# Getting Started

## Getting Started with Publisher

Publisher enables organizations to make file and table data available through GA4GH APIs. The system serves two distinct user types:

* **Administrators**: Use [Publisher's](https://publisher.staging.dnastack.com/welcome)[ web-based interface](https://publisher.staging.dnastack.com/welcome) to connect data sources, organize data into Collections, and implement access policies
* **Data Consumers**: Access Collection data through [GA4GH](https://www.ga4gh.org/)-compliant software, such as [Explorer](https://github.com/DNAstack/dnastack-product-docs/blob/main/docs/publisher/getting-started/broken-reference/README.md) for interactive data discovery and analysis, or the [DNAstack Python library](/products/analysis/python-library.md) for programmatic analysis

This documentation is intended for **Publisher Administrators**.

### Prerequisites

Before beginning with Publisher, identify the data sources you want to make available. Publisher supports the following data storage systems:

## Supported Storage Systems

Publisher can connect to data stored on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and some on-premises or vendor-neutral systems:

Files:

* [Amazon S3](/products/publisher/data-sources/connectors/connecting-to-aws-s3-storage.md)
* [Azure Blob Storage](/products/publisher/data-sources/connectors/connecting-to-microsoft-azure-blob-storage.md)
* [Google Cloud Storage (GCS)](/products/publisher/data-sources/connectors/connecting-to-google-cloud-platform.md)
* [Any unauthenticated HTTPS URL](/products/publisher/data-sources/connectors/connecting-to-https.md)

Tables:

* [PostgreSQL](/products/publisher/data-sources/connectors/connecting-to-postgresql.md)

## Implementation Process

Working with Publisher involves these essential steps:

* [Sign in](/products/publisher/getting-started/logging-in-to-publisher.md) to Publisher's web interface
* Connect one or more [data sources](/products/publisher/data-sources.md), populating Publisher's library with tables and files
* Create named [Collections](/products/publisher/collections.md) of tables and files
* Define [access policies](/products/publisher/access-policies.md)
* Create [Questions](/products/publisher/questions.md)
* [Share](/products/publisher/collections/sharing-a-collection.md) Collection metadata, tables, and files according to the desired access policies

{% hint style="info" %}
Detailed instructions for each step are available in the corresponding sections of the Publisher documentation, accessible through the left-hand navigation menu.
{% endhint %}


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