1.3 Business Collaborator principles

1.3.1 Security

1.3.2 Information repository

1.3.3 Information storage

1.3.4 Information about information

1.3.1 Security

Business Collaborator provides a secure environment in which to exchange information:

• Users need a user name and password to log into the server
• They can only see the information which they have been invited to see
• Access rights can be strictly controlled and specified right down to the level of each action for every user for every object in the system

1.3.2 Information repository

Business Collaborator should be seen as a central information store

• The definitive versions of all project or corporate information is stored here
• The information is divided up into workspaces, according to subject
• Users can only see the workspaces to which they have been invited
• Workspaces can be subdivided into folders to make it easier to find the relevant information

The computer on which all the information is stored is the Business Collaborator server. It doesn't matter where this machine is physically located as long as it can be accessed satisfactorily by the people who need to exchange information. Your PC (or Apple Mac) is the client machine.

1.3.3 Information storage

Business Collaborator is all about exchanging and sharing information

• Any kind of electronic document may be stored in Business Collaborator - irrespective of document format.
• Discussions can be conducted (and stored) between workspace members
• Email messages relating to the project can be shared with the entire project team
• Web pages can be managed and published by the people involved in the project
• Databases and online forms can easily be generated for use online
• Documents can be read, altered and commented on, with previous versions being stored for future reference

1.3.4 Information about information

In Business Collaborator, meta-information (information about information) can provide almost as much benefit to users as the information itself.

• Every action (e.g. read, edit, rename, delete) on every object is recorded as an event
• The author, modification date, size and format of information is stored with objects
• User-definable metadata can be added to provide a more complete picture of the information being shared
• Business Collaborator can alert users to changes taking place in the system by email, without them even being logged in