Asset Management
UX/UI
Feature Lead
Cyber Security
Information Hierarchy
.png)
Background
Cynamics is a Cybersecurity Network Detection and Response solution, providing network visibility for networks of all sizes and architectures.
Role:
Feature Lead and UX Designer
the PROCESS
problem context
Problem Statement
Competitive Analysis
User Research
Research Insights
Research
defining success
Business Motivation
Key Principles
Terminology
Icons and Chips
Card Design
Assets Table
Create Asset​​
Design
retrospect
Next Steps
What Did I Learn
01: Problem Context
problem Statement
The current IP Groups page creates a fragmented user experience, with different types of assets divided into distinct sections. This separation leads to inefficiencies as users must navigate between tabs to manage assets, and the lack of cohesion makes it difficult to understand how these elements connect within the overall dashboard. As a result, asset management is both cumbersome and disjointed, negatively impacting usability and workflow efficiency.
The challenge was to streamline the asset management structure, improve categorization, and create an intuitive workflow while integrating assets seamlessly across the dashboard to provide a cohesive and efficient user experience.
Existing Screens
.png)
.png)
02: Defining Success
business motivation
A cohesive and efficient asset management system is essential to Cynamics' mission of delivering clarity and simplicity in network insights. The current fragmented IP Groups page creates unnecessary complexity, potentially leading to user frustration and diminished platform value. By reorganizing and integrating asset management across the dashboard, Cynamics can improve usability, enhance customer satisfaction, and reinforce its commitment to providing intuitive, streamlined solutions.
key principles
Streamlined Interaction
Minimize complexity by reducing unnecessary steps and presenting information in a way that supports efficient decision-making.
Future-Ready Design
Develop a scalable structure that can accommodate evolving user needs and new platform capabilities while maintaining simplicity.
Holistic Integration
Ensure that asset management is fully integrated with the rest of the dashboard, enabling users to see the broader context of their data effortlessly.
03: Research
competitive analysis
A cohesive and efficient asset management system is essential to Cynamics' mission of delivering clarity and simplicity in network insights. The current fragmented IP Groups page creates unnecessary complexity, potentially leading to user frustration and diminished platform value. By reorganizing and integrating asset management across the dashboard, Cynamics can improve usability, enhance customer satisfaction, and reinforce its commitment to providing intuitive, streamlined solutions.
user research
The primary users of the platform are IT Directors and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), who work to enhance their organization's asset management by effectively categorizing and monitoring various assets. The user research process involved engaging directly with end-users to gain insights into their challenges and needs regarding asset organization and accessibility. Additionally, I collaborated with internal stakeholders, including Product Managers and the Analysts team, who utilize the platform daily and interact with users through follow-up calls and product demonstrations. This multifaceted approach ensured that we captured relevant insights to inform our design decisions for the asset management features.
Research insights
How to Present Information Clearly
​​Visual Hierarchy: Establish a clear visual hierarchy to enhance readability and user comprehension.
​
Master-Detail Approach: Utilize a master-detail approach to organize information effectively, allowing users to navigate easily and find relevant asset details.
​
Clear Use of Icons: Incorporate recognizable icons to aid navigation and quickly convey the purpose of different elements, improving the overall user experience.
How to Integrate with the Rest of the Platform
​​​Consistency: Implement consistent design elements and navigation patterns throughout the dashboard to ensure a cohesive user experience.
Effective Asset Organization: Utilize effective UI organization methods, such as chip and card designs, for asset categorization and filtering, allowing users to interact with assets seamlessly across different sections of the dashboard.
04: Design
After conducting research, I concentrated on streamlining the asset management page and reorganizing asset information. This involved restructuring the layout and terminology to enhance clarity and improve user experience.
Terminology
To enhance user understanding and ensure consistency across the platform, I collaborated with the Product Manager and CTO, integrating user research insights to establish new terminology for assets.​​
icons and chips
I redesigned the asset management icon to better represent the concept of various asset types, such as hosts, subnets, and groups. Additionally, I developed distinct icons for each asset type to enhance clarity and recognition. I also introduced chips that can be displayed on the asset management page and utilized consistently throughout the platform, improving navigation and user interaction.
Asset Management icon
Host, Subnet , and Group icons
Chip Design
card design
Each asset—host, subnet, or group—is represented by a dedicated card that contains specific information pertinent to that asset. This design not only provides users with a clear overview of each asset’s details but also ensures that these cards can be utilized consistently throughout the dashboard, facilitating seamless navigation and interaction.
Host Card
Icon representing host, subnet, or group
Number of detections associated with the asset. Once clicked, users are redirected to the detection center, allowing them to quickly access detailed information and insights related to the asset's activity
IP Enrichment
Group Card
List of all ips and subnets that are contained in this group- they will appear as chips. If you hover over a chip, a secondary card will appear and the user will have the option of clicking that card to see more details
If a group is discovered by Cynamics there will be a discovered tag at the top right. Hovering over the tag will show a relevant tooltip
asset Management TAble
The Asset Management Table features a card view that displays each asset (host, subnet, or group) with relevant information. Users can easily filter and sort assets based on various criteria, enhancing their ability to locate and manage assets efficiently.
.png)
When an asset card is clicked, a details sidebar slides out from the side, providing users with additional information about the asset. This interaction allows for a quick and intuitive way to access more in-depth data without navigating away from the current view.
.png)
When users hover over the chips representing different assets, a secondary card appears, providing detailed information about that specific asset. This interaction allows users to quickly access relevant data without navigating away from their current view, enhancing the overall efficiency of asset management. This hover feature will be consistently applied throughout the rest of the dashboard, ensuring a cohesive user experience across all sections.
.png)
Create asset
The "Create Asset" form is designed to adapt dynamically based on the selected asset type—host, group, or subnet
.png)
While users are in the process of creating a group, they have the option to add a new host "on-the-fly." This feature allows users to seamlessly create a host without leaving the group creation workflow. based on the selected asset type—host, group, or subnet
.png)
05: Retrospect
next steps
Reflecting on the project's outcomes, there are additional steps and refinements to further enhance the user experience:
​
-
Implement Card and Chip Design Across the Dashboard: Ensure that the card and chip appearance is consistent throughout the dashboard, enhancing visual coherence and usability.
-
Introduce a List View for Assets: Develop a list view option for assets, providing users with an alternative way to interact with and manage their asset information.
-
Enhance Filtering and Sorting Options: Expand filtering and sorting capabilities within the asset management table, allowing users to more easily find and organize their assets based on specific criteria.
what did I learn?
This project provided valuable insights into the design process, highlighting the importance of collaboration and strategic decision-making in UX design. Here are some key takeaways:
​
-
Effective Communication and Collaboration Across Teams: Engaging with cross-functional teams, including product management and development, was crucial for aligning goals and ensuring a cohesive vision throughout the project.
-
Feature Prioritization: Learning to differentiate between must-have features for the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and those that could be included in later iterations helped streamline the design process and focus on delivering immediate value to users.
-
Future-Oriented Design: Prioritizing a forward-thinking approach ensured that the design was not only cohesive across the current dashboard but also adaptable for future features and functionalities, enhancing overall scalability and user experience.
See more of my work
.png)