Information management is about making sure processes are in place to ensure the right information is getting to the right person—and at the right time. It’s imperative that organizations implement rigorous programs to make sure all their information is responsibly and meticulously collected, stored, and utilized.

Think of information management as a simple process that allows you to locate information and then use it to solve problems or answer questions. If something goes wrong with the inner workings, then the information likely hasn’t been managed well.  

While information management may be an afterthought for most businesses, it’s an important aspect to consider. Businesses in today’s day and age are handling more data than they ever have, so it makes sense to start seriously thinking about why information management is necessary. Learn more about information management and how netlogx can help your organization.

Data classification and compliance needs analysis

Nearly every business process today is either automated or assisted by technology. And there are increased regulations and more compliance issues—such as HIPAA or HITECH— to deal with as well. With this in mind, organizations must break down their data silos to receive a fully-faceted look at the information they hold. Before one can fully manage the information, however, you need to classify it. Below are some reasons why you should classify and analyze your data whether it needs to be compliant or not:

• Find data as quickly as possible.
• Ensure you don’t duplicate data.
• Save storage, speed up retrieval times, and reduce the potential for data breaches.
• Assist in meeting legal and regulatory requirements for retrieving specific information within set timeframes.
• Improve response to potential or actual data breaches.
• Determine appropriate security controls and monitor compliance.

At netlogx, we’ve developed a practical approach to data classification that focuses on sensitive information subject to legal and regulatory requirements. Organizations that embrace the classification and compliance analysis approach are less likely to run into issues. Even if their data is compromised, a proactive plan helps to remediate any problems. These organizations also see significant cost reductions in their information management related to storage cost and data usage. 

We classify and evaluate data based on its confidentiality, integrity, and availability requirements. Sensitive data is tagged to identify special levels of security compliance, which is another feature that significantly reduces the cost of the process. Below is the step-by-step list:

Identify critical processes and data.

1. Identify data custodians and owners.
2. Identify security and operational requirements.
3. Establish a data classification scheme.
4. Identify appropriate standards together with existing internal controls.
5. Carry out data audit and cleansing projects as required.
6. Document and report data classification and compliance requirements.
7. Prepare and implement appropriate controls and data reporting processes.
8. Monitor and maintenance of classification systems, which can be adjusted if necessary.

Data extraction, cleaning, transformation, and loading services

For data warehouses, data marts, and other analytical applications to give the maximum return on your investment, you must first understand your data needs. A comprehensive storage catalog will support data extraction of current and historical data. This helps you and your business develop extract, clean, transform, and load (ECTL) information processes efficiently and effectively. 

Our information architects work with you every step of the way to ensure you understand the critical data needed for an application or business process. We do everything we can to understand your business’s unique needs as well as the consistency and validity of data. Once established, the ECTL process is ready for design and implementation. This is how the process typically works:

1. Extract data from the source system and make it accessible for further processing. The “Extract” step’s goal is to access source data as quickly and efficiently as possible.
2. Clean the data to ensure quality. The “Clean” step makes sure the data is subject to basic unification rules, like making identifiers unique and implementing third-party resource validation.
3. Transform the data from the source to the target. The “Transform” step converts measured data to common dimensions. This enables data to have various processes worked on it later.
4. Load the data to make sure there are no snags in the loading process. The ‘“Load” step also maintains the data’s integrity (accuracy and trustworthiness of the information) through ETL processes and tools, keeping it consistent.

Data mapping and modeling

Data mapping and modeling are all about creating a guide where source data is easily directed to the targeted database. This approach works to rationalize and unify the information your company keeps. Here’s a further breakdown of the benefits:

• Organize your information assets into an enterprise data model that your business can understand and navigate.
• Create a standard vocabulary for your data and processes that your business and IT providers will use to communicate more effectively.
• Employ solutions that can be re-used on projects to accelerate development and improve overall quality.

The main issue with not having this type of approach is that your systems could easily develop into silos of applications. Not only is this wasteful, but it can also be costly. You don’t have time to deal with dysfunctional systems and procedures that all house slightly different data. In these instances, you’ll have to spend the money, time, and resources to clean things up. Worse, you’ll have to transfer and correct all of your data before you can even think of supporting your business.

That’s where netlogx comes in. Our data architects guide you through every step of the data mapping process, working quickly and systematically to create an inventory of what’s in your possession. We then classify and document the mapped data, making sure it’s always referred to in the same way to avoid any confusion. Your netlogx data architect works with you to develop a data model that is simple to understand and navigate. 

By this point, you’ll be ready to go it alone, in which case your netlogx data architect will help by creating data flow and transformation documents to improve the quality of your data. It’s as simple as this list of processes we undertake for you:

1. Systematically map your data by gathering metadata.
2. Build an inventory of your company’s important data and its usage.
3. Develop standard vocabulary and classification of your data.
4. Drive integration through data modeling.
5. Capture requirements for data movement.

Information alignment services

Information alignment is when an organization uses information technology (IT) to accomplish various business objectives. A key factor to alignment is understanding how processes use and produce data while ensuring data management runs effectively and efficiently. It’s crucial to have a tight grasp on how your organization’s information is processed, organized, structured, and presented. We ensure your data maps to your company’s objectives to implement processes that are streamlined, opportunities that are documented and prioritized, as well as mapped to clear outcomes.

When the data is processed, organized, structured, or presented in any given context, it becomes ‘“information,” and it’s this information that businesses need to meet their missions, goals, and objectives. We like to refer to this as your “information alignment.”

To get started, a netlogx data architect will assess the unique information needs of your business. We’ll then look at how this information is collected, developed, stored, and used. This assessment clearly identifies the owners, custodians, and users of your data. It also documents and analyzes gaps, issues, and inefficiencies, which our data architects will help you resolve.

We provide the expertise you and your business need. Better yet, we take on the responsibility of guiding you through the project. We make the entire process easy by managing, monitoring, and coordinating activities with business management, subject matter experts (SMEs), contractors, and business partners. The complete service is made up of two parts: an analysis phase and a recommendations phase. Together, they form an information alignment project that can:

• Gather and document your business’s missions, goals, and objectives.
• Establish what information is used to make sure that the missions, goals, and objectives are met.
• Create an “as-is” process model that maps which information is used by which process.
• Document gaps or areas that need improvement.
• Develop a logical data model for the business.
• Assess underlying data management processes, tools, and techniques.
• Confirm findings with your business SMEs.
• Develop recommendations for remediation.
• Develop recommendations for data management tools and technologies.
• Develop a transition road map, including a high-level timeline and deliverables.

Business continuity planning

A business continuity plan (BCP) is the process an organization undergoes to create a prevention and recovery system from potential threats—like cyber-attacks. The netlogx team has vast experience with organizational change management, which is the catalyst to develop and put in place your business continuity plan. Once your company is ready, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Here’s a breakdown of the creation stages:

1. Business Impact Analysis: BIA works to establish what is and isn’t critical in your business’s processes and functions. At this time, we’ll assign recovery point objectives and recovery time objectives.
2. Threat Risk Analysis: TRA is used to identify the various risks that could affect your business.
3. Impact Scenarios: This involves examining the various effects of these risks. For example, we may ask how a risk that impacts a data center is different from a risk that impacts a corporate office.
4. Recovery Requirement: We identify the need for recovery from each risk and keep accurate documentation.
5. Solution Design: This stage takes place after each risk, impact, and recovery requirement is documented.
6. Implementation: Your business continuity plan is ready! This can include a contract for a disaster recovery site as well as educational steps you and your staff can take to combat threats.
7. Testing and Organizational Acceptance: Depending on the threats and their solution, testing methods may include table-top exercises or larger-scale simulations.
8. Maintenance: At netlogx, we perform maintenance on the plan once it’s in place to make sure updates and training are implemented when necessary. 

Information lifecycle management strategy

Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) is the process that oversees data from creation through destruction to optimize its utility, reduce costs, and minimize compliance risks that data can introduce. Records are considered actual documents or information related to associated documents, like information used to satisfy a business need or business transaction. Each stage of the lifecycle offers a format change to ensure easier access and secure storage. ILM is used to align the business value of information with the infrastructure effectively.

The less time you and your team spend on gathering and analyzing data, the more efficient productivity becomes. These insights are gathered fairly quickly once a strategy is in place because the data won’t require validation or manipulation. If you want to improve these important processes, you need to be able to analyze your data and draw valuable insights from it. First, however, your data’s quality, consistency, and comparability must be maintained. This is described as your information lifecycle management strategy.

The creation and implementation of this strategy facilitate collaboration between diverse areas of your organization since data is comparable and consistent. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are then used to highlight what is and is not working in the company. Over time, your planning and forecasting will be more and more accurate, which will benefit the organization as a whole.

Data warehouse design and implementation services

Data Warehousing has quickly shifted from an option to a necessity. It brings together a myriad of information sources and enables organizations to oversee Information Management with ease. The fact is, getting a data warehouse project right is an extremely complex endeavor to manage on your own.

Together, we can develop a strategic vision with a dogged focus on monitoring progress and corrections in any misstep. The issue here is that, typically, people in an organization who have this broad vision are sitting at an administrative or higher level. They don’t always have the time or capacity to guide creation and implementation through every step.

Meanwhile, those individuals performing specific operational tasks at the lower levels of your organization miss out on valuable insights simply due to their channeled view of the company. These also tend to be the people who possess the specialized skills needed to design the architecture, database, and analytics environment. Unfortunately, this means very few organizations are set up to meet their full data warehousing potential using only some of the employees’ perspectives. 

Cue netlogx. Our team of experts can effortlessly design and implement data warehouses that meet your organization’s exact needs. We work hand-in-hand with employees who have provided valuable parts of the process. We are sure to incorporate the lessons we’ve learned from previous projects to take a disciplined approach to project management. Your dedicated netlogx team members won’t just be a passive part of project management; they’ll be at the forefront of the activities to ensure your entire organization’s positive results.

Our iterative and practical approach to data warehouse processes is known for delivering value early. We’ve become masters at avoiding pitfalls like “build it, and they will come” (which is something we don’t see as a compelling business reason) and “trying to think of every use” (which does not manage the scope of the project). Instead, we take a methodical look at your data warehouse and implementation needs by following each of the below steps:

1. Learn and analyze your major business processes to better understand your data flow and systems.
2. Deep-dive into source systems to understand the data and its associated issues.
3. Create an “as-is” data model based on the analysis, showing where we are before the design begins.
4. Incorporate your strategic business initiatives into requirements that you know your organization possesses.
5. Create the “to-be” logical data model, which will meet your known requirements and expected analysis.
6. Create vital core pieces of the physical data warehouse and analytics tools in short yet repeated sprints.
7. Continually engage with employees from all levels of your organization to obtain regular feedback.
8. Incorporate lessons learned as part of each sprint, thus improving future sprints.

Managed data warehouse services

A managed data warehouse service eliminates any need for a large team to staff your data’s storage. Not only will this free up a significant chunk of your budget, but it also allows your workforce to gain insights from your data rather than simply maintaining it. Managed data warehouses are renowned as a world-class solution that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. 

Our solutions are kept in a secure and stable environment. And while the resulting analytics are available from any internet connection, they are also encrypted and subject to role-based security. This ensures only the right people can see the right information. At netlogx, we use state-of-the-art tools to visualize rich data and help employees create their own. Better yet, your business only pays for what it uses, and performance and scalability are included in the price!

Database administration services

Hiring an experienced professional for database administration will make the most sense for your business. We’ll manage any complex data administration risks that may arise and more value is gained through our solutions than if the work was handed off to an existing employee.

What if your needs spike when data conversion work is underway, platforms are being upgraded, or new systems are being put into place? Combined with day-to-day operations that can’t be assigned to existing employees, the additional work typically makes hiring an administration specialist completely justifiable.

Our consultants are experienced in all major database platforms, which, when coupled with netlogx’ unparalleled project management and coordination functions, means your project will be expertly catered to from start to finish.

Master data management services

Master data management (MDM) is a technology-enabled process where business and IT work together to ensure the uniformity, accuracy, stewardship, semantic consistency, and accountability of the enterprise’s master data. If an error arises in your business’s master data, it can result in significant and far-reaching consequences. Since master data spans various departments and systems, implementing a strategy to look after it should be easier to start with an objective source.

The data will likely have an impact on various areas and processes. In this situation, netlogx can leverage subject matter experts (SMEs) while simultaneously avoiding burdening them with details about the implementation. As a result, we can build a solid foundation that effectively manages master data while reserving day-to-day operations for existing staff. netlogx is here to guide your organization by planning and delivering a master data management implementation plan. We do this by taking the following steps:

• Identifying the Systems of Entry (SoE): SoE generates the master data and is typically transactional source systems, like when a customer registers.
• Master data management tools: These tools look at data as it arrives and determines when updates, additions, and deletions are warranted.
• Master data store: The master data store acts as a data warehouse for analytics sources and is adapted to contain the history of changes in the master data.

It is important to note that historical data will need to be matched, cleaned, and, if incorrect or outdated—disabled. We’ll take the time to find which data, process, or system has the most value attached to it, and we’ll work to implement it first.

Information risk management

If your business is subject to legislation surrounding risk management, we make sure you stay compliant. You rest easy knowing we maintain a laser focus on potential risks that are most likely to have the greatest impact. This ensures resources and time will be spent efficiently and productively. netlogx’ risk management services guide your company through the process of setting up and sustaining effective risk management. This involves two primary factors:

• A risk assessment: Risk assessments identify and characterize any potential threats and examine how vulnerable your critical assets are to these specific threats. The risk, for example, could be the likelihood and consequences of certain attacks on specific assets.
• A risk mitigation: Risk mitigation finds ways to reduce risks and then prioritizes risk reduction measures based on an agreed strategy. Our methodology around risk management follows what’s known as a Plan Do Check Act (PDCA), or Shewhart Cycle, approach. It involves a continuous assessment of your company’s risk management picture with improvements made when necessary. This mirrors information management systems such as ISO 27000 and is best practice.

Report and interface design

It’s no secret that every business wants to control costs. One fundamental way of doing so is making sure stories are told accurately (data is passed from one system to another). Appropriately designed reports and interfaces look better aesthetically and keep maintenance and support costs in check. If you’re confused by the design of a report, it’s a waste of valuable information. If you or your employees have to spend excess time and energy trying to understand what the report means, it can be a considerable time and money waster. 

Therefore, it’s crucial the design of your information management solution is thoroughly thought-out and executed clearly. You want to ensure it’s as clear-cut as possible, so you don’t wind up having to waste more time and money contacting support services asking for explanations. A properly-designed solution will work to prevent any downstream concerns.

Specialists who create these solutions are truly cost-effective in today’s fast-paced business environment. They understand how business landscapes change and can keep you updated through the inevitable twists and turns. A dedicated netlogx representative will be able to plainly show you how your report and interface design covers your data. We’ll assess your data, model it, and help guide you to discover its quality and overall management.

At netlogx, we even map and cleanse the information that your enterprise uses, so it stays equivalent. That means that we can efficiently combine data from various systems. We’ll also ensure your report’s design stays true to the principles of form, fit, and function, as they work together in beautiful harmony. Here’s a breakdown:

• Form: The story of the data is told clearly through the physical layout.
• Fit: The content fits well within the report.
• Function: The effective technical production and distribution of the data.

Our consultants use the Edward Tufte principles of report design: show comparisons, show causality, use multivariate data, completely integrate modes, establish credibility, and focus on content. With this practice in place, data is the sole focus, and any “chart junk” is eliminated. 

Our architects can create templates and a report standards document that allows for the consistent inclusion of key components in all reports. netlogx constantly maintains your interface’s meaning and semantics to plan, deliver, and accurately design based on your company’s business and technical processes.

The netlogx Approach

At netlogx, we really take the time to get to know you and your business. We always begin with the end in mind because we believe you deserve a straightforward and proactive approach to information management. We don’t just look at where we can improve your processes; we also focus on the critical data that drives your business—allowing us to target the areas where your company can obtain the most value. With us, you’ll get:

• A breakdown of your business’s stakeholder needs 
• A thorough examination of how your information planning, organization, direction, control, evaluation, and reporting processes should work.
• A keen eye on compliance requirements to which your data may be subject.

We’re also on high-alert for potential problems early on in the process. This means we create value instead of struggling to design and put solutions in place. We’ll use a framework, like Method for Integrated Knowledge Environment (MIKE2.0), that offers a structured and comprehensive approach. We work with your management team to set the appropriate governance to control and guide new systems data as well as improve existing data. The architect then rationalizes your company’s requirements, analyzes them, and then provides documentation based on the following:

• Clarity
• Efficiency
• Priority
• Quality
• Traceability

We’ll guide you through the adoption of a requirements management process to make sure that as your business environment changes, your information management requirements are sure to change with them. The DIKAR (Data, Information, Knowledge, Action, and Result) Model is a well-known solution that helps businesses manage their information and data to the best of their ability. It measures information management’s success with the five key components, each acting as a catalyst for the next. The list is as follows:

1. Your data must be interpreted to extract understandable information. 
2. The information is presented comprehensively, so it is considered knowledge. 
3. Leadership uses this knowledge to make efficient and effective decisions in the workplace.
4. Knowledge-based decisions lead to action. 
5. The ultimate outcome of the DIKAR Model: helpful results. 

Finding success in managing, understanding, and presenting information can impact businesses of all shapes and sizes in various positive ways. Information management can help reduce costs, increase operation process improvements, track the effectiveness of projects, as well as the productivity of teams. More importantly, it can help organizations identify where changes should be made to better grow and evolve.

We’re all familiar with the term “innovate or die.” The netlogx team works hard to focus on business analysis. Our analytical minds can cross functions with ease and bridge gaps between IT and other areas of your business.

Our people use Lean Six Sigma techniques, resulting in a disciplined, objective analysis of your company’s processes and how they can be improved upon to better support your business. Data collection and analysis is another integral component of Lean Six Sigma. Our dedicated netlogx team members use decision support tools to collect and analyze critical data that will drive recommendations.

If you would like to learn more about information management and how netlogx can help your business be the best it can be, request a consultation to get started.