Create a data quality rule for data collection

You can create a data collection initiative to capture data for applications, information flows, components, or physical and virtual servers (class Device). The data collection initiative is based on a data quality rule that is defined for one of the following classes: Application, Information Flow, Component, Device (virtual servers and physical servers). You can create only one data quality rule per class.

Based on the class you create the data quality rule for, you can specify the attributes that shall be added as columns to the data workbench used to collect the data. The data workbench should include columns so that a user has enough information to recognize the asset as well as the columns needed to provide the data that is required.

A column Is Reviewed can also be added to the data workbench if you want users to confirm that the data has been checked for accuracy.

The definition of the data quality rule also includes the users that are responsible to provide data for assets. You can specify Responsible User so that any user who is an authorized user or member of an authorized user group of a relevant asset will be responsible to provide data. You can also define users with a specific role type as responsible to provide data for an asset. For example, if you define the role type Application Manager, then users assigned the role Application Manager for applications will be responsible to provide data for those applications where the specified data is missing. You can also ensure that users will receive notifications that they are responsible for providing data in the data collection initiative.

1. Go to Data Quality Rules and click Data Quality Rule Explorer > Notification-Based Rules in the explorer.
2. In the Data Quality Rules view in the content area, click the   > Create a Data Quality Rule.
3. Define the following attributes to create a data quality rule for a data collection initiative:
   • Name: Enter a name for the data quality rule that you will use for the data collection initiative.
   • Severity: Select a severity level to color code the data quality rule violation on the user interface. Hints are displayed in blue, warnings in yellow and errors in red.
   • Valid From and Valid To: Specify when the data collection initiative will start and end.
   • Is Active: Select the checkbox once the data quality rule is configured. Only data quality rules for which Is Active is set will be evaluated.
   • Data Quality Rule Type: Select Value Exists.
   • Target Classes: Select either Application, Information Flow, Component, or Device (to capture data for physical and virtual servers).
   • Target Properties: Select the attributes that you want to include in the data workbench used to collect the data. Every target property will be added as a column to the data workbench. You should include properties like Name that allow the user to recognize the asset that they are defining as well as all of the attributes for which data should be collected. The Data Verified property can be added for data review projects where you want users to set a checkmark in a Data Verified column to confirm that the data for the asset has been reviewed.
   • Resolution View Type: Select Data Workbench.
   • Resolution View Name: Select the data workbench that is relevant for the class that the data quality rule targets. Enter the letters DWB in the search field and select one of the following options:
     • DWB_SimpleInitiativeForDataCollection_Application - Application Data Collection
     • DWB_SimpleInitiativeForDataCollection_InfoFlow - Information Flow Data Collection
     • DWB_SimpleInitiativeForDataCollection_Component - Component Data Collection
     • DWB_SimpleInitiativeForDataCollection_Device - Device Data Collection
   • Go to the Notifications tab and specify the users that are responsible for providing data for assets in the data collection initiative.
     • In the Notify section, specify the responsible persons. The users found via this definition will see the assets that they are responsible for in Alfabet in the navigation panel > Data Quality > Data Collection Initiative. Select role types if all users with that role be responsible to provide data for the assets that they are responsible in the context of the data collection initiative. Select Responsible User if the authorized user or members of authorized user groups shall be responsible to provide data for the assets that they are responsible in the context of the data collection initiative.
     • Select the Send Email Notifications checkbox to activate emails to be sent.