NotifyVisitors’ Composable CDP allows you to bring your own data lake into the platform using Data Connectors. This makes it easy to securely link your user or event data stored in structured external databases, like Amazon Redshift, and leverage it for advanced segmentation, analysis, and personalization, all within the NotifyVisitors ecosystem.

This article walks you through how to securely connect an external data source using the Sources section under Data Connector.

How to add a new data source

Adding a new data source in NotifyVisitors is a guided process that helps you connect your external database securely and efficiently. Here’s how to do it:

Begin by logging into your NotifyVisitors dashboard. From the left-hand panel, go to Settings, then open the Data Connector section and click on the Sources tab. At the top, click Add New Source to launch the guided setup.

Step 1: Select your data source

In the first step of the setup flow, you’ll be asked to select the database platform you want to connect to. Simply choose it from the list and proceed by clicking the Continue To Connect button.

Step 2: Enter connection details

Now, you’ll be prompted to enter the necessary information to establish a secure connection.

Start by giving your data source a clear and recognizable name, for example, “Redshift user data” so you can identify it easily later.

Next, choose the connection type based on how your database is hosted. You can opt for a direct connection, set up access through a VPN, or use SSH tunneling for additional security. Based on your selection, the form will adjust to show relevant fields.

Then, fill in the configuration details including the host address, port number, and the name of the database you want to connect. After that, enter your username and password for the database. These credentials must have permission to access and read the relevant tables.

All sensitive data, such as login credentials are encrypted and stored securely to ensure your information remains protected.

Once all details are filled, click Next to proceed.

Step 3: Test the connection

In this step, NotifyVisitors automatically performs a backend validation to ensure that your connection is properly configured. The platform checks 

• Network connectivity: Whether the database is reachable, 
• Redshift connectivity: Whether the credentials are correct, and 
• Permission to list schemas and tables: Whether the necessary permissions are in place to list schemas and tables.

If everything is in order, the connection status will be marked as Success. You can then click Finish to save the configuration and complete the setup.

However, if the validation fails, your status will be marked as failed. In this case, just carefully cross-check the checklist option for which the error arise to troubleshoot the problem.

• Network connectivity: Make sure your database is accessible from external connections. If you’re using VPN or SSH, verify that tunnels or firewall rules are not blocking access.
• Authentication: Double-check that your username and password are correct.
• Permissions: Ensure the user role has permission to access available schemas and tables in the database.

After addressing the identified issue, retry the connection to complete the setup successfully.

What happens after the source is connected?

Once your data source is successfully connected, it will appear under the Sources tab within the Data Connector section. Each connected source is listed along with key details such as its name, connection type, creation date, last updated date, and an action menu represented by three dots. Using this menu, you can choose to edit the connection settings or permanently delete the source if it's no longer needed.

If there’s a modification in your external database, like a password change, you can edit the created source and implement the changes. The models you created, published segments, and ongoing campaigns will not be affected.

After the connection is in place, the source becomes available for creating user or event models, allowing you to structure and activate your data within the NotifyVisitors platform.

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