• The aim of this knowledge base article is to give some directions for what is needed for a cloud application to be added globally to Snow Recognition. 
• Where the line between what is managed by the Data Intelligence Service team (DIS) on a global scale and what must be done on a local level.
• The DIS team is from now on able to add cloud (SaaS) applications to the global database. 

1. What will/can be added globally vs locally 

DIS's Definition of a Cloud Application is an online Software Service where information is able to be input, modified, or deleted by a user with an active subscription.

Applications that can be added Globally:
If a cloud application is commercially available, it can be added to the global database through Snow's new Cloud Optimization Service (2017:2).

Applications that should be added Locally:
Based on the above DIS definition of a SaaS application, this includes population or removal of data in input fields, adding of images and other relevant information within the SaaS application itself. Therefore, paid subscriptions such as news websites, magazine websites or other information provider portals, are not considered as SaaS applications as the information contained in these portals are only for publishing purposes. A user with a subscription cannot edit the content contained within the platform. Other websites where purchasing of inventory is possible, is not considered a SaaS application where a free account can be created to add items to a shopping cart. The SaaS application that creates the shopping portal however, is considered SaaS.

If a cloud application is not commercially available, bespoke, or an internally developed application, it also must be added locally.

Summary:
This is to maintain the highest quality in our global application database. To track these web applications locally, the process to add a web application locally follows the same previous process. Through the Web Applications tab in SLM. 

 

2. Add a cloud application globally

What is needed to get a cloud application added globally?

• The application must be commercially available and not bespoke or internally developed.
   
• The SaaS template  is NOT mandatory.
  • The template may assist the customer to find the relevant information.
  • Template contains example-sheet
     
• URL must come from the Snows chrome extension tool (version 0.0.4), NOT the browser itself.
  • The data is found in the console tab.
  • The Full URL is preferred, but not mandatory “ it can contain company domain names. 
     
• Mandatory if a full SaaS URL can't be provided:
  • Scheme
  • Host
  • Path

3. Add a web application locally in SLM

A guide for how to add a web application can be found in the User Guide “ Web User Interface, paragraph 3.4.12 Web Applications (page 47)

The User Guide “ Web User Interface can be found in the Help-section in SLM.

4.3.12  WEB APPLICATIONS 

It is possible to collect and measure usage of cloud/web based applications. Regardless of what type of binary being used (regular application, browser, etc.), the Snow web metering solution measures the HTTP/HTTPS traffic for the hosts that have been configured. The result is presented in Snow License Manager as regular applications, with most regular application features available.

Configuration of which cloud/web applications to monitor is done in the Web applications task.

When a web application is added and activated, software recognition rules are created automatically. This means that any usage of cloud/web applications that matches the entered patterns will be identified and presented in Snow License Manager.

4.3.12.1  ADD OR EDIT WEB APPLICATION

1. Perform one of the following:
                - To add a web application, click Add web application. 
                  The Add web application dialog box appears.
   
                 - To edit a web application, click the web application row. 
                   The Edit web application dialog box appears. 
    
2. Select Client site name and Client configuration from the lists. 
    
3. Type the Name for the web application. This is the name that will be used by Snow License Manager. 
    
4. In the Patterns box, type the domain name of the web application (no wildcard characters are allowed). Use domain names and not URLs. Several domain names can be entered, but only one per row. 
   
   Example: portal.microsoftonline.com
5. To activate the web application, select the Active check box. If left cleared, Snow License Manager will not measure usage of the web application. 
    
6. Click Save.

NOTE

An added web application will only apply to a specified site and configuration. If several sites and configurations are to be measured, create one web application for each site and configuration combination.

4.3.12.1  DELETE WEB APPLICATION

1. On the web application row, click the Delete icon. 
       The Delete web application dialog box appears.
   
   2. Click OK to confirm