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Easily Connect Power BI & Tableau to Cognos Data
Easily Connect Power BI& Tableau to Cognos Data
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Agenda
• Introduction
• Overview of Senturus Analytics Connector
• Demo
• Additional resources
• Senturus overview
• Q&A
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Introduction
Michael Weinhauer
Director
Senturus, Inc.
Poll #1
Which BI platforms is your organization currently using?
(Welect all that apply)
• Cognos
• Power BI
• Tableau
• Other
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Poll #2
How large is the Tableau and/or Power BI user community in
your organization?
• Less than 50 users
• 51-250 users
• More than 250 users
• Don’t know
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Overview of the Senturus Analytics Connector
Predictable vs. exploratory (source: Gartner 2017)
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Enabling bimodal BI
Bimodal approach is growing
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Huge value in existing BI models
Organizations have invested heavily in existing models that
provide governed, secure, business-friendly, performant
results.
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BUT…visual analytics users circumvent them!
Using Cognos for ETL and/or recreating models in other
tools wastes time, compromises data integrity and security!
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Why you shouldn’t (re)-create metadata
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The solution? The Senturus Analytics
Connector!
Visual analytics users can connect directly to the Cognos
application layers, giving them instant access to high quality
data.
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Instant access to quality data sets
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Instant access to quality data sets
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Including your reports!
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Don’t sacrifice integrity and security for
agility!
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Publish and deploy!
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The Senturus Analytics Connector gives youFaster, more accurate reportingAnalysts can spend time doing actual analysis instead of manipulating data and remodeling data already curated in
Cognos.
Reduced change management cost and riskChanges in Cognos Framework Manager models are automatically picked up by the Analytics Connector, eliminating costly and
time-consuming changes to individual files.
Increased trust in the dataAuditable, governed data provides a single version of the truth that is the basisfor all reporting. With trust in the reporting data, company-wide adoption increases.
Improved securityEliminates redundant security application, reduces risks associated with the use of unsecure data sources (flat files, Excel
exports) and allows appropriate guardrails to be set up around data access.
Superior performancePoorly modeled data can dramatically decrease performance. Analytics Connector users leverage the performance-optimized
data modeled in Cognos.20
What’s new in 5.1
• Windows authentication using SQL Server connection (SSO)
• Standalone calculation support in data modules
• Navigation path support in data modules
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Demo
Frequently asked questions
Live/Direct Query vs. extract/import
• Both methods are supported
Supported Cognos platforms and versions
• IBM Cognos 10.1.x/11 and higher, including 11.1.7, 11.2
• On prem AND cloud
Supported data sources
• Relational, PowerCubes, DMR, Dynamic Cubes, TM1
• Framework Manager Packages, Data Modules, and Reports
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Frequently asked questions
Release date
• GA November 7, 2016
• In development for over 6 years, current version v5.1
Minimum software requirements
• Very lightweight footprint
• Dual-Core i7/Xeon, 8GB RAM, 20GB disk
• Negligible CPU utilization
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Frequently asked questions
Supported versions/platforms
• Power BI Desktop (June 2018 or later)
• Tableau Desktop, Server and online (10 or later)
• Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows 10, Windows
Server 2012, 2016, 2019)
• Tableau Linux
• Tableau Desktop Mac OSX
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Frequently asked questions
Connector installation location
• Wherever connectivity to Cognos is required
• Desktop
• Tableau Server
• Power BI on-premise data gateway
• Connector client-server (recommended)
• Nothing installed on Cognos servers
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Frequently asked questions
Cognos environment impact
• Users leveraging the Analytics Connector will generate load on
the Cognos servers similar to an interactive report user on
those systems
• Mode 2 users tend to be more interactive, which increases load on
the Cognos servers
• Queries tend to be summarized, which reduces the load on
Cognos
• Important step in development lifecycle to ascertain the net load on
the Cognos system
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Frequently asked questions
Licensing requirements - Cognos
• Live/direct query: Cognos Analytics user or equivalent
• Extract/import: Cognos Analytics user for extracts/imports, users accessing extracts/imports would require an Analytics Connector license
Security
• Automatically enforces security defined within the Cognos environment – package, RLS, etc.
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Frequently asked questions
Framework Manager modeling requirements
• No special modeling requirements
• Tools require that joins are created between query subjects –
Analytics Connector creates dummy joins by default
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Frequently asked questions
Method for accessing Cognos
• Power BI – Custom Connector (ODBC), or SQL Server
• Tableau – ODBC or SQL Server
Support and maintenance
• Provided by Senturus, included with your subscription
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Senturus/Tableau architecture (standalone)
Publish
Live/Extract
Live/Extract
Data Sources (Relational,
PowerCube, DMR, Dynamic Cube,
TM1)
Packages/Reports
Data Modules
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Senturus/Tableau architecture (client-server)
Publish
Live/Extract
Data Sources (Relational,
PowerCube, DMR, Dynamic Cube,TM1)
Packages/Reports
Data Modules
1Live/Extract
Client
Client
Server
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1
Power BI architecture (client-server)
Publish
Live/Import
Live/Import
Data Sources (Relational,
PowerCube, DMR, Dynamic Cube, TM1)
Packages/Reports
Data Modules
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ROI with the Senturus Analytics Connector
Save huge amounts of time (and money)
• STOP creating metadata from scratch and save hours to
weeks of time, depending on the number of packages and
report complexity
• STOP converting reports outside Cognos
• STOP maintaining multiple metadata layers between tools
Reduce data security risk
• Maintain correct data security such as GDPR, PII, HIPAA,
SOX, FERPA
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ROI with the Senturus Analytics Connector
Maximize your Cognos investment
• Your visual analytics tools use the governed prepared data in
Cognos
Ensure accurate and aligned business metrics• No compromise to data integrity because data remodeling is
avoided
• Performance improves because numbers match up between
Cognos and visual analytics tools
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Coexist? Or cut the cord?
Do what’s best for your organization, not what your technology is trying to force you to do…
The experts at Senturus can help!
vs
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Customer case studies
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Northwestern University
Senturus Analytics Connector test drive
• Free 30-day trial
• Includes customer support
Request a test drive: https://senturus.com/products/analytics-connector/
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Additional resources
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Insider viewpointsTechnical tipsUnbiased product reviews
Product demos Upcoming eventsMore on this subject
Upcoming events
•Take Control of Your Cloud
•Managing Azure and AWS capacity for improved performance and reduced cost
•Wednesday, Nov 17, 2021, 11am PT/2pm ET
•Register: https://senturus.com/events/take-control-of-your-cloud/
•Extending Power BI Functionality with R
•Learn the basics to get started
•Thursday, Dec 2, 2021, 11am PT/2pm ET
•Register: https://senturus.com/events/extending-power-bi-functionality-with-r/
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Your path to modern BI
Accelerating self-service analytics for
the enterprise
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Decisions and actionsBusiness needs
Bridging the gap
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Analysis-ready data
Full spectrum of BI services
• Data preparation and modern data warehousing
• Dashboards, reporting and visualizations in Power BI, Cognos and Tableau
• Hybrid BI environments (migrations, security, etc.)
• Software to accelerate bimodal BI and migrations
• BI services and support retainer (expertise on demand)
• Training and mentoring
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Complete BI training
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Instructor-led online courses Self-paced learning
MentoringTailored group sessions
A long, strong history of success
•20+ years
•1350+ clients
•3000+ projects
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Join theSenturus team
Send your resume to: [email protected]
We’re hiring talented and experienced professionals
• Senior Cognos BI Architect/Project Manager
• Modern Analytics Solution Architect
• Senior Microsoft BI Architect
• ETL Developer
• And more
See job descriptions: https://senturus.com/company/business-analytics-careers/
Q & A
•If your question or issue
is broader than what we
are able to answer today,
contact us at:
•and we will set up a
free consultation.
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www.senturus.com 888 601 6010 [email protected]
Thank You
© 2021 by Senturus, Inc. This presentation may not be reused or distributed without the written consent of Senturus, Inc.
