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IT Analytics offers users several ways in which they can consume their systems management data. One of the more popular ways to expose IT Analytics data to business users, without granting them access to the Symantec Management Console, is through utilizing some of the rich reporting capabilities within Microsoft SharePoint. This article will provide step by step guidance on creating dashboards using the IT Analytics Client and Server Management Content Pack while leveraging Microsoft SharePoint’s PerformancePoint solution. There is also an optional process for including a link to the out-of-the-box IT Analytics reports hosted by SQL Reporting Serivces.

NOTE: This example uses Microsoft PerformancePoint, which is only available in the Enterprise version of SharePoint. If you are running SharePoint Standard you can still add links to IT Analytics default reports and dashboards by simply using the URL exposed by SQL Reporting Services. However, without PerformancePoint you will not be able to create and publish the dashboards outlined below. 

Creating a Dashboard in PerformancePoint

1. Within SharePoint, navigate to the Business Intelligence Center and select the "Create Dashboards"

2. Click "Start using PerformancePoint Services”

3. Click "Run Dashboard Designer"

4. Wait a few moments for the application to launch

5. Select the "Workspace" tab, click "Create" in the ribbon bar and select "Data Source"

6. Select "Analysis Services" and click "OK"

7. Select the "Properties" tab

8. Enter a meaningful Name, Description, and Display Folder, then click on the "Editor" tab

9. Enter your Analysis Server Name, Select the IT Analytics Database and choose "Patch Management" from the Cube: dropdown list

10. Click on "Test Data Source" and ensure the connection is successful
11. Click on the Home button and select "Save Workspace As"

12. Specify a Location and File name of your choosing then click "Save"

13. Click on PerformancePoint Content then select the "Workspace" tab and select "Analytic Chart" from the Create ribbon bar

14. Select the Data Source you created in step 9, then click "Finish"

15. Click  the "Properties" tab and enter a meaningful Name, Description, and Display Folder, then click on the "Design" tab

16. From the "Details" pane on the right hand side of the screen, expand "Measures" and "Dimensions" then "Software Update"

17. Drag the " Software Updated - Sevirity" dimension to the "Series" pane, Drag the "Vulnerability Count" measure to the "Bottom Axis" pane. The chart should now display data.

18. Click the downward facing triangle next to the "Software Update - Severity" dimension, Expand All and select everything except Unknown, then click “OK”

19. Now the report displays only the details we want to publish, click on the "Save" icon to save your changes

20. Right click on the white space, expand Report Type and select “Pie Chart”

21. Validate the Pie Chart displays correctly, then click on the “Save” icon to save your changes

22. Click on PerformancePoint Content, then the _Connect folder, and select "Analytic Chart" from the Create ribbon bar

23. Select the Data Source you created in step 9, then click "Finish"

24. Click  the "Properties" tab and enter a meaningful Name, Description, and Display Folder, then click on the "Design" tab

25. From the "Details" pane on the right hand side of the screen, expand "Measures" and "Dimensions" then "Software Update"

26. Drag the "Software Update - Reference" dimension to the "Series" pane, Drag the "Vulnerability Count" dimension to the "Bottom Axis" pane. The chart should now display data

27. Right click on the white space, expand Filter and select “Top 10…”

28. Accept the defaults and press “OK”

29. The chart will be refreshed. Right click on the bar for “Unknown” and select “Remove”. The Chart will refresh, click on the “Save” icon to save your changes

30. Click on PerformancePoint Content, then the _Connect folder, and select "Reporting Services" from the Create ribbon bar

31. Click  the "Properties" tab and enter a meaningful Name, Description, and Display Folder, then click on the "Editor" tab

32. Specify the Server name: and click “Browse”

33. Select the desired report and click “OK”

34. Click on the “Save” icon to save your changes.
35. Click on "Dashboard" from the Create ribbon bar, select "2 Rows" as the template (for future expansion of the dashboard) then click “OK”

36. Select the "Properties" tab and enter a meaningful Name, Description, and Display Folder, then click on the "Editor" tab

37. From the "Details" pane on the right hand side of the screen, expand "Reports" and browse to the PerformancePoint Content previously created

38. Drag the report “Vulnerability by Severity” from the Details pane to the "Top Row" pane of the dashboard 

39. Drag the report “Top Ten Vulnerabilities by Reference” from the Details pane to the "Bottom Row" pane of the dashboard 

40. Right click on Top Row and select “Add Right”

41. Drag the report “Patch Vulnerability Search” from the Details pane to the "Zone 1" pane of the dashboard

42. Right click “Top Row” and select “Zone Settings”

43. Select the “Size” tab and enter “30” in the “Width” box, then select “OK”

44. Your dashboard should look like this now. Click on the “Save” icon to save your changes

45. Click on the Home button and select "Deploy"

46. In the "Deploy To" dialog box, select "Include page list for navigation" and select "OK"

47. Once the Dashboard is deployed, it will automatically be opened in Internet Explorer to view

48. To access the dashboard from the Business Intelligence Center, click on the "Dashboards" link and then click on your dashboard

49. Click on the "Name" hyperlink to display the dashboard