What is ACL GRC Analytics Exchange?
ACL GRC Analytics Exchange is a Java-based client-server platform designed to support a full range of processes from data analysis to continuous monitoring.
Why use ACL GRC Analytics Exchange?
- Security keep sensitive information secured by storing data on the server rather than notebooks and personal computers
- Performance enhance script performance by leveraging the server's processing power
- Collaboration improve scalability through a centralized, collaborative platform
- Automation enable continuous monitoring with scheduled script execution
- Data access secure trusted connections to key data sets during non-production hours
Server components
TomEE application server
TomEE is an enterprise Java application server that provides database connection pooling, transaction support, logging, application management, and application/interface authorization. AX Server, AX Web Client, AX Client, and AX Server Configuration all run within the TomEE application server.
ACL GRC Analytics Exchange server
AX Server is central to the ACL GRC Analytics Exchange platform and provides the following services:
- AX repository storage and retrieval of analytics, tables, ACL projects, data files, and any associated audit documents, such as Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), .pdf, or other media files
- AX user management includes account creation and managing permissions on repository content
- Scheduler the Quartz scheduler is used by AX Server to schedule and run analytics for automation and continuous audit and monitoring
- Central Authentication Service (CAS) used by AX Server to provide your choice of form-based or integrated Windows user authentication
Database server
The database server contains AX Server repository content and metadata. ACL .fil data files are stored outside the database to support their potential size and allow AX Connector and AX Engine direct access to the files. ACL GRC Analytics Exchange supports two database servers:
- PostgreSQL
- Oracle
AX Web Client
AX Web Client is a web-based application installed on the AX Server where your organization’s analytic content is centrally and securely managed and stored.
AX Web Client is designed for non-technical specialists such as staff and executives who need to view and interact with audit content in AX Server, but who do not require the administrative functionality available in AX Client.
AX Server Configuration web application
The AX Server Configuration web application configures global server settings for AX Server. Some of these settings are configured by the setup wizard when you initially install AX Server, but you can change them if your system configuration changes.
AX Engine
AX Engine is based on the same source code as ACL Analytics but with no user interface allowing analytics to run without requiring user intervention. The AX Engine executes commands, functions, and scripts which can be scheduled using AX Client while the source data remains secure on the server.
AX Connector
The AX Connector enables communication between AX Server and the ACL Analytics client interfaces, using the aclse.exe executable.
When AX data tables, ACL projects, or AX analytics are exported from AX Server, the default behavior is for data files to remain on the server, although exporting data files for offline work is supported. Using the ability of ACL Analytics to connect to AX Connector, AX Server allows remote access to data files residing in the repository. Sensitive data files remain on the server. This scenario might be preferred by your audit or IT department to meet your organizational or regulatory security policy.
AX Engine Node (optional)
AX Engine Node is an optional add-on component that can be installed on one or more servers dedicated to processing analytics. AX Engine Nodes allow you to move analytic processing off of the AX Server, and all but the smallest of audit departments with light audit usage should consider deploying this distributed server in their hardware architectural configuration.