Bold BI
By Syncfusion
Installation
The installation of Bold BI involves setting up the software on the appropriate hardware or cloud infrastructure. For Windows environments, the process includes running the Bold BI Enterprise Installer, agreeing to the license terms, and configuring necessary components like Chromium packages for dashboard functionalities and client libraries for database connectivity. For Linux systems, the installation involves downloading the Bold BI package, installing necessary dependencies, and configuring the software to run with Nginx or Apache as a reverse proxy.
Configuration
Once installed, Bold BI needs to be configured. This includes setting up the admin account, configuring database connections, and defining data storage options. The configuration process is crucial for ensuring that Bold BI can communicate effectively with other systems and databases within the organization. Additionally, security settings such as encryption and single sign-on (SSO) are configured during this phase.
Integration
Integration involves connecting Bold BI with existing systems and data sources. Bold BI supports integration with a wide range of data sources and can be embedded into various applications. This step is vital for ensuring that the BI tool can pull data from all relevant sources to provide comprehensive analytics.
Training
Training is essential to ensure that users can effectively utilize Bold BI. Recorded webinars and other training resources are available to help users understand how to use the software, from basic dashboard creation to advanced data analysis techniques. Training can be tailored to the specific needs of the users, ranging from end-users who interact with pre-built dashboards to system administrators who manage the BI tool.
Customization involves tailoring Bold BI to meet the specific visual, functional, and operational needs of the organization. This can include setting up custom dashboards, integrating unique widgets, and applying company branding. Bold BI offers extensive customization capabilities, allowing organizations to modify the user interface and the analytics features to fit their requirements.
The duration of the implementation process can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the organization’s requirements and the specific configurations needed. Typically, the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Factors that can affect the timeline include the scale of the deployment, the complexity of integrations, the extent of customization required, and the availability of IT resources to manage the implementation process.
User Interface Customization
- Dashboard and Widget Customization: Users can create and customize dashboards using a variety of widgets and formatting options. This includes measure type columns, container settings, and more.
- Custom Widgets: Bold BI allows the creation and integration of custom widgets. Users can develop these widgets using HTML, JavaScript, and other web technologies. The software provides a utility for creating and configuring custom widget templates.
- Theming and Branding: The look and feel of the application can be customized, including the application theme (light or dark mode), text colors, and component styles. Organizations can apply branding colors and upload custom themes.
- White Labeling: Bold BI supports white labeling, allowing businesses to replace Bold BI branding with their own, including logos, domain names, and other elements to maintain brand consistency across their tools.
Security Customization
- Role-Based Access Control: Administrators can set up detailed user permissions, controlling access to dashboards, data sources, and other resources based on roles.
- Row-Level Security: This feature enables filtering data shown on dashboards based on user roles or groups, ensuring users only see data relevant to them.
- Encryption and Security Protocols: Bold BI supports encryption at rest and in transit, along with configurations for SSL to enhance data security.
Integration and API Access
- Data Source Integration: Bold BI can connect to over 150 different data sources, allowing businesses to integrate a wide array of data into their analytics.
- REST API: The software provides extensive API access, enabling programmatic management of resources, user accounts, dashboards, and more. This allows for automation and integration with other systems.
Extensibility and Embedded Analytics
- Embedded Analytics: Bold BI can be embedded into other applications, providing analytics capabilities directly within other software products. This includes SDKs for various development environments.
- Customizable Embedded Analytics Features: Features like ad hoc reporting, dynamic dashboard creation, and row-level security can be tailored within embedded analytics.
Manageability and Deployment
- Automated Provisioning: APIs are available for automating the provisioning of tenants, users, groups, and permissions, which can be managed programmatically without using the UI.
- Deployment Flexibility: Bold BI supports deployment on various platforms including Windows, Linux, Docker, and Kubernetes, allowing businesses to choose the best environment based on their infrastructure needs.
Bold BI does not have additional setup fees as part of its pricing structure. The software offers a straightforward pricing model without hidden or extra costs beyond the terms discussed during the demo.
Regarding maintenance, Bold BI provides options for both self-hosted deployment and Syncfusion managed cloud deployment. For self-hosted options, users can deploy using Docker and Kubernetes images, and for cloud deployments, the Syncfusion team handles the setup and maintenance. There are no explicit additional maintenance fees mentioned, as these are likely included in the monthly or annual subscription costs.
In terms of support, Bold BI does not charge extra for technical support. The support services are included in the pricing, in contrast with some competitors who may charge additional fees for support. Bold BI offers comprehensive support including phone, chat, FAQ, forum, knowledge base, and 24/7 live support, ensuring that users can receive help whenever needed.
Training is essential to ensure that users can effectively utilize Bold BI. Recorded webinars and other training resources are available to help users understand how to use the software, from basic dashboard creation to advanced data analysis techniques. Training can be tailored to the specific needs of the users, ranging from end-users who interact with pre-built dashboards to system administrators who manage the BI tool.
Customization
Customization involves tailoring Bold BI to meet the specific visual, functional, and operational needs of the organization. This can include setting up custom dashboards, integrating unique widgets, and applying company branding. Bold BI offers extensive customization capabilities, allowing organizations to modify the user interface and the analytics features to fit their requirements.
The duration of the implementation process can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the organization’s requirements and the specific configurations needed. Typically, the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Factors that can affect the timeline include the scale of the deployment, the complexity of integrations, the extent of customization required, and the availability of IT resources to manage the implementation process.
User Interface Customization
- Dashboard and Widget Customization: Users can create and customize dashboards using a variety of widgets and formatting options. This includes measure type columns, container settings, and more.
- Custom Widgets: Bold BI allows the creation and integration of custom widgets. Users can develop these widgets using HTML, JavaScript, and other web technologies. The software provides a utility for creating and configuring custom widget templates.
- Theming and Branding: The look and feel of the application can be customized, including the application theme (light or dark mode), text colors, and component styles. Organizations can apply branding colors and upload custom themes.
- White Labeling: Bold BI supports white labeling, allowing businesses to replace Bold BI branding with their own, including logos, domain names, and other elements to maintain brand consistency across their tools.
Security Customization
- Role-Based Access Control: Administrators can set up detailed user permissions, controlling access to dashboards, data sources, and other resources based on roles.
- Row-Level Security: This feature enables filtering data shown on dashboards based on user roles or groups, ensuring users only see data relevant to them.
- Encryption and Security Protocols: Bold BI supports encryption at rest and in transit, along with configurations for SSL to enhance data security.
Integration and API Access
- Data Source Integration: Bold BI can connect to over 150 different data sources, allowing businesses to integrate a wide array of data into their analytics.
- REST API: The software provides extensive API access, enabling programmatic management of resources, user accounts, dashboards, and more. This allows for automation and integration with other systems.
Extensibility and Embedded Analytics
- Embedded Analytics: Bold BI can be embedded into other applications, providing analytics capabilities directly within other software products. This includes SDKs for various development environments.
- Customizable Embedded Analytics Features: Features like ad hoc reporting, dynamic dashboard creation, and row-level security can be tailored within embedded analytics.
Manageability and Deployment
- Automated Provisioning: APIs are available for automating the provisioning of tenants, users, groups, and permissions, which can be managed programmatically without using the UI.
- Deployment Flexibility: Bold BI supports deployment on various platforms including Windows, Linux, Docker, and Kubernetes, allowing businesses to choose the best environment based on their infrastructure needs.
Bold BI does not have additional setup fees as part of its pricing structure. The software offers a straightforward pricing model without hidden or extra costs beyond the terms discussed during the demo.
Regarding maintenance, Bold BI provides options for both self-hosted deployment and Syncfusion-managed cloud deployment. For self-hosted options, users can deploy using Docker and Kubernetes images, and for cloud deployments, the Syncfusion team handles the setup and maintenance. There are no explicit additional maintenance fees mentioned, as these are likely included in the monthly or annual subscription costs.
In terms of support, Bold BI does not charge extra for technical support. The support services are included in the pricing, in contrast with some competitors who may charge additional fees for support. Bold BI offers comprehensive support including phone, chat, FAQ, forum, knowledge base, and 24/7 live support, ensuring that users can receive help whenever needed.
1. Free Training Videos: Bold BI provides a series of free training videos that guide users through various aspects of using the software, from basic operations to more advanced functionalities. These videos are accessible on their website and cover topics such as server migration, dashboard management, and more.
2. Quick-Start Video Tutorials: For users looking for quick guidance, Bold BI offers quick-start video tutorials. These tutorials are designed to help users deploy Bold BI with Docker and learn how to work with specific modules in just five minutes, enabling a swift setup and embedding into projects.
3. YouTube Tutorials: Bold BI has a presence on YouTube where they post tutorial videos. These videos include beginner guides on getting started with both the enterprise and embedded editions of Bold BI. The tutorials cover registration, downloading, installation, configuration, and dashboard embedding within HTML applications.
Support
1. Technical Support & Services: Bold BI provides robust support services, including a live chat for immediate assistance, which is especially useful for addressing any production issues. Users can also log support tickets for their queries or issues, and the support team is committed to reaching out quickly and providing resolutions.
2. 24/5 Support: The support team is available 24 hours a day, five days a week, offering web, email, and chat support. They manage escalations for critical issues and ensure that users have access to frequent software updates.
3. Community and Resources: Users can access a variety of resources including detailed documentation on managing dashboards, data sources, and security settings. Bold BI also provides a community forum where users can interact, share experiences, and seek advice from other users.
4. Embedded Support: For those using the embedded analytics, Bold BI offers detailed guides and SDKs to help integrate analytics into user applications seamlessly. This includes customization features for embedding, such as white labeling and setting up row-level security.
Encryption and Secure Protocols
- SSL and TLS Encryption: All communications between clients and the Bold BI server are encrypted using SSL, and the HTTPS protocol is used for requests and responses. The server accepts connections using TLS 1.2 encryption as a recommended standard.
- Encryption at Rest: Bold BI generates unique private keys during installation, which are used to encrypt and store sensitive data such as passwords and database details.
- Database Security: Connections to databases can be configured to use SSL, ensuring encrypted data transfer.
Authentication and Authorization
- Single Sign-On (SSO): Bold BI supports integration with existing security infrastructures to provide seamless single sign-on capabilities.
- Role-Based Access Control: Users are granted permissions based on their roles, with configurable read, write, create, and delete permissions for both dashboards and data sources.
- Azure Active Directory: For cloud deployments, Bold BI can integrate with Azure Active Directory for user authentication and management.
Data Security Features
- Row-Level Security: This feature allows filtering of data displayed on dashboards based on user or group permissions, ensuring users only see data relevant to them.
- Data Level Security: Administrators can enforce different levels of data visibility, allowing for the sharing of dashboards while maintaining individual data access controls.
Network and Application Security
- Azure Security Center: For cloud deployments, Bold BI utilizes Azure Security Center to enhance the visibility and control over the security of its resources, helping to prevent, detect, and respond to threats.
- VAPT Certification: Bold BI has a Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) certificate, ensuring the application is tested for vulnerabilities by a third-party vendor.
Compliance and Monitoring
- Compliance with Standards: Bold BI on Microsoft Azure adheres to high levels of trust, transparency, standards conformity, and regulatory compliance.
- Secure Payment Processing: The integration with Stripe Payment Gateway for processing payments ensures that card details are encrypted and handled securely.
Operational Security
- Regular Penetration Testing: Bold BI conducts penetration testing regularly with each release update to identify and fix potential security issues.
- Secure Logging: The server generates logs that include operational events and errors but excludes confidential information like user passwords and database details. These logs help in troubleshooting and are accessed by the support team to resolve customer issues.
Bold BI releases several major updates each year. Each update includes new features, bug fixes, and other improvements. The updates are managed manually, meaning that users need to upgrade their Bold BI Server to the latest version by following specific guidelines provided by Bold BI. This process involves taking backups of all files and folders, downloading the latest version of the Bold BI Enterprise Edition, and running the installer to upgrade the server. There are no automatic updates for Bold BI Server, so users must manually initiate and manage the upgrade process to ensure they are using the most current version of the software.
Bold BI's policy on data ownership and portability is that the customer retains ownership of their data. The customer is responsible for obtaining the necessary rights to the data they use within the Bold BI services. In terms of portability, customers have the right to request a copy of their personal data in electronic format and the right to transmit that data for use in another service.
However, it is important to note that no intellectual property rights are transferred to the customer as part of using the Bold BI services. If a customer becomes inactive for more than sixty (60) days, their data will be deleted. Additionally, customers must maintain an active Bold BI subscription to continue to access their dashboard.
The terms for scaling up or down as organizational needs change with Bold BI are flexible and designed to accommodate varying business requirements. Bold BI supports scaling through its deployment options and architecture, which include cloud services and containerized environments like Docker and Kubernetes. This allows businesses to adjust their resource allocation and usage based on their current needs.
For organizations using cloud services, Bold BI utilizes platforms like Azure App Service, which supports transparent scaling according to the organization's needs. This means that as a business grows or experiences fluctuations in demand, it can scale its BI operations up or down without significant disruptions.
Additionally, Bold BI's multitenancy features support scalability by allowing businesses to manage multiple clients or departments within a single instance of the application. This architecture not only optimizes resource utilization but also simplifies management and scaling as processing and memory resources are shared across multiple tenants.
Contract Renewal
1. Automatic Renewal: The monthly subscription for Bold BI automatically renews each month unless either party provides notice of non-renewal. This means that the subscription will continue without interruption unless action is taken to end it.
2. Notification for Non-Renewal: If a customer decides not to renew their subscription, they must send a non-renewal request to the specified contact email, [email protected], as per the terms of the agreement.
Cancellation
1. Cancellation Process: The terms specify that if a customer does not pay the monthly service fee covering a given period, their account will be suspended, and they cannot access any data. If the account remains suspended for more than 60 days, the subscription and all stored data on the Bold BI site will be deleted.
2. Immediate Termination: The agreement allows for immediate termination under certain conditions, such as non-payment or breach of the terms. This is a standard clause to protect the service provider from continued liability in the event of contract breaches.
General Terms
1. Binding Agreement: By clicking the "YES" button or accessing any part of the Bold BI service, users are accepting all the terms of the agreement, indicating that the agreement is legally binding from that point forward.
2. Entire Agreement: The document states that it contains the entire understanding between Syncfusion (the provider of Bold BI) and the customer, superseding all prior agreements. This clause is crucial as it clarifies that no previous agreements or discussions alter the terms of the current agreement.
1. SOC 2® Type 2 Certification: Bold BI has achieved SOC 2® Type 2 compliance certification, which verifies that the company adheres to stringent security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy standards as set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
2. PCI Service Provider Level 1: Through its integration with the Stripe Payment Gateway, Bold BI adheres to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) at the highest level (Service Provider Level 1). This standard ensures that card information is handled securely during payment processing.
3. Microsoft Azure Compliance: Bold BI is hosted on Microsoft Azure, which offers a comprehensive range of compliance offerings among cloud service providers. Azure ensures compliance with various global, regional, and industry-specific standards, enhancing the security and compliance posture of Bold BI.
