Types of Collected Data

We collect the following types of data to identify network infrastructure and generate ratings:

• Background Information
• Domains
• IP Addresses
• Ratings Tree

Refer to our Network Mapping Process to learn how assets are attributed to an organization.

Background Information

• Industry data is collected from sources like LinkedIn.
• The logo is obtained from the company’s website (where available).
• The description is gathered from various data sources such as Bloomberg Businessweek, the organization's website, LinkedIn profile, or Wikipedia entry.

Domains

Domains are discovered by observing global DNS activity and through domain registrars matched with WHOIS records. Based on authoritative nameservers, we identify all domains owned by an organization, and track changes in domains over time. In addition, we use domain registration information to identify which domains an organization maintains.

IP Addresses

A broad range of devices provide wireless network connection details when engaged with a variety of internet services. Information about the IP addresses that are used to connect to these services is gathered. This data does not include information about the users of any devices.

Ratings Tree

The ratings tree visually convey the business relationships (parent-subsidiary relationships) that evolve through acquisitions and divestitures are identified through news articles (Bloomberg Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, etc.), press releases, media articles, Securities and Exchange Commission reports, and the company’s website.

Identifying the business hierarchy of a company is not always straightforward:

• In the case of financial holding companies (e.g., private equity companies), we do not create a relationship between the financial holding company and the portfolio company.
• When the company operates a franchise network (e.g., fast food restaurants, coffee chains, hotels, automobile dealerships, energy/oil companies, etc.), independently owned store locations are not considered part of the network footprint and only the company’s headquarters and corporate locations are included.
• If a company is a retail chain, a clothing store, or a bank; each individual location and ATM is included in the company’s network footprint. For organizations that share a large IP address space, such as hospitals or education networks, we organize the company as a parent company with each part of the system as a subsidiary of the parent company.