Quick Start

Available to:

Cost: No charge

Boston University’s official source of institutional business terms (“BU Terms”) and documentation of related data sources (“data sets”) is Alex, a software platform powered by Axon, Informatica’s data governance solution. Alex documents business knowledge and combines this with information about the University’s data sources and systems to provide users with accurate, up-to-date and valuable insight into how to use data properly, and how to understand and work with data to produce reliable information. Anyone with a BU login and access to the 2FA VPN can access the system, which has a powerful search capability that allows it to function a bit like Wikipedia. The content in Alex will build over time, and currently contains information for the SIS Renewal Program area of Applicant Admissions.

Benefits

  • Answers to questions about data, and the meaning of the words we use to describe our data. Alex saves time in finding these answers, and eliminates the task of chasing down the right person with the answer.
  • Assigning accountability for data – documents who this accountability is assigned to and can manage workflow for changes.
  • Delivers confidence in the information so you don’t have to gauge the likelihood that the answer given is the correct one. If information doesn’t seem right or is incomplete, questions and requests for changes can be made directly in the software (by logged in users).
  • Document and display connections – between and among business terms, between business terms and the data entities and functions they relate to, and between business terms and the physical data items containing this data.
  • By providing an easy-to-access and reliable resource for getting accurate and important information about data, Alex will save time and reduce risk in working with data once this resource has been built out with content across the University.

Key Features

  • Provides a single, reliable source of information for official definitions, the connection between business definitions and data elements, and information about who is accountable for each.
  • Provides a method for requesting additions, updates or corrections to the information it contains.
  • Enforces workflows in making changes and additions to ensure that accountable parties make the appropriate decisions, and that stakeholders are aware and informed of these decisions.
  • Connects data policies and usage guidelines to the business terms and policies for which they are relevant.

What to Expect

This service normally will be available 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., except for standard change windows, as described in IS&T’s standard policies, procedures, and schedules for making changes.

Requirements

  • You do not need a login to view and access content, however, you must be logged in to request changes or additions using the software’s functionality. 
  • Logins must be requested through datagov@bu.edu for the time being. Once SSO functionality is added to the service, all users with a BU email address will be able to login. 

    Getting Started