Understanding IRI

The term \"IRI\" encompasses a multifaceted concept that can refer to a software tool, a service, or a type of data, each in distinct domains. As a software tool, IRI stands for the International Reference Ionosphere, an empirical, deterministic, and climatic model used to characterize the ionosphere's plasma parameters. Developed by COSPAR and URSI, the IRI software tool includes the IRI-Plas-G model, which calculates physical parameters of the ionosphere and is used extensively for simulations and automatic characterization in scientific research.

When discussing IRI as a service, it refers to a company with the same acronym that provides insights into consumer behavior by tracking and connecting it to products. IRI, now part of Circana formed by the merger with NPD, holds the largest repository of diverse consumer data and offers tools like Checkout and Monthly Sensitivities to interpret the consumer landscape and measure real-time Covid responses.

As a data type, IRI is an Internationalized Resource Identifier, which functions within the Resource Description Framework (RDF). IRIs are integral to RDF, serving as subjects, predicates, or objects in RDF triples. They are Unicode strings with a global scope that can be dereferenceable, following the syntax outlined in RFC 3987. IRIs play a crucial role in Linked Data, allowing for the identification of resources and the enhancement of interoperability across the web.

IRI Plugins for Excel

CellShield

CellShield is an IRI plugin designed as an Excel add-in to enhance the security of sensitive information contained within spreadsheets. Its primary function is to assist users in complying with data privacy laws by providing tools to pseudonymize and encrypt data. With the threat of data breaches ever-present, CellShield offers a robust solution to nullify such risks and protect sensitive data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IRI CellShield and what is it used for?

IRI CellShield is an add-in for Microsoft Excel designed to protect sensitive information in spreadsheets and help users comply with data privacy laws through features like data masking, encryption, and pseudonymization.

How does IRI CellShield help in protecting sensitive data?

IRI CellShield helps protect sensitive data by offering functions such as manual and bulk encryption, data masking, pseudonymization, and data redaction in Excel files. It also supports sensitive data discovery in connected spreadsheets across a network.

Can IRI CellShield assist with compliance and auditing?

Yes, IRI CellShield provides auditing functions that automatically create log entries for the protection applied, and it allows for reporting on discovered patterns for auditing purposes.

Is the IRI plugin for Excel capable of data conversion and transformation?

The IRI plugin for Excel supports data migration, conversion of Excel data to various file formats, data type conversion at the field level, and remapping of record layouts. It can also perform data transformation, masking, and reporting for Excel files.

Can IRI CellShield work with realistic synthetic test data?

The IRI plugin for Excel can populate Excel spreadsheets with realistic synthetic test data, which is useful for testing and development without using sensitive data.