Connectors Overview

This article details what a connector is, how to install a connector, and which connectors are supported in the Brinqa Platform.

What is a connector?

A connector is a stand-alone Java application that connects to a data source and retrieves data. With Brinqa connectors, organizations can automate, simplify, and streamline the process of extracting data for analysis while simultaneously accomplishing critical goals of data transformation, normalization, and contextualization.

The Brinqa connector framework formalizes the ways of interconnection between systems via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), database extracts, and structured formats like comma-separated values (CSV), JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), and Extensible Markup Language (XML). The Brinqa connector library includes connectors to hundreds of systems covering configuration management database (CMDB), asset management, vulnerability monitoring, threat intelligence, patch management, identity provider (IDP), intrusion prevention system (IPS), security ratings, ticketing, task management, and more.

Brinqa connector store

The Integrations > Connectors page, also known as the Brinqa connector store, contains the connectors that Brinqa supports:

On this page, you can search for a specific connector by typing in the search bar, or you can click the Categories menu to filter them by their purpose (Application Security, Asset Management, Vulnerability Management, etc.).

You can also filter the connectors by selecting Installed to view the connectors you have already installed or Updates to see which connectors have available updates. Brinqa recommends that you apply updates to the connectors you have installed as soon as they are made available. You can also use the Integration+ filter to display connectors that come preconfigured with mappings to Brinqa's unified data models and attributes. See Integration+ connectors for additional information.

Install a connector

Before you can use a connector in a data integration, you must install it first. To do so, follow these steps:

Navigate to the connector store (Integrations > Connectors).
Click Integration+ to display the Integration+ connectors.
Locate the connector you want to install and click Install.
Once the connector is installed, the Install button turns into a Use button. Click Use to configure the connector and begin importing data.

Repeat these steps for each connector you want to use. For information on how to configure your connectors, see create a data integration and the individual connector documentation.

Update a connector

When updates for connectors become available, it's important to apply these updates to leverage the latest functionalities.

To see if a connector update is available, navigate to Integrations > Sources. The Connector version and Update available columns display the current version of the connector and whether an update is available or not, respectively.

To update an installed connector in the Brinqa Platform, follow these steps:

Navigate to the connector store (Integrations > Connectors).
Click the Updates filter. This displays all connectors with available updates.
Locate the connector you want to update and click Update.
Once the connector has been updated, the Update button turns into a Use button.

Updating connectors can introduce a variety of new functionalities, such as support for additional objects and attributes that the connector brings in, improvements to the connector's API framework, performance improvements, bug fixes, security enhancements, and more. Brinqa recommends that you update your connectors when updates are available to ensure you are taking full advantage of the latest improvements and capabilities. For more details on the latest connector updates, see Integration+ connector releases.

Post-update steps

After updating a connector, you must update your integration to use the latest version of the connector. To do so, follow these steps:

Navigate to the integration page (Integration > Sources) and open your configuration.
Click the Connector dropdown and select the most recent version.
Click Next to save the changes.
Run the integration to verify that everything functions as expected with the updated connector.

For more information about resolving issues related to outdated connector versions, see the Troubleshooting tip.

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If you need to use a previous version of a connector, please contact Brinqa Support.

How Brinqa secures your connector credentials

Brinqa implements a robust security framework to ensure that sensitive data, such as your API keys, client secrets, and passwords, are securely stored and protected from unauthorized access. Some ways that Brinqa secures your credentials includes:

Encryption: All credentials, such as client secrets, passwords, and API keys, are encrypted before they are stored in Brinqa's secure vault database. We use industry-standard encryption algorithms to protect data both at rest and in transit. Your credentials are never exposed in plain text.
Secure storage: Credentials are stored in a secure vault within the Brinqa Platform. This vault provides a high level of security, ensuring that sensitive information is isolated and protected from unauthorized access.
Filesystem encryption: The underlying filesystem where encrypted credentials are stored is also encrypted. This additional layer of security ensures that, even if access to the storage layer is compromised, the data remains encrypted and protected.
Regular audits and monitoring: Brinqa conducts regular security audits to ensure that our systems comply with the latest security standards and best practices. Continuous monitoring is also in place to detect any anomalies or potential threats. This proactive approach allows us to address issues promptly and ensure the ongoing security of your credentials.
Compliance: Brinqa adheres to stringent security standards and compliance requirements. Brinqa's security practices are designed to meet industry regulations, and we continually update our security measures to align with evolving compliance standards.

Integration+ connectors

Integration+ connectors in the Brinqa Platform provide you with a streamlined method of bringing in and appropriately mapping your data. Integration+ connectors are pre-configured with the necessary mappings to Brinqa's unified data models (UDM) and attributes, offering you out-of-the-box compatibility with Brinqa's standardized schema for datasets. When you use an Integration+ connector, you save time and effort as you are not required to manually map the data from the connected data source to the UDM. The connector already understands how to normalize the incoming data into the format the Brinqa Platform expects, effectively "speaking the language" of the Platform.

In addition to prebuilt mappings and auto-consolidation, Integration+ connectors also apply key normalization and transformation processes to enrich your data. These include generating additional date fields, creating status values, and risk normalization, ensuring that your data is not only mapped correctly but also fully prepared for use across Brinqa's features and analytics.

Non-integration+ connectors

While you can install and use non-integration+ connectors, Brinqa recommends using only Integration+ connectors. Using non-Integration+ connectors can lead to consolidation and data mapping inconsistencies and potential issues with your data. If you need assistance or have questions about connectors, please contact your Brinqa Support team.

Attribute mappings

In contrast to most Integration+ connectors, non-Integration+ connectors do not automatically map the data they retrieve to UDM attributes. In these cases, you, a member of your team, or a Brinqa Support specialist must manually configure the attribute mappings. Certain Integration+ connectors, such as Azure DevOps, Brinqa Connect, CSV Connector, JSON Connector, and ServiceNow, also require manual mappings due to the dynamic nature of the data they retrieve.

What is a connector?​

Brinqa connector store​

Install a connector​

Update a connector​

Post-update steps​

How Brinqa secures your connector credentials​

Integration+ connectors​

Attribute mappings​

List of connectors​