Solution Description

The 'Solution Description' question in the HECVAT (Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit) is asking for a comprehensive overview of your product or service. This question serves as an introduction to your solution, helping the assessors understand what your product does, how it works, and its core functionality. Why it's being asked: 1. To establish context for the rest of the security assessment 2. To help assessors understand the scope and nature of the solution they're evaluating 3. To identify potential security concerns based on the solution's functionality 4. To determine which subsequent questions are most relevant to your specific solution This question is foundational because security requirements and risks vary significantly depending on the type of solution (e.g., a cloud-based learning management system has different security considerations than an on-premises research data processing tool). When answering this question, you should: - Be clear and concise but comprehensive - Describe the core functionality and purpose of your solution - Mention deployment models (cloud, on-premises, hybrid) - Note key technical components and technologies used - Highlight any aspects that involve sensitive data processing - Mention integration points with other systems if relevant - Include information about user roles and access patterns Avoid using excessive marketing language or technical jargon without explanation, as the goal is to provide a clear understanding of what your solution does from a functional perspective.