manage your emails. Information technology management firm CA has integrated its CA Message Manager with Oracle Collaboration Suite 10g, Microsoft Exchange, and IBM Lotus Notes, to provide a complete email archival and management solution. The tool will not only store your emails, but also monitor them for violations and allow you to set a retention period so you can meet compliance and litigation support regulations. Database Trends and Applications reports:

A single point-of-control for managing and archiving messages across the enterprises is a necessity in today's corporate environment, Mike Gundling, vice president of development for CA's Storage Management Business Unit said. "Email needs to be treated as a business record."

CTP for SQL Server 2005

With Microsoft's Service Pack 1 for its SQL Server 2005 scheduled for an April launch, the company unveiled a public Community Technology Preview (CTP) of the software recently. SP1 is planned to be a new customer collaboration model that will have a separate release mechanism for security fixes. Microsoft is using the Transparent Customer Collaboration Model to gain the customer's feedback, suggestions and opinions and incorporate them during the development cycle of the service pack. Customers will not have to worry about delays in updating security options in their server since there is a discrete release mechanism for the same. The company can also spend more time on other updates instead of rushing things to expedite the security fix. Microsoft has shown a profound level of commitment to the product by extending the CTP model to it. You can use this link to download the CTP. 

Preserving For Posterity

What with the rapid changes taking place in today's world, preserving important documents and photographs for posterity is the only way future generations will be able to gain a glimpse into the past. Which is why document digitisation company iArchives has chosen network-attached storage (NAS) solutions provider Exanet to entrust with the preservation of its historical documents and pictures. IArchives is now using the ExaStore system from NAS to archive all files related to newspapers, libraries, universities, and law companies. Data Warehouse IT Toolbox reports:

The 2-node ExaStore system supports 75 iArchives processing nodes, enabling it to handle the necessary simultaneous connections and allowing iArchives to point all of its processing nodes at the system.

Location Intelligence Tool

If you are an IT administrator, there may be times when you would like to keep a finger in all the pies that are your geographically diverse and data centers. Well, here's a location intelligence tool from AdventNet Inc. that promises to help you do just that. With ManageEngine Applications Manager, a web application management solution, you can keep your eye on what's going on in all your data centers, no matter in which corner of the globe they are located. The tool monitors information by integrating its root cause analysis capability with Google Maps, and displays results on a single web console. The newest version of Applications Manager features web transactions, Microsoft.NET monitoring, an enhanced web client with integrated AJAX capabilities, and the ability to monitor application servers, database systems, web servers, mail servers, and websites. For more information before you buy the tool, read up on it here. Who knows, you may even pull out a plum!

New Database Modeling Tool

There's a new database-modeling tool available in the European market from the Czech Republic-based company Charomware. The latest release of CASE Studio 2, version 2.23 has been built to support the newest trends in database modeling and development. The tool packs in features that support PostgreSQL 8.1 and Advantage Database Server 8, besides being highly flexible and facilitating error fixing. It can also generate SQL scripts and detailed reports, automatically verify work, support more than 30 database systems, and customize using a template editor. The tool renders the process of database modelling simple, effective, and quick. A trial version is available as a free download on the company's website, for those who wish to sample a bite before buying the whole enchilada. If you wish to gather more information about CASE Studio 2, you can do so by following this link.

Microsoft's BI Offerings

New business intelligence software is now available from Microsoft that allows for medium sized companies to analyze business data through the use of analytics and scorecards. Users of Microsoft Dynamics SL can build, manage, and view scorecards and reports using Business Intelligence Optimization (BIO), which is scheduled for manufacture in May and launch in June. The software is priced at $3,600 for a basic version, which includes financial analytics and a two-user license. Computer World reports:

Users can view the analytical reports with Microsoft tools such as Excel, Office SharePoint Services and other Office products or directly within the BIO application. Microsoft developed the new BI software with channel partner NexVue Analytics Corp. BIO is built on SQL Server Analysis Services and integrates with SQL Server 2000 and 2005, Microsoft said.

Temtec Strikes Deal With Microsoft

Microsoft and Temtec, provider of intuitive self-service analysis and reporting business intelligence software, have signed an agreement under which Microsoft will market a private label version of Temtec's Executive Viewer along with its analytical platform. The software will facilitate easy access and analysis methods for users who access data stored in Microsoft Analysis Services. Data Warehouse News reports:

Temtec, a Microsoft Gold Certified partner, said the partnership will allow it to extend its presence into the mid market substantially and add value to the analytical capabilities of Microsoft's solution. Microsoft says the agreement with Temtec will provide its customers with a cost effective analytics solution that will allow them to amplify the performance of people in an organization, at all levels.