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Mendix Workflow Editor
by Mendix
by Mendix
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
We help make selecting a software for your business effortless, economical and efficient.
by Mendix
by Mendix
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
The typical implementation process for Mendix Workflow Editor software involves several key steps, which are designed to streamline and automate enterprise-wide workflows using low-code development. Here is an overview of the process:
1. Assessment and Planning: This initial phase involves understanding the specific business processes that need automation, identifying the stakeholders, and defining the project scope and objectives.
2. Design and Development: Using the Mendix low-code platform, developers and business analysts collaborate to design and build the workflow applications. This phase includes:
- Creating user interfaces
- Integrating necessary systems and data sources
- Configuring business rules and logic
3. Testing and Validation: The developed workflows are rigorously tested to ensure they meet the business requirements and function correctly. This includes user acceptance testing (UAT) to gather feedback from end-users.
4. Deployment: Once validated, the workflows are deployed to the production environment. Mendix supports continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) practices to facilitate smooth and efficient rollouts.
5. Training and Support: End-users and administrators are trained on how to use and manage the new workflows. Ongoing support is provided to address any issues and ensure the workflows continue to meet business needs.
6. Monitoring and Optimization: Post-deployment, the workflows are monitored for performance and effectiveness. Continuous improvements are made based on user feedback and changing business requirements.
The duration of the implementation process can vary depending on the complexity and scope of the workflows being automated. However, Mendix's low-code approach significantly reduces development time compared to traditional methods. Projects that might take months with conventional coding can often be completed in weeks with Mendix, thanks to its rapid development capabilities and ease of integration with existing systems.
Yes, Mendix Workflow Editor software can be customized to fit specific business needs. Here are several data points that illustrate the customization capabilities:
1. Visual Workflow Editor: Mendix Studio Pro allows developers to model processes visually, closely following BPMN concepts. This visual approach makes it easier to customize workflows to meet specific business requirements.
2. User and System Tasks: Workflows in Mendix consist of user tasks (requiring user interaction) and system tasks (automated tasks). Developers can fully configure these tasks using the page editor in Studio Pro, providing flexibility to tailor workflows to specific needs.
3. Reusable Workflow Artifacts: Mendix enables the creation of reusable workflow components, such as microflows, which can be shared across different applications. This allows businesses to standardize and reuse best practices while customizing workflows for specific scenarios.
4. Integration Capabilities: Mendix supports integration with various systems and services through REST APIs, SOAP web services, OData, and more. This allows businesses to connect their workflows with existing systems, ensuring seamless data flow and process automation.
5. Workflow Commons Module: Available from the Mendix Marketplace, this module provides preconfigured templates, pages, dashboards, and smart services that can be customized to fit specific business processes. It simplifies the development of custom workflows by offering ready-to-use components[13].
6. Security Configuration: Mendix allows detailed configuration of workflow security, ensuring that only specified roles can start, view, and complete tasks. This granularity helps businesses enforce their specific security policies within workflows.
7. Custom Actions and Extensions: Developers can add custom actions to the workflow toolbox and create new workflow elements using microflows. This extensibility allows businesses to implement unique logic and processes that are specific to their operations.
8. Data Mapping and Integration: Mendix provides tools for data mapping and integration, allowing businesses to transform and use external data within their workflows. This capability ensures that workflows can be customized to handle specific data formats and integration requirements.
9. Task Assignment and Decision-Making: Features like Auto-Assign, Who Can Open, Majority, and Threshold allow businesses to customize task assignments and decision-making processes within workflows, enhancing efficiency and collaboration[15].
10. Customizable User Interfaces: Mendix workflows can include custom pages for user tasks, which can be designed to display the necessary information for users to complete their tasks. This ensures that the user experience is tailored to the specific needs of the business[14].
These customization capabilities make Mendix Workflow Editor a flexible and powerful tool for automating and optimizing business processes according to specific organizational requirements.
However, based on the information available, here are some relevant points regarding potential additional costs:
1. Support Costs:
- The Free edition of Mendix does not include any paid support.
- The Basic plan includes support during business hours (9 AM to 5 PM).
- The Standard and Premium plans include 24/7 support.
2. Training Costs:
- Mendix offers free online training through the Mendix Academy.
- They also provide paid training options like live online classes, in-person training, and webinars, which may incur additional costs.
3. Implementation and Consulting Services:
- Mendix has an ecosystem of partners who can provide implementation, consulting, and professional services for an additional cost.
- The pricing for these services is likely customized based on project requirements.
4. Cloud Hosting Costs:
- The Basic plan includes hosting on the Mendix Cloud.
- For the Standard and Premium plans, hosting costs on clouds like Mendix Cloud, Private Cloud, or other providers may vary based on usage and requirements.
5. Licensing Model:
- Mendix has subscription-based pricing models, which could potentially include annual maintenance or renewal fees.
While the core pricing information is available on their website, the search results do not explicitly mention one-time setup fees or detailed maintenance/support costs. These additional costs may depend on the specific plan, deployment options, and professional services required by an organization. It's recommended to contact Mendix's sales team for a customized quote based on your specific needs.
Training Options:
1. Mendix Academy - Mendix offers free online training courses and learning paths through the Mendix Academy. This includes courses for different roles, levels, and topics related to the Mendix platform.
2. Instructor-led Training - In addition to online self-paced courses, Mendix provides options for instructor-led classroom training, live online classes, and webinars, which may incur additional costs.
3. University Program - Mendix has a university program that aims to bring low-code into university curricula like business, IT, and MBA programs. This helps students learn and experiment with the Mendix platform.
4. Rapid Developer and Crash Course Learning Paths - Mendix offers specific learning paths like the Rapid Developer for those new to software development, and the Crash Course for those with a coding background.
Support Options:
1. Community Support - Mendix has an active community forum and Slack channel where users can ask questions, get help from other developers, and discuss solutions.
2. Documentation - Extensive documentation, release notes, how-to guides, and reference materials are available on the Mendix Docs site.
3. Paid Support Plans - While the free Mendix edition does not include paid support, the Basic, Standard, and Premium plans offer varying levels of support during business hours or 24/7.
4. Partner Ecosystem - Mendix has an ecosystem of partners who can provide professional services, consulting, and implementation support for an additional cost.
5. Job Board - Mendix offers a job board to help customers find qualified Mendix talent for their projects.
Mendix provides several security measures to protect data in applications built on its low-code platform. Based on the search results, here are some key security features:
1. Encryption:
- Mendix ensures encryption of data both at rest and in transit within app environments hosted on Mendix Cloud.
- TLS encryption is used to secure data transport between the client and the application.
2. Access Controls:
- Mendix implements role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict access to application components like forms, entities, and microflows based on user roles.
- Access can be controlled at a granular level down to individual entity attributes.
3. Data Access Rules:
- The Mendix Runtime applies data access rules at runtime when queries are sent to the database, ensuring only authorized data is retrieved based on the defined constraints.
4. Security Actions:
- Core security actions like triggering workflows and evaluating business rules are implemented at low levels of the Mendix Runtime and cannot be changed by app developers to prevent bypassing security mechanisms.
5. Security Matrix:
- The Mendix Runtime has a security matrix that controls which operations or actions can be performed based on the defined security model.
6. Secure Authentication:
- Mendix provides secure authentication mechanisms like MxID for authenticating users and services interacting with the platform during the app development lifecycle.
7. Compliance and Certifications:
- Mendix adheres to various security standards and certifications like ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, and PCI DSS, ensuring robust security practices.
8. Secure Development Practices:
- Mendix abstracts away functionality that could lead to common security vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF, promoting secure development practices out-of-the-box.
9. Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Scanning:
- The Mendix Runtime and Client undergo regular external penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to identify and mitigate potential security risks.
10. Application-Level Security Configuration:
- Developers can configure additional security settings like database constraints, data validation rules, and authentication providers to enhance application security based on specific requirements.
By providing built-in security features, encryption, access controls, and compliance with security standards, Mendix aims to ensure that applications developed on its platform have robust data protection measures in place.
Mendix follows a regular release cadence for updating their platform and products. Here are the key points about Mendix's update process:
Release Cycles
- Mendix releases a new major version approximately every 18 months . Major versions can include breaking changes that may require modifications to existing apps.
- Minor versions are released monthly and include new features and fixes, but no breaking changes .
- Patch versions are released as needed for security and critical bug fixes, but do not contain new features .
- Mendix provides different support timelines for each version type:
- Long-Term Support (LTS) versions receive only patches and have the longest support duration
- Medium-Term Support (MTS) versions receive patches and minor updates for about 6 months after a new major version
- Monthly Release versions get frequent updates but have a shorter support window
Managing Updates
- For apps deployed to the Mendix Cloud, the underlying platform is automatically updated by Mendix to the latest supported version .
- For on-premises deployments, updates need to be installed manually using the Mendix Service Console or deployment scripts [10].
- Mendix provides guidance on when it is safe to apply over-the-air (OTA) updates versus requiring a full app redeployment for certain types of changes [15].
- Major version upgrades for existing apps can have significant impact and may require more effort compared to minor version updates [11].
Mendix's policy on data ownership and portability:
Data Ownership
Mendix has a clear stance that the customer retains full ownership of all data and intellectual property associated with their Mendix applications, as stated in their master agreements and end-user agreements[11].
Specifically:
- The customer owns all rights, title and interest in the application data (referred to as "Customer Data") and the application model (referred to as "Application Model")[11].
- Mendix does not claim any ownership rights over the customer's data or application model[11].
- The customer grants Mendix a limited right to use, store and transmit the Customer Data and Application Model solely for the purpose of providing services to the customer[11].
So in essence, the customer has complete ownership over their application data and models built on the Mendix platform.
Data Portability
Mendix allows customers to export and migrate their application data and database out of the Mendix platform if needed.
Some key points on data portability:
- Customers can initialize a new Mendix application database using data exported from an existing database, even across different database vendors.
- The Database Replication module from the Mendix Marketplace enables migrating data from various external databases into a Mendix app.
- Customers have the right to request copies of their personal data stored by Mendix[10].
- After contract termination, Mendix securely destroys all applicable application environments, including backups containing the customer's data.
So Mendix provides mechanisms for customers to extract and migrate their application data out of the Mendix platform, ensuring portability of the customer's intellectual property[10][11].
The terms for scaling up or down in Mendix, whether in the Mendix Cloud or a private cloud infrastructure, are designed to be flexible and responsive to organizational needs. Here are the key points based on the provided sources:
Mendix Cloud
Vertical and Horizontal Scaling
- Vertical Scaling: This involves adding more memory to the application container. You can adjust the memory per instance using a slider in the Mendix Developer Portal.
- Horizontal Scaling: This involves running the application in multiple runtime containers (instances) simultaneously. Incoming traffic is distributed across these instances. You can adjust the number of instances using a slider in the Mendix Developer Portal.
Prerequisites
- To scale your environment, you need a licensed app hosted in Mendix Cloud and a standard or premium plan with a cloud resource pack that provides more than 1 GiB of memory.
- You also need Transport Rights for the environment you want to scale.
Process
- Scaling changes are applied by restarting the environment, which causes brief downtime.
- The number of available instances depends on the total memory provided by your cloud resource pack and the memory per instance set.
- A single instance cannot use more than 32 GiB of RAM. For larger memory requirements, you need to distribute the RAM across multiple instances.
High Availability
- Mendix Cloud supports high availability (HA) by running instances in different availability zones (AZs) and providing database replication options.
- Premium plans offer additional HA features, including regional fallback options for disaster recovery.
Private Cloud
Autoscaling in Kubernetes
- Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA): Adjusts the number of replicas of an application based on demand.
- Cluster Autoscaler (CA): Adjusts the number of nodes in a cluster based on resource requirements.
- Vertical Pod Autoscaler (VPA) is not recommended for Mendix applications.
Implementation
- Autoscaling can be managed manually from the Developer Portal or by enabling the Horizontal Pod Autoscaler directly in the Kubernetes cluster.
- Mendix for Private Cloud uses the Kubernetes native operator framework to automate common tasks, including horizontal scaling.
High Availability and Disaster Recovery
- Mendix for Private Cloud supports multi-AZ configurations for databases and file storage, ensuring data replication and failover capabilities.
- Auto-recovery and auto-healing features ensure that applications continue to run smoothly even if an instance fails.
Contract Renewal
1. Automatic Renewal:
- Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Order Form, the Subscription Term for Mendix services will automatically renew for additional terms of one (1) year each[10].
- The per-unit pricing during any automatic renewal Subscription Term will be the same as that during the immediately prior Subscription Term, unless Mendix has given written notice of a pricing increase at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of the then-current Subscription Term. Any such pricing increase will not exceed 5% of the subscription pricing in the immediately prior subscription term, unless the pricing in the prior Subscription Term was designated as promotional or one-time.
2. Notification for Non-Renewal:
- Either party may terminate the Agreement by providing written notice at least sixty (60) days prior to the end date stated on the Order Form or the previous automatically renewed 12-month period[10].
Contract Cancellation
1. Termination for Breach:
- Either party may terminate the Agreement if the other party is in material breach of the Agreement, including non-payment of fees. The breaching party must be served written notice of default and fails to cure the breach within 30 days from the notice[10].
2. Effect of Termination:
- Upon termination or expiration of the Agreement, Mendix will no longer provide the Mendix Platform and/or Expert Services to the customer, and the customer must promptly cease using the Mendix Platform.
- The customer must pay Mendix for all fees that had accrued prior to the termination or expiration date.
- Mendix reserves the right to suspend the customer's access to the Mendix Platform if the customer is more than sixty (60) days late with respect to any undisputed payments due.
3. Data Retrieval and Destruction:
- Upon termination or expiration of the Agreement, each party must promptly return or destroy all Confidential Information of the other party in its possession. The customer may retrieve all Customer Data as set forth in the data portability section.
- Mendix will no longer have the obligation to preserve or back up any Customer Data after the termination of the Agreement[10].
4. Refunds:
- If either party terminates the relevant Order Form under the Agreement, Mendix shall refund to the customer all fees pre-paid to Mendix for the period in which the Mendix Platform will remain unused by the customer.
5. Survival of Terms:
- Certain sections of the Agreement, such as confidentiality, data protection, and indemnification, will survive the termination of the Agreement[10].
These terms ensure that both parties have clear guidelines on how to handle contract renewals and cancellations, including the responsibilities and rights of each party upon termination[10].
Mendix software meets a comprehensive range of compliance standards and certifications, ensuring robust security and governance for its users. Here are the key compliance standards that Mendix adheres to:
1. ISO/IEC 27001:2022: This is an international standard for information security management systems (ISMS), specifying best practices for security management.
2. ISO/IEC 27017: This standard provides guidelines for information security controls applicable to the provision and use of cloud services.
3. ISO/IEC 27018: This standard focuses on the protection of personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds acting as PII processors.
4. ISO/IEC 27701: This is a privacy extension to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 for privacy information management, providing guidelines for managing personally identifiable information (PII).
5. ISO 9001: This standard specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS), ensuring that organizations meet customer and regulatory requirements.
6. ISO 22301: This standard specifies requirements for a business continuity management system (BCMS), helping organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents.
7. NEN 7510: This is a Dutch standard for information security in healthcare, based on ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002.
8. ISAE 3000 Type II & ISAE 3402 Type II: These are international assurance standards for controls at a service organization, providing reports on how security controls have been managed over the past year.
9. SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II & SOC 3 Type II: These are American assurance standards for controls at a service organization, providing reports on the effectiveness of security controls.
10. PCI DSS V4 Level 1: This is the highest level of certification for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) service providers, ensuring secure handling of cardholder data.
11. HIPAA: Mendix provides assurances for compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), ensuring the protection of health information.
12. Cyber Essentials (UK): This certification demonstrates that Mendix has implemented basic cybersecurity measures to protect against common online threats.
13. CSA STAR Certification: This certification from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) demonstrates adherence to cloud security best practices.
14. FSQS and FSQS-NL: These are compliance standards for financial services, ensuring that Mendix meets the security and regulatory requirements of the financial sector.
15. ENS: This is a Spanish standard for information security, ensuring compliance with national security requirements.
These certifications and standards highlight Mendix's commitment to maintaining high levels of security, privacy, and quality management, providing customers with confidence in the platform's ability to protect their data and meet regulatory requirements.
By Mendix