SIFF Overview

What is SIFF

SIFF is a cloud-based platform to search, compare, analyze, and track configuration of your Network and IT infrastructure.

• Troubleshoot and repair problems more quickly and effectively
• Collect and analyze detailed configuration information
• Monitor changes and validate against change requests
• Ensure configuration meets security requirements and assist in security incidents

Platform Architecture

As a cloud-based platform SIFF is responsible for managing and operating the overall service, however there are a number of software components that must be installed within the customer environment. Specifically at least one SIFF Collector and optionally SIFF Agents.

Refer to Collectors & Agents for more information on installing and configuring these components.

Users interact with the platform through our web-based interface for all administration, configuration, and general use activities.

APIs are available to provide further integration with the SIFF platform.

Platform Basics

Activity App

The Activity application provides a way to watch and search change activity in a timeline format. Searches can be used to filter results based on change fields and also the activity time window.

Config App

The Config app provides a way to search for configuration - showing the current known configuration along with information on when it was last validated and full change history.

Change App

Use the Change app to track planned changes versus unplanned changes. Either manage change requests within SIFF or via integration with external chanage management systems such as ServiceNow.

Monitor App

The Monitor application provides two main functions.

1. Discovering and managing devices to monitor:

   • Devices: Manage devices for monitoring.
   • Access Credentials: Manage credentials used for monitoring purposes.
   • Discovery: Automatically discover devices to monitor.

2. Managing what to monitor:

   • Service Definitions: see below.
   • Monitors: Manage active set of Service Definition monitors, DNS monitors, and AWS (cloud) monitors.

Essentially, once devices are known to the platform and appropriate access granted then SIFF can begin monitoring of configuration data. This is based on the current set of active Service Definitions that are provided by SIFF, the community, or created by your organization.

Service Definitions provide a standard way to:

• Determine whether the definition applies to a particular device.
• What configuration to retrieve from the device.

In a new environment our SIFF Certified Service Definitions will already be active and collecting data as soon as there are devices to monitor!

Policy App

With visibility of configuration and configuration changes across the organization the Policy app provides a way to monitor for compliance or detect unwanted/not permitted configurations.

In particular the following policies are offered:

1. Examine config: alert on invalid configurations, or alert when out of compliance.
2. Compare config - same device: ensure different resources on the same device have matching configuration, for example the startup configuration matches the running configuration on a router.
3. Compare config - on different devices: ensure configuration is the same across devices.
4. Compare config - to previous config: ensure the configuration hasn't changed.

Use the Policy App to manage the policy definitions, policy actions, and the set of active policy monitors.

Administration App

The administration application allows the Organization administrators to manage:

• Users: who has access to your environment and their role, along with external directory service integration.
• API Security
• Collectors: used to monitor devices in your environment.
• Change Sources and UI (stages, layout, fields)

Billing App

The billing application is used to view billing statements, manage payments, and view usage.

For more information refer to the Billing documentation.

Community

SIFF considers itself part of the broader community that live in a world with complex and ever changing IT environments. Our goal is to produce a platform to help deal with the complexity in configuration and change that the community can leverage and build upon.

Learn about building Service Definitions for your environment and to share with the community.

Come join us in the Community Forums!

Usage Plans

As a cloud service SIFF is designed to scale with your organizations needs.

Refer to our Editions & Pricing page for more information.

Data Storage

Storage of configuration data is included as part of the service and there is no specific limit on space consumed. However, depending on the usage plan there may be limits on the data retention period and maximum number of devices monitored.