natn's WebLog

Rights Management and protecting sensitive reports

2004-07-29T01:01:00Z

I was sitting in a presentation on Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) this morning and realized how critical that this technology could be in some BI application scenarios. First some background. RMS enables protection of sensitive information such as email, reports, and other documents. The cool thing is that the information is safeguarded from unauthorized use- both online and offline, inside and outside the firewall. This is made possible through persistent usage policies - that is the policies stay with the information no matter where it goes.

For example, in Microsoft, RMS is deployed internally and works with email systems. Microsoft executives often use RMS to make sure that confidential information sent to employees stays inside the company. For example, if I send an email with 'Do Not Forward' policy, the recipient can only view this email and cannot forward, copy and paste, print etc.

For BI applications, RMS can be crucial across many vertical industries. Healthcare organizations for example, need to protect patient records while still being able to collaborate and financial organizations for example, will need to protect earnings and income statement etc. before it is released to public. Since BI applications are often used to generate such reports, enforcing the rights management policy with published reports can be very useful. For example, a report author would be able to assign specific policies associated with reports that would prevent the sensitive reports from reaching wrong hands.

For more information, check out:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/rightsmgmt/default.mspx

RFID and BI

2004-07-27T00:56:00Z

I visited the new Seattle Central Library this weekend - if you have not heard about it, it is a state-of-the-art library with impressive architectural features as well. The library has wireless internet access on all the 11 floors and has machine readers for people who are visually challenged. But, the most impressive fact was that all its books are RFID tagged - that is each and every book in the library. What is the use of it? Plenty! You don't have to scan each book to check out, just scan all the books at once and you are done checking out. But, even more impressive is that the library has automatic handlers (conveyor belts) that can take the returned books, sort them using the RFID signals, and route it to the appropriate section of this vast library. I mean, not only the RFID helps them with tracking items accurately but also saves them labor costs in sorting returned books. Impressive.

As a BI person, I can't help thinking that there are going to be great new opportunities in analyzing the massive amounts of data collected from RFID tagged items as they go through a supply chain system (or any other chain for that matter) and deducting new intelligence. And particularly, when RFID tagged items are supplemented with sensors that can use telemetry to transmit data to central systems, you essentially can have data about an item from cradle to grave. For example, a car manufacturer using such data may perhaps be able to understand and predict breakdowns and then use this information to design more reliable cars! I would like to hear other BI type applications that RFID technology could potentially spawn!

Yours truly.

Office BI Accelerators released yesterday

2004-06-04T02:22:00Z

Yesterday Microsoft announced the web release of the Microsoft Office Business Intelligence (BI) Accelerators. Two were released yesterday - 1. Business Scorecards Accelerator and the 2. Excel Add-In for Analysis Services. These are free web downloads - check it out!

MS Office Solution Accelerators

http://www.microsoft.com/office/solutions/accelerators/default.mspx

Microsoft Office Business Scorecards Accelerator http://www.microsoft.com/office/solutions/accelerators/scorecards/default.mspx

Microsoft Office Excel Add-in for SQL Server Analysis Services http://www.microsoft.com/office/solutions/accelerators/exceladdin/default.mspx

Other relevant BI pages:

MS Business Intelligence

http://www.microsoft.com/bi

MS Office Business Intelligence

http://www.microsoft.com/office/business/intelligence

Business Intelligence at Microsoft

2004-06-02T05:00:00Z

I first heard about blogging during PDC 2003 time and I have been checking out several blogs since then. And here I am doing my own! I am mostly going to focus this one on discussing business intelligence (BI) stuff - the technology, the business, and anything else related to it. And you might notice me talking more about Microsoft stuff since (as you guessed it) I do work for Microsoft! My role at Microsoft is to assist with technical enablement of developers and development organizations who are developing on Microsoft platform.

I love software and in particular BI has been my passion. To me, BI is a cool technology that lets you make sense of all that data out there! Whether it is figuring out the best way to put items on the shelf at a grocery store (like stacking beer and diaper together) or figuring out a loyalty program to reward loyal customers at a casino - BI technology has super potential! I hope you will share my passion for this cool technology as much as I do.

OK, now moving on to another subject? Anyone watched French open this weekend? Tennis fever has gripped me and I actually spent playing tennis outdoors for couple of hours today!! This is my favorite game to play and watch!!!