Would You Trust Microsoft With Analytics Data?
So it seems Microsoft has decided to compete with Google Analytics with it's upcoming "Gatineau" web analytics service. So far, I'm not sure what I think of it. The graphics don't look as slick as Google's new interface, but my primary concern is privacy...
When you pay for analytics with services such as WebTrends and IndexTools you sign contracts and the data clearly belongs to you. With Google Analytics, since it's free the trade off is that Google gets to do pretty much what they want with your data, within the confines of their privacy policy. The same will most likely be true of Microsoft.
The thing is, Google seems to always defend user data from the prying eyes of governments. They've got a good track record. I don't think of Microsoft in the same way. Google may be the new Big Brother, but they're doing it in a very different way than Microsoft was Big Brother in the past - Google just seems more responsible about the obligations that come with power.
Analytics data is pretty sensitive information. I'm just not sure Microsoft will guard my data as vigorously as Google would. Not that I'm intending to start up any terrorist web sites, but it's more about the principle of it...
Tags: Google, Microsoft, privacy, Web Analytics
Categories: MS Gatineau
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:26 am
>When you pay for analytics with services such as WebTrends and IndexTools you sign contracts and the data clearly belongs to you
You not only own the data you can also and at any time request it delivered! – which in my humble opinion is a great way of making sure that we as a vendor stay sharp on customer service (instead of living on technology lock-in and data-ownership)
Cheers
Dennis R. Mortensen, COO at IndexTools
My Web Analytics Blog
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:29 am
Agreed, a paid service is definitely superior, but the free services have their place – as backups (to confirm observations), and then there are just all the web sites that can’t justify paying for analytics.