Copying files creates more to manage.
Moving or copying files into ArcGIS attachments can create another copy to maintain and keep current alongside the original.
Data Annex for ArcGIS
Access your existing files
through ArcGIS.
Connect CAD drawings, PDFs, photos, and other files in your folders, network shares, Azure Blob Storage, and Amazon S3 to your ArcGIS maps and web applications. Keep files where they are, avoid duplicate copies, and control access with ArcGIS sign-in and the policies you set.
Discuss your file-access workflow“Data Annex for ArcGIS is an excellent solution for organizations looking to store attachments outside of their geodatabase while maintaining the security and access controls provided by ArcGIS. … The combination of improved performance, centralized security, and flexible document access makes Data Annex a valuable addition to our GIS environment.”
Director of GIS, Stahl Sheaffer Engineering
Start with the content you already have
Your files already exist.
Make them accessible from your maps.
Project drawings, permits, reports, and photos often live outside ArcGIS. Your team needs to find and open them from the mapped assets, properties, and projects they relate to.
Connect ArcGIS to the existing files.
Data Annex makes those files accessible through ArcGIS and controls who can retrieve them. Keep your existing file organization and use protected links in the maps and web applications your team already uses.
Access the files you need, directly from ArcGIS.
Users open linked drawings, reports, photos, imagery, and other files directly from the maps and applications they already use.
Data Annex handles file access automatically, so permitted users can move from the map to the file without separate accounts, additional applications, or extra steps.
Existing files. Connected workflows.
Keep your files in place.
Put them within reach in ArcGIS.
Keep one source for your files.
Serve existing files from registered folders, network shares, Azure containers, or S3 buckets without copying them into ArcGIS attachments.
Make files accessible in context.
Connect drawings, permits, and photos to the mapped locations where people need them.
Control and record access.
Control access to your content using ArcGIS organizations, groups, or users, and log allowed and denied requests, including the user when identified.
Three editions. One security model.
Where your files live
is where they stay.
Every edition applies the same rules: access granted by ArcGIS organization, group, or user; denied requests answered exactly like missing files; and a log of every request. Changes in the admin console take effect without a restart.
File Server
Serves files from folders and network shares on your own server. Installs as an IIS application on Windows, runs behind a reverse proxy on Linux, or runs in a container.
Azure
Serves Azure Blob Storage containers in your own subscription. Delivers each file as a short-lived signed link, or streams it so storage stays private. Deploys to App Service from a provided template.
AWS
Serves Amazon S3 buckets and CloudFront distributions in your own AWS account. Delivers presigned links or streams the file. Deploys to ECS Fargate from a provided CloudFormation template.
From mapped locations to supporting files
Open the information
behind the map.
CAD drawings and plans
Connect an asset or project location to its existing drawings so authorized team members can retrieve the files from ArcGIS.
Permits and reports
Link properties, assets, and projects to the PDFs and records that support day-to-day decisions.
Photos and imagery
Give teams access to the visual records associated with a mapped location while retaining files in their existing folders.
For GIS teams and IT teams
Easy to use.
Clear to administer.
Plan your implementation
Start with your files
and who needs access.
Tell us where your files live and who needs them through ArcGIS. We’ll work out the setup with you.
Do we need to copy files into ArcGIS?
No. Data Annex reads and serves files from the folders, shares, containers, or buckets you register. Protected links connect the existing files to your ArcGIS maps and web applications.
Where does Data Annex run?
In your environment. The File Server edition runs on your own server, as an IIS application on Windows, behind a reverse proxy on Linux, or in a container. The Azure edition deploys to App Service in your subscription, and the AWS edition to ECS in your account, each from a provided template.
Which locations can it read?
Only the folders, shares, containers, or buckets you register, and only what its own credential is allowed to read. Each user then sees only what a policy grants them.
How are organization, group, and user permissions assigned?
Configure who can access your content using ArcGIS organizations, groups, or users. Group-based access follows membership in the ArcGIS groups you select.
What happens when someone forwards a protected link?
The recipient must sign in through ArcGIS and meet the access requirements set for that content. Possessing the Data Annex link does not grant access to the file.
What is recorded in the request logs?
Each file request is logged with the requested file and its allowed or denied outcome, including the ArcGIS user when identified.
Does Data Annex modify files?
No. Data Annex reads and serves files from the registered locations. It does not edit or upload files.
Which ArcGIS environments and applications are supported?
ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. Users sign in with their ArcGIS account. Any map or web application that opens a link works as is. Applications that fetch files with script, rather than opening a link, need their address added to the list of allowed domains in the Data Annex admin console.
Do users need a separate Data Annex password?
No. Users sign in with their ArcGIS account.
Evaluate your file-access workflow
Your files stay where they are.
Your team accesses them through ArcGIS.
Tell us where your files live, who needs access, and how your team uses ArcGIS. We’ll help you plan the setup.
Discuss your Data Annex setup