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Data Collection

The Data Collection section is a crucial phase of the Cloud Transformation Process usually following the configuration of Assessment Preferences. It involves compiling a comprehensive overview of applications and their dependencies relevant to the transformation. This data forms the basis for the Assessment phase and subsequent steps.

While the Data Collection section in the Transformation Cockpit serves as a reporting tool rather than a data collection platform, Txture simplifies the data gathering process through several flexible methods. Follow the methology outlined to gather comprehensive data about your IT landscape.

  1. Integration of Existing Data Sources: Import data from various formats like several file formats, databases, APIs, or vendor-specific solutions. To learn more, read the documentation about Data Sources and Importers.
  2. Crowdsourcing Data via Integrated Surveys: Engage with application owners and key stakeholders through surveys to gather additional or missing data. To learn more, read the documentation about Surveys.
  3. Manual Data Collection & Modeling: Data can be manually entered into the repository in both graphical and form-based ways. To learn more, read the documentation about the manual modeling and the Repository.

Important

Please note that the quality of the data you collect has an impact on the quality of all the outcomes Txture provides!
A holistic cloud assessment requires knowledge of the application itself, its business architecture, infrastructure, and technology stacks. In order to have Txture generate target cloud architectures, application data on the technical configuration and infrastructure is crucial.

As all other sections of the Transformation Cockpit, the Data Collection section is divided into a global overview and application mode.

Global Mode​

The global mode shows several reports about the collected data. In the blue box to the right you can find buttons to easily access data collection features.

The overview mode of the Data Collection section provides insights about the status of the overall data collection activities and includes jumping-off points to features needed to initially start with the Data Collection:

  1. The bar graph shows the proportions of already discovered applications grouped by their data completeness. The amount of data required is determined by your Assessment Preferences. For applications with low or medium data completeness, you should consider collecting more data.
  2. Use these starting points to do further data collection. Add an application manually, send Surveys to stakeholders or import data from existing data silos using one of Txture's Data Source integrations.
  3. Additional information, such as the number of already discovered assets in total per asset type is shown in a donut chart. And below, the discovered assets' technologies and discovered applications over time are shown.
  4. Next to the donut chart, the bubble chart contains the amount of deployed assets per application. This gives an quick indication of the size of the deployement stack per application.

Application Mode​

The application mode guides you through the Data Collection of every single application and helps you with identifying data gaps. Your aim should be to improve the data completeness of each application that you intend to migrate in order to accurately assess them and provide suitable target architecures. In the following, the different areas of the application mode are explained:

  1. Use the sidebar to find all applications currently in cloud transformation scope. Also, there is a label that shows the data completeness for this application in the current state.
  2. For the selected application, the Application Migration State is shown in the top header. In case a Cloud Proposal has already been selected for this application, the Migration Strategy and the Provider are shown here too.
  3. The blue bar features options to adjust the Application Migration State for the first time. Afterwards there are the options to Complete Data Collection for this application or to Descope the application. In the second case, the application is no longer considered for all further steps.
  4. In oder to accurately assess applications or create cloud proposals in the next sections, Txture requires information about the application. If some important data about this application is missing, this is shown here. Solve all data completeness problems by adding required data and improve your data completeness.
  5. Here you can adjust your Assessment and Target Architecture preferences. You can e.g. deactivate an Assessment Rule if it is not relevant for a specific application. After deactivating a rule, the associated data completeness notification will disappear. You can re-activate rules in the Assessment Preferences. Please note that rules can be deactivated either for a single application or globally for all applications.

Data Completeness Problems​

Txture's assessment capability and target cloud architecture generation for application portfolios rely on the availability of certain information. While the Assessment will typically look into data security, technologies, or application lifecycle, a Target Architecture proposal for applications can only be generated if e.g. server sizing, technologies, and deployment models are known respectively. For this reason, it is important to identify and close data gaps.

Data Completeness Problems Panel​

The Data Completeness Problems section reveals whatever data is missing for the application you've selected. Click on Show Problems to reveal a list of data gaps. The list of data completeness problems is separated into major and minor problems.

Application Deep Dive​

Explore comprehensive data about each application in a variety of detailed views within this section. Navigate through the tabs to access the specific insights you need

At the end of the Data Collection section, you'll find Txture's integrated Surveys. These surveys are instrumental for collecting targeted information. For detailed guidance on utilizing Surveys, refer to our dedicated Surveys documentation.