Overview

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What is the Alation integration?

The Alation integration creates a two-way connection between Prizm data quality monitoring and the Alation Data Catalog. Prizm pushes quality metrics, alerts, issues, and scores to Alation table and column catalog pages — making quality signals visible to data consumers browsing the catalog without requiring them to log into Prizm. Prizm also pulls domain classifications and tags from Alation to enrich the asset context inside Prizm. For organizations that use Alation as the authoritative catalog for data discovery and governance, this integration means data quality information becomes part of the same surface where analysts evaluate whether a dataset is fit for use.

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What this integration enables

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Authentication

Prizm supports two authentication methods for Alation: Username / Password — Connect using an Alation account email and password. Suitable for most deployments. UserID / Token — Connect using an Alation user ID and a refresh token. This method is preferred for service accounts and automated workflows where password rotation is a concern. The authentication method is selected when the integration is first configured.

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Workflow

1. The admin configures the Alation integration in Prizm, entering the host URL, credentials, and target datasource.
2. The admin enables PUSH settings for Asset, Attribute, and/or Domain objects, selecting which data types to push: Summary, Alerts, Issues, and Measures.
3. The admin optionally enables PULL settings to import Domains and Tags from Alation into Prizm.
4. Prizm initiates a CATALOG_SYNC job and syncs quality data to Alation catalog pages.
5. On Alation table pages, quality summary information, deprecation flags, and warning indicators are visible on the asset overview. A Health tab shows all Prizm data quality checks for that table.
6. On Alation column pages, DQ Score appears as a custom field and alert indicators appear on the column overview.
7. For domains, Prizm pushes domain-level metrics and semantic metadata. If PULL is enabled, Alation domains and tags flow back into Prizm and appear on the semantics page with source type “Alation”.
8. Subsequent syncs run on the configured schedule or can be triggered manually from the integration settings. Job status, duration, and task counts are visible in the Prizm integration log.

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Prerequisites

Before connecting Alation to Prizm, you need:

• An Alation instance URL (e.g., https://yourcompany.alationcloud.com)
• An Alation account with write access to catalog pages (service account recommended)
• The name of the Alation datasource that corresponds to the data source Prizm monitors
• Admin or privileged user access in Prizm to configure integrations
• Alation admin access to complete the one-time Alation-side setup:
  • Enable Data Health and Data Health 2022.4 Features in Alation Admin Settings → Feature Config
  • Create a DQLABS Rich Text custom field under Customize Catalog and add it to the Table and Column templates