Data Collaboration Platform (DCP)—Add connections

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At a glance: Connect your cloud services to the Data Clean Room so can collaborate on the platform, share data, and access the audiences created.

 About DCP

The Data Collaboration Platform (DCP) functions as the central point for data collaboration, including audience creation and activation. DCP relies on the advanced technology of the Data Clean Room (DCR) to ensure data privacy and security for the collaboration and audience management processes.

Overview

After setting up your cloud services, the next step is to connect them to the DCP—the central platform for data sharing. This involves setting up inbound and outbound connections in the DCR:

Inbound connections

  • Cloud services: The cloud locations from which the DCR reads first-party data from your systems. This is where the sources are created.
  • Local file system: The location for uploading files to the DCR from a local source. Used for testing and getting familiarized with the platform. 

Outbound connections

  • Cloud services: One of the options for receiving audiences after they are created, provided the appropriate permission is granted.
  • Media partners: The destination for audience activation, provided the appropriate permission is granted.

Create inbound connections

Setting up inbound connections can be done in either of the following options:

  • Outside the source creation process (before creating sources)
  • As part of the source creation process

new-connection.jpg

Step 1—as part of the source creation process

  1. Create the connection while you are specifying the source location.
    • If there are no connections defined in your account, the New connection dialog will open, prompting you to create one.
    • If you have existing connections but want to use a new one, click + New connection to open the New connection dialog.
  2. Continue with the instructions in Step 2 below.

Step 1—outside of the source creation process

  1. In AppsFlyer, from the side menu, select Collaborate > Data Clean Room.
  2. From the top-right menu, click Manage connections.
  3. Click New connection. If you already have existing cloud connections in your account, you'll see them under Source.
  4. Continue with the instructions in Step 2 below.

Step 2—inbound data connections

From the New connection dialog, select the data connection (cloud service or data provider) and enter the details according to the relevant tabs below.

Inbound data connections

BigQuery

In the New connection dialog, enter the BigQuery project ID for the project that contains your source data.

  • You can get this information from the Big Query page of your Google Cloud Console.

    BQ_project_ID.png

Snowflake

In the New connection dialog, enter the Snowflake account ID and region for the account that contains your source data. You can get this information by clicking on the account name at the bottom-left menu of your Snowflake console:

  • ACCOUNTADMIN > Account > hover over the relevant account > Copy account identifier. See here Snowflake documentation.
    Important! Look for the ID labeled Locator. This is NOT the same ID as the one used to create inbound Snowflake connections.

ui-snowsight-account-identifier.png

Amazon S3 and GCS

In the New connection dialog, enter the name of the bucket you created for the exclusive use of the DCR.

Salesforce Cloud/CRM

See here how to set up a Salesforce connection.

Local file connection

Local file system

A local file connection is used to test the platform using a sample file. This option allows you to familiarize yourself with DCP functionality before starting to share data. However, it isn’t the recommended choice for sharing data, has a data retention limit of 7 days, and doesn’t enalbe integrating automation processes.

Setting up a local file connection

Setting up a local file connection can be done in either of the following options, with the process being the same in both cases:

  • Outside the source creation process (before creating sources)
  • As part of the source creation process

To create a connection as part of the source creation process:

  1. Create the connection while you are specifying the source location.
    • If there are no connections defined in your account, the New connection dialog will open, prompting you to create one.
    • If you have existing connections but want to use a new one, click + New connection to open the New connection dialog.
  2. Click Save.

To create a connection outside the source creation process:

  1. In AppsFlyer, from the side menu, select Collaborate > Data Clean Room.
  2. From the top-right menu, click Manage connections.
  3. Click New connection.
  4. Click Save.

Create outbound connections

After you've created your audiences, you can have them sent to your cloud services. This is done using the AppsFlyer Data Locker connections. You can choose to create these connections either:

  • Outside the audience creation process (before creating audiences)
  • As part of the audience creation process

 Note

Receiving audiences doesn't require a premium subscription to Data Locker. However, if you're interested in receiving AppsFlyer reports via Data Locker, contact your CSM or send an email to hello@appsflyer.com.

Step 1—as part of the audience creation process

  1. Create the connection while you're setting the audience destination.
    • If there are no connections defined in your account:
      • A new tab will open in your browser (showing the AppsFlyer Data Locker page)
      • A New connection dialog will open.
    • If you have existing connections but want to use a new one, click the + New connection in Data Locker:
      • A new tab will open in your browser (showing the AppsFlyer Data Locker page)
      • A New connection dialog will open.
  2. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section, below.
  3. After creating the connection, return to the DCR tab in your browser and select the newly created connection from the list of Data Locker connections.

Step 1—outside of the audience creation process

  1. In AppsFlyer, from the side menu, select Export > Data Locker.
    • If you have existing Data Locker connections in your account, you'll be taken to the main Data Locker page. From there, click New connection in the upper-right corner to open the New connection dialog.
    • If you are creating your account's first Data Locker connection, you'll see Data Locker's Get started page. Click Get started to open the New connection dialog.
  2. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section below.

Step 2—outbound data connection

From the New connection dialog, select the data connection (cloud service or data provider) and enter the details according to the relevant tabs below.

new-connection.png

Outbound data connections

BigQuery

  1. In the New connection dialog, enter a name for the connection; then select the BigQuery option.
  2. Enter the Project ID and Dataset name for the BigQuery project that contains the dataset you created for Data Locker.
    • You can get this information from the Big Query page of your Google Cloud Console.

      BQ_project_ID_dataset_name.png

  3. Click Test connection to ensure that Data Locker is connected to the dataset.
  4. Click Save to create the connection.

Snowflake

The procedure for connecting Snowflake to Data Locker is a 2-step process:

  • Step #1 – In AppsFlyer, create the initial connection.
    • This gives your Snowflake account the ability to access an AppsFlyer Snowflake share. 
  • Step #2 – In your Snowflake account, create a database from the share.
    • This creates a database in your account that references the tables in the AppsFlyer share.

Note: The following procedure must be performed by a Snowflake Accountadmin.

Step #1 (create the initial connection)

  1. In the New connection dialog, enter a name for the connection; then select the Snowflake option.
  2. Enter your Snowflake account region and account ID. You can get this information by clicking on the account name at the bottom-left menu of your Snowflake console:
    • ACCOUNTADMIN > Account > hover over the relevant account > Copy account identifier. See here Snowflake documentation.
      Important! Look for the ID labeled Locator. This is NOT the same ID as the one used to create inbound Snowflake connections.

      ui-snowsight-account-identifier.png

  3. Click Test connection to ensure that Data Locker is connected to your Snowflake account.
  4. Click Save to create the connection.

Step #2 (create a database from share)

  1. Log in to your Snowflake account.
  2. Switch your role to Accountadmin.
  3. From the left-side panel, select Private Sharing.
  4. In the page that opens, select the Shared With You tab.
  5. From the share whose name begins with APPSFLYER, click the Get data snowflake_get_data_button.png button.
  6. [Optional] In the Get Data dialog, change the default database name according to your needs and select the roles in addition to Accountadmin that can access the database.
  7. Click Get Data to create the database.

Amazon S3 and GCS

  1. In the Data Locker New connection dialog, enter a name for the connection; then select either the Amazon S3 or GCS option.
  2. Enter the name of the bucket you created for the exclusive use of DCR.

Media partner connections

Setting up connections with your media partner for audience activation can be done in either of the following options, with the process being the same in both cases:

  • As part of the source creation process
  • Outside the source creation process (before creating sources)

new-partner-connection.jpg

To create a connection as part of the source creation process:

  1. Create the connection while you are specifying the source location.
    • If your account doesn’t have connections defined, the New connection dialog will open, prompting you to create one.
    • If you have existing connections but want to use a new one, click + New connection to open the New connection dialog.
  2. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section, below.

To create a connection outside the source creation process:

  1. In AppsFlyer, from the side menu, select Collaborate > Data Clean Room.
  2. From the top-right menu, click Manage connections.
  3. Click New connection. If you already have existing cloud connections in your account, you'll see them all under Partner.
  4. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section, below.

Complete the connection

  1. From the New connection dialog, select the media partner.
  2. Name the connection.
  3. Log in to the media partner account with your credentials, and follow their instructions to enable AppsFlyer access.
  4. Click Select account ID and select the relevant account for this connection.
  5. Click Save. The new connection is added to the list of media partners.