CDW Limited

CDW Alation Data Catalog

Alation’s enterprise data catalog dramatically improves the productivity of analysts, increases the accuracy of analytics, and drives confident data-driven decision making while empowering everyone in your organization to find, understand, and govern data.

Features

• Automated data curation via behaivoral, linguistic and inferential intelligence
• More than 80 native connectors to existing data sources
• Automatic lineage creation from source to consumer
• Intelligent SQL query tool
• Propogation of deprecations, warnings, and endorsements
• Automatic identification of top-users, experts, and data stewards

Benefits

• Drive Productivity with Behavioral Intelligence
• Spur Better Decision-Making Through Seamless Collaboration
• Promote Confident Analytics with Guided Navigation
• Govern Data with an Active, Business-Led Approach
• Streamline Analytics with Broad, Deep Connectivity
• Improve data comprehension
• Minimise the risk of data misuse
• Easily expose and interpret data policies

£96,000 a unit a year

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at tenders@uk.cdw.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

533085317258655

Contact

Andy Wood
0161 837 7744
tenders@uk.cdw.com

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model: Public cloud
• Service constraints: Alation's Cloud Service (ACS) is currently offered on AWS, with other public offerings being actively developed e.g.Azure, GCP
• System requirements:
  • The ACS instance has access to data sources for cataloging
  • User's network access to AWS

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Support will be determined by priority as assigned by Alation based on these guidelines: https://www.alation.com/tscs/support/ which range from an initial response within 4 hours for 1 "priority 1" to 8 hours/next day for a "priority 4". Alation support is structured for 24/7 follow the sun model as detailed in the MASTER SOFTWARE LICENSE AND SERVICES AGREEMENT: https://www.alation.com/msa/
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: No
• Support levels: Support and maintenance are included in the base license fee for Alation at no additional charge, with the addition of Mission Critical support that can be purchased as a payable option. More details can be found at https://www.alation.com/support/.
• Support available to third parties: No

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Alation's "Right Start" programme helps an organisation start engaging users to help with the population and adoption of Alation. The "Home page" of the Alation Catalog can embed and link to external resources e.g. training documentation, videos etc
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: HTML
• End-of-contract data extraction: There is functionality to export all metadata that has been read and stored into the Alation catalog. Additionally, Glossaries, the Lexicon and other aspects of the catalog can be exported from the GUI
• End-of-contract process: Alation's software is licensed on an annual subscription basis, with incentives available for multi-year licensing. Within this license is included the operation of the software, maintenance, support, product training, and documentation. Product certification for users is an additional cost

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: No
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Description of service interface: Browser-based graphical user interface for all functionality, configuration and use, from a user and admin perspective. This interface can be customised e.g. colours, layout, content
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Accessibility testing: An "Alation Accessibility Conformance Report" is available
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: The Alation API is fully documented at https://developer.alation.com which details abilities, security, and controls
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: HTML
• API sandbox or test environment: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: Various processes can be customised via workflows, which are configured from the GUI. This ability is limited to specific user roles within the product. Further customisation can be achieved via templates where each and every catalog page can be customised by type, domain, tag etc

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Limits and time-outs can be set for specific resource-hungry actions e.g. queries, number of rows returned, size of sample data, frequency of system jobs. A High-availability (HA) server may be set up to provide business continuity.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: All aspects of user interaction with the system are recorded into logs and an internal database. "Alation Analytics" allows users to view statistics around curation, top users, popular sources, queries, articles etc
• Reporting types:
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Alation

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Up to Security Clearance (SC)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 3.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Penetration testing approach: Another external penetration testing organisation
• Protecting data at rest: Other
• Other data at rest protection approach: AES-256
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
• Equipment disposal approach: A third-party destruction service

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: If a user has the right to export data, any data that they have access to and can view can be exported via the GUI. Data can also be exported via the API programmatically.
• Data export formats: CSV
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data import formats:
  • JSON
  • TSV
  • XML
  • TXT

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
• Data protection within supplier network: TLS (version 1.2 or above)

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: For on-prem/private cloud, Alation don't have a SLA.
• Approach to resilience: In addition to the resilience that is provided by the cloud vendor, the customer can acquire an high-availability (HA) server; The intent of the HA server is to mirror the production environment in the event of failure/inaccesibility of the primary server.
• Outage reporting: If a customer is using their private cloud for hosting and operating Alation's software, there is no additional connection to Alation's systems required

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Alation software has 6 roles that restrict users to functionality and areas of the product, including the management and configuration of the product e.g. only "system admin" and "catalog admin" functions have access to the configuration pages. Support tickets can only be raised and responded to by the identified customer email.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication:
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users receive audit information on a regular basis
• How long user audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users receive audit information on a regular basis
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: User-defined
• How long system logs are stored for: At least 12 months

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: A-Lign, Tampa, Florida, USA
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 29/01/2020
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: N/A
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: No
• Cyber essentials plus: No
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: ISO27001

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: Documents are available upon request to security@alation.com

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: Alation incorporates a formal process for merging all enhancements and changes into each release. Through our Change Management systems, we track/audit what changes are being requested and we leverage our Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) to ensure our security checkpoints/"gates" are met. Alation has built-in security checkpoint/"gates" in our Design and code review prior to codebase merge. Our SSDLC has over 150 controls defined that generally map to ISO 27001 as well as other frameworks such as SOC2.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: Alation has integrated security in our Development Operations to scan for OWASP and NIST Known Vulnerabilities through Software Composition Analysis, perform Static Application Security Testing and Dynamic Application Security Testing with Penetration Testing.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: "Alation has integrated security in our Development Operations to scan for OWASP and NIST Known Vulnerabilities through Software Composition Analysis, perform Static Application Security Testing and Dynamic Application Security Testing with Penetration Testing. "
• Incident management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v3.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: Alation uses a combination of automated tools (ie, networking monitoring tools, endpoint security devices and systems) to detect and log security events, as well as reporting by Alation employees and users when suspicious activities occur .

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v3.0)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  CDW is committed to fighting climate change and protecting the environment. CDW has made a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2040, 10 years earlier than mandated by the UK government. To achieve this, CDW has implemented (and continues to implement) initiatives to reduce our emissions and carbon footprint, all of which are underpinned by CDW’s ISO14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS) and our beGreen program.; ; CDW’s distribution centre and our flagship offices hold ISO 14001 environmental management certifications, with our UK distribution centre also holding REGO energy certifications. In parallel with our EMS and beGreen program, CDW has invested in and implemented a range of initiatives to help tackle our contribution towards climate change across our operational activities. These initiatives include (but are not limited to):; ; -Solar panel usage. We’ve been able to achieve 100% renewable energy sourcing for CDW-owned buildings.; -Energy-efficient lighting solutions, including indoor and outdoor LED lighting.; -Motion sensor lighting and conveyor systems that turn off in response to inactivity.; -Water consumption solutions, including rainwater harvesting efforts.; -“Smart” HVAC systems that adjust according to business hours and seasonal temperatures.; -A ‘Pin to Print’ program enabling enhanced print queue management to reduce wasted print jobs; -A goal to achieve 100% renewable energy sourcing for electricity by 2027. In 2021, 98% of electricity consumed in the UK was from renewable sources.; ; Additionally, at our distribution centres, we have recycled:; ; -2,966 tons of packaging material; -9,794 tons of cardboard; -636 tons of paper; -Thousands of wood and plastic pallets; ; Furthermore, at a coworker level, CDW has established an Environment Committee with the purpose of increasing awareness of the environmental and social strategy, and to empower coworkers to get involved in environmental initiatives.

  Equal opportunity

  CDW is committed to creating a working environment for coworkers dedicated to inclusion, diversity and equal opportunities, as detailed in our CDW Way Code, which teaches all CDW coworkers to:; ; -Always do their best to make everyone at CDW feel welcome; -Treat other coworkers with respect and dignity; -Maintain an inclusive workplace in which all coworkers can demonstrate their full potential; -Respect the unique attributes and perspectives of every coworker; ; CDW provides equal treatment and opportunity without regard to:; ; -Race; -Skin colour; -Religion; -National origin; -Gender; -Sexual orientation; -Gender identity; -Disability; -Age; ; Our commitment to equality is underpinned by six Business Resource Groups (BRGs). BRGs ensure all coworkers have a voice, build awareness, and provide support to similar groups in their communities. The BRGs include:; ; -Armed Forces Network; -Black Coworker Network; -Disability Support Network; -PRIDE+; -United Support Network; -Women’s International Network; ; CDW coworkers are empowered to reach their highest potential, and we are focused on providing them with a wide variety of tools and development opportunities to help them achieve their career aspirations at CDW, regardless of origin, background or situation. Within our learning culture, all coworkers are surrounded by comprehensive resources and support, ongoing education and skills training, and robust advancement opportunities. We offer a variety of programs to help current and future leaders build diverse teams and to help diverse coworkers develop their leadership skills so they can continue to advance in the organisation.; ; Our commitment to equal opportunities and diversity is demonstrable across our organisation. As an example, CDW’s CEO and President, Chris Leahy, is female and CDW’s Executive Committee consists of 50% female and 50% male coworkers, with 42% coming from multi ethnic backgrounds.; ; CDW is also committed to reducing the gender pay gap and produces an annual gender pay gap report - https://www.uk.cdw.com/site-tools/pay-gap-report/.

  Wellbeing

  CDW is committed to providing coworkers and their families with the knowledge necessary to make the best health and wellness choices for themselves and their families. ; ; Our approach to wellness is designed to help coworkers be safe, healthy and successful. We understand that managing work and personal life is a balancing act of shifting priorities and so we offer a variety of benefits that supports a coworker’s physical, financial, emotional and social ; wellbeing, including access to telemedicine, a suite of family benefits and a variety of wellness incentives and programs.; ; CDW provides coworkers with an Employee Assistance Program, which offers confidential, individualised coaching to help coworkers achieve personal or professional goals. It also features enhancements for crisis care, 24/7 phone support and an emergency referral system.; ; Ongoing coworker engagement is fostered through regular communications events, including: ; ; -Monthly wellness e-newsletters promoting benefits available to coworkers; -Workshops and activities focused on timely topics; -Various campaigns to raise awareness for meaningful topics throughout the year, including mental health, emotional wellbeing and heart-mind gratitude; ; As a further example of our commitment, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Coworker Services team implemented “coworker calls” - informal, but regular check-ins to ensure all coworkers are caring for their mental health and receiving the support they need.; ; CDW also established ‘The CDW Community’, an initiative set up to provide coworkers with activities that they could participate in to keep them physically and mentally active, and to give them a platform for social engagement with other coworkers during a time where many were feeling isolated.; ; Following its success during COVID, the CDW Community initiative has remained operational as we exit the pandemic, continuing to provide CDW coworkers with activities and resources centric to physical and mental wellbeing, as well as sessions to support a healthy family life.

Pricing

• Price: £96,000 a unit a year
• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: No

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at tenders@uk.cdw.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.