DotNetNuke (DNN) Development & Technology Environment. Web Platform for Employee Portals and Benefit Websites

Transcription

1 DotNetNuke (DNN) Development & Technology Environment

2 Table of Contents Our Development Environment... 3 Employee Portal Solutions... 3 What is DotNetNuke?... 3 The Process... 3 Step 1: Assess Client Needs... 4 Step 2: Data Collection... 4 Step 3: Site Build... 4 Step 4: Client Training... 4 Rapid Development... 5 End-User Training... 6 Data Center Hosting Environment... 6 Power Systems:... 6 Security:... 6 Network Availability:... 6 Hardware and System Services:... 7 System Backups:... 7 Launching The Site... 7 HR Technology Advisors... 7 Resources and Contact Information

3 Our Development Environment At HR Technology Advisors, we want to build Websites that work right for brokers and employers. The most important components of a successful Website are organization and flexibility. Through the use of DotNetNuke (DNN), we offer a versatile open source Web application framework that enables clients to add, delete and manage content, documents, and materials through a simple Web-based platform. Employee Portal Solutions A Portal is typically a Website that brings together content from diverse distributed resources. Employee portals can simplify individual access to corporate, benefits and vendor information. With a portal, employees no longer need to search various Websites to locate important resources. Employees can easily keep up to date with what is going on in the company, from daily news and information to communications across all business functions. With a more distributed workforce, many companies are looking for ways to provide instant, secure and easy access to corporate and external information and services for their employees, wherever they are working. Employee portal solutions can provide a company with constant and uninterrupted access to a single source for important information accessible from any Web browser. Portals can enhance other forms of corporate communications and have the ability to integrate cross-functional information and services. Portals can be basic in nature or can be quite complex, including decision support tools, sophisticated search mechanisms, authentication & authorization, and even collaboration functionality and personalizing technologies. What Is DotNetNuke? DNN is open-source software that is licensed, trademarked and provided free allowing developers to create commercial and non-commercial sites with the simple requirement of giving credit back to the DNN project community. Open Source Software means the underlying programming code is available to all the users so that they may read it, make changes to it, and build new versions of the software incorporating their changes. There are many types of Open Source Software solutions that may differ in the licensing terms under which changed copies of the source code may be redistributed. Open source code is typically free and created as a collaborative effort where programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community. There are more than 400,000 registered DNN users in addition to the software developers who all help to evolve the software. DNN s feature-rich tools and features can be used to develop simple or complex Websites. Web administrators can extend the software capabilities through add-ons, third party assemblies, and custom tools making site customization and functionality limitless. 3

4 The Process At HR Technology Advisors, we use a rapid prototyping method that allows us to be precise and efficient as we design, develop and implement innovative solutions for our clients. Our proven process allows us to develop custom solutions that meet strict client requirements and ensure maximum usability in a relatively short period of time. Clients may choose to use an existing template design, or have us create a custom design. Step 1: Assess Client Needs This is a discovery phase. Clients are provided with access to a sample site highlighting template design options and can choose to add their content to the existing template or work with us to design something more unique. We articulate the project objectives, outline the tasks needed to complete the project, and determine the high level site requirements. If an employer's needs surpass the basic templates, we can help create a custom look for each site. Step 2: Data Collection During this phase, both HRT and our Broker/client identify and document all of the content to be included on the site. Colors, URL, navigation and template design are selected. The needs for Security Roles are established. A site-page outline is created. For custom sites, the homepage and at least one interior page are developed. The client is presented with the prototype design and changes to the contextual and functional elements are made per client request. Custom graphic design is available through our business partner Embolden Design. A project timeline is decided upon and development cost estimates are provided. Client sign-off is required before site development progresses further. Step 3: Site Build During this stage, we integrate the design and the content. The pages are created and the content is added. Security roles are applied to the site and tested. At the end of this phase a site review is done with the client and modifications are made as needed. Step 4: Client Training We believe that our clients should have a complete understanding of how to manage their own Web content, and that they are able to alter and update their content as needed. We offer maintenance service agreements for those who prefer to have HR Technology Advisors continue to maintain their sites. 4

5 Rapid Development We offer our clients a template driven interface to speed up the site development time. Clients may choose ready-made skins, or custom skins can be purchased or developed. "Skin" is the term used to describe the visual appearance and layout of the Website's pages. A skin can be very simple or very elaborate. It can provide for horizontal or vertical Menus, supply different styles of Containers (like skins for Modules), assign default fonts and colors to ensure consistency across all of the pages. With the skin, administrators get the beauty of DNN technology with HR Technology Advisors ability to help design, brand, scale, customize, and support the site. And a broker or client site skin may be copied for reuse with other clients. Pages on each site start out blank. Information is added to pages by putting Modules on them. There are many types of Modules available for displaying many different types of content. One of the most common is called the Text/HTML module, which simply allows the administrator to put in whatever HTML or text that is needed on each page. Other examples of Module functionality include Events, Links, Forms, Forums, Blogs, User Defined Tables, Survey, Document Manager, Feedback, News Feeds for purchased content (RSS), and much more. DNN has dozens of "off-the-shelf" Modules to choose from. Modules are designed to blend seamlessly into site design and can be configured to suit any site s unique demands. Security Roles can be created to customize data views not only at a page level, but at the module level as well. For example, Benefit Communication Websites show employees only the benefits they are eligible for. If contribution rates vary by employee class or location, simply add a module to the page for each contribution level and assign a security role to the portions of the text that each group needs to see. Security roles can also be applied to administrative capabilities as well. Content owners can be given update capabilities for selected pages and modules. Brokers may co-administer sites with employers. Once again, for a Benefit Communication Website, the broker may maintain the Benefit pages and the employer may maintain company related pages such as the company directory, policy manual etc. We have integrated an off-the-shelf text editor called RadEditor (r.a.d) as a value-add feature for our clients. The high-end r.a.d editor is a leading WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) text editor. It replaces text boxes with an intuitive Word -like editor, which enables even non-technical users to visually manage HTML content. Features include: integrated spellchecker, click-and-drag table builder & color selector, format stripper, integrated file uploaders, site structure tree-view, context menus for image and table properties, etc. Using a familiar interface and nothing more than their Internet browser, end-users can maintain on-line information as easily as writing a document. Users format the text, upload and insert documents and images, build tables when needed and define hyperlinks to documents pages or external site. Then they simply press the Submit button and all of the page changes are immediately reflected on the live site. Purchased benefit and financial calculators can be easily added to a benefits communication site. Add calculators for 401(k) savings, retirement planning, stock option grant projections, social security calculations, and other types of savings. We offer flash development services to further enhance the site. Flash may be used to create Custom Virtual Benefit Plan Guides or to step employees through the enrollment or new hire process. With our model, an Employee Portal can be up and running with the basics in a days. 5

6 End User Training Once the site is complete, we offer a one-hour instructor-led interactive Web-based software training session to familiarize those who will be maintaining the content with their individual site set-up and the content management functionality of the tool. The training requires a high-speed internet access and a telephone. The participant(s) and instructor will navigate through the software, each having full control to demonstrate and practice various software functions. The user is provided with a comprehensive user manual for the r.a.d. text editor. Data Center Hosting Environment Our hosting data center is managed through our business partner Embolden Design, 545 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, RI Embolden Design provides a strong environment built to deliver security, power, and connectivity. Power Systems: Redundant power feeds into the building have been designed to run un-interrupted. Multiple gel cell batteries and diesel powered generators are on standby in the event of an extended power outage. Testing takes place regularly to ensure ongoing functionality in case of an emergency. Security: The physical environment is protected by onsite security personnel and video surveillance monitoring 24x7x365. Redundant HVAC temperature and humidity control devices are also in place. A Cisco Intrusion Detection System (IDS) monitors all inbound and outbound traffic for suspicious activity. A Cisco ASA 5510 Firewall protects the interior network. A VLAN configuration is used which allows servers, applications, and services to utilize private IP addresses which helps to further protect the systems. Only requests to specified ports are allowed past the firewall. Security related updates are done on an ongoing basis. Updates, which are deemed non-critical, are held and installed in bulk on a monthly basis. Critical security updates are installed as needed within a reasonable timeframe. A 128-bit SSL Certification can be applied to any site. Sites can be set up to be password protected with access to the platform granted by role-based security, which can be applied down to the module level (ie. Sections on a page). Network Availability: Embolden provides a reliable and redundant, switched network. In excess of 5Gbps of bandwidth is available to the infrastructure at all times. 6

7 Hardware and System Services: Dell Poweredge Servers running Windows 2003 SP1 operating system are utilized. All operating systems are configured to ensure maximum security and top performance. All Web applications and services run on Microsoft IIS 6.0. In the case of a Web application or service that is database driven: either Microsoft Access 2003 or Microsoft SQL server 2000 are available. Microsoft SQL Server 2000 is available to run on a server specific to this service. System Backups: All systems and files are regularly backed up between 11 pm and 5 am the next morning to ensure protection in the case of a system failure. Backup files are stored daily for a period of one week and every Sunday as far back as one month. Launching The Site Not only can we build a site that s perfect for any audience, at HR Technology Advisors, we can help connect each site with any employer's unique audience. We can offer a variety of approaches to maximize the impact of your Website as well as an employer's entire communications mission. We can guide brokers and employers through the rollout process with a combination of marketing & communications strategies. We offer phone, , Webinar and remote support. HR Technology Advisors Through the use of DotNetNuke, we are able to offer a Web content management tool that is user-friendly and flexible to meet the needs of all of our clients. Our expertise with DNN modules and Web content enables us to give Websites organization, a professional look and feel, and advanced functionality quickly without long and expensive development time. We offer consulting, design and support services to make site management easy and cost effective. Whether the need is for a small Benefit Communication Site, more extensive Intranet or employee portal, or even a public, company Website, HRT has the resources, and more importantly the experience, to get the project completed. 7

8 DotNetNuke (DNN) Development & Technology Environment Resources and Contact Information You can learn more about HR Technology Advisors at To request more information, click here. More DotNetNuke information is available at Contact HR Technology Advisors 9 Summer Street Suite 201 Franklin, MA Phone: Toll Free: sales@hrtadvisors.com