Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Real Obvious and Red Rake.
Visit any Real Obvious Product page for FAQs about that product.
- All
- Alert
- Clipboard
- General
- Highlight
- Info
- Red Rake
- Trusted AI
- Trusted Pricing
- Trusted Repository Services
- Trusted Software Factory
- Trusted Solutions
- Warning
Real Obvious Trusted Private Artificial Intelligence (AI) simplifies the process to deploy, operate, and maintain AI services on systems owned / managed by your organization.
Trusted Private AI services help businesses protect their most valuable assets – data and intellectual property. Our secure, enterprise-class solutions are built on Zero Trust principles and deploy in isolated enclaves so you can trust that your information is safe.
Trusted
Trusted software, data, services, and system are critical to deploy and operate AI services with a high level of confidence. Real Obvious Trusted Private AI is part of Real Obvious’ Collection of Trusted Solutions which includes Real Obvious’ Trusted Software Factory (TSF). TSF performs Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) on software and data (aka datasets) transitioning these datasets from “untrusted” to “trusted.” The Real Obvious Trusted Repository Services (TRS) stores and distributes datasets in a secure / trusted manner using Real Obvious Trust Certificates (much more than file hashes). Real Obvious’ Trust Enforcement capability is integrated into Real Obvious Trusted Private AI to ensure only trusted software and data are deployed and operated on your systems.
Private
Private systems are systems deployed and operated under your total control. On=premise private systems are under your physical control adding an additional layer of security.
Real Obvious Trusted Software Factory (TSF) provides automated Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) of trusted applications and data.
Real Obvious TSF is a collection of services, processes, procedures, and policies which automate the CI/CD of trusted software applications and data. As part of the Real Obvious Collection of Trusted Solutions, TSF collects, composes, and certifies every aspect of software applications and data to guarantee their trustworthiness.
Real Obvious TSF transitions untrusted open-source software into trusted software, leveraging recognized industry standards and DevSecOps best practices. Real Obvious TSF’s Trust Enforcement detects / quarantines application and data files which do not meet your required level of trust (e.g., scans, AV, CVE, checksums, signatures, manifests, etc…). TSF is designed for critical environments, such as isolated enclaves and private AI services, where security and integrity are paramount. TSF helps organizations safeguard digital assets, address HIPAA / PII compliance requirements, and protect intellectual property.
Real Obvious Trusted Repository Services (TRS) provides storage and transfer of trusted software and data.
Real Obvious TRS is a secure file repository subscription that delivers trusted application and data files. Real Obvious TRS provides Trust Enforcement, versioning, and replication capabilities, ensuring reliability in mission-critical operations. Real Obvious TRS supports public, private, and isolated enclave deployments.
Real Obvious Trust Enforcement blocks access to application and data files which do not meet your required level of trust (e.g., scans, AV, CVE, checksums, signatures, manifests, etc…). With its robust features, Real Obvious TRS is ideal for organizations requiring high-assurance data management, such as those in regulated industries or with sensitive intellectual property. By safeguarding digital assets, Real Obvious TRS helps minimize risk and maintain competitive advantage.
Absolutely. All Real Obvious solutions support self-hosted (your infrastructure) and cloud (Real Obvious hosted) deployments.
Absolutely. All products in the Real Obvious Collection of Trust Solutions were purpose built to ensure trusted operation in an offline environment.
Acquire
Online Environments – The Real Obvious Trusted Software Factory (TSF) acquires software and data (aka datasets), tests / verifies / validates the datasets, transitions datasets from untrusted to trusted, and then publishes the trusted / certified datasets to a Real Obvious managed Trusted Repository Service (TRS) system. Access to the Real Obvious managed TRS service is available to all Real Obvious licensed customers (Internet access required).
Offline Environments – Customers with an Enteprise+ license have the option to run their own private TSF / TRS instances (Internet connection optional).
Transport / Store
Online Environments – The Real Obvious Trusted Repository Services (TRS) facilitates the transfer and storage of trusted datasets between TRS systems. Typically, customers run a self-managed TRS instance which connects to the Real Obvious managed TRS (Internet access required)
Offline Environments – Real Obvious licensed customers run one or more private TRS instances (Internet connection optional)
Operate
Real Obvious Trusted Private AI (AI) services can operate in either an online or offline environment.
Generally, Real Obvious supports all AI software and data which allows for downloading / offline operation. Contact us for details.
Yes. If your IT team has AI expertise then they can deploy AI without using Real Obvious. But will it be trusted and private?
Trusted Checklist
- Where was the software / data acquired from and is the source trust worthy? [provided by Real Obvious TSF]
- Was the software / data acquired perfectly, integrity checked, completeness verified? [provided by Real Obvious TSF]
- Was the software / data scanned, filtered, verified, validated, tested, packaged, and certified? [provided by Real Obvious TSF / Trust Certificates]
- Is malicious / untrusted software / data quarantined? [provided by Real Obvious TSF / Trust Enforcement]
- Can the service be operated safely ensuring malicious / untrusted software / data is quarantined? [provided by Real Obvious Trust Enforcement]
Private Checklist
- Can the service be deployed without Internet connectivity? [provided by Real Obvious TRS / AI]
- Can the service be operated without Internet connectivity? [provided by Real Obvious AI]
- Can the service be maintained / updated without Internet connectivity? [provided by Real Obvious TSF / TRS / AI]
Self Managed Real Obvious Trusted Solutions (AI, TRS, TSF) are licensed on a yearly basis. There are three licensing plans available.
- Business – Operate Trusted Private AI services (chat, image, audio, video, agentic AI, …) on your own systems in the cloud or on-premise.
- Enterprise – Operate highly available / redundant Trusted Private AI services on your own cluster of systems in the cloud or on-premise.
- Enterprise+ – Operate multiple highly available / redundant Trusted Private AI services on your own clusters of systems in a hybrid multi-cloud environment.
To deploy Trusted Private AI services to an isolated enclave the following primary functions need to be addressed:
- Acquire – Continuously download software and data files (aka datasets) from vendors, repositories. Transition the datasets from “untrusted” to “trusted” by scanning, filtering, validating, and testing. Certify and package the dataset. [Real Obvious Trusted Software Factory]
- Store – Securely store certified datasets into a trusted repository. [Real Obvious Trusted Repository Services]
- Transfer – Securely transfer certified datasets ensuring integrity and trust. [Real Obvious Trusted Repository Services]
- Install – Install Trusted Private AI services from certified datasets. [Real Obvious Trusted Private AI]
- Operate – Run Trusted Private AI services. [Real Obvious Trusted Private AI]
- Update – Upgrade and patch Trusted Private AI services. [Real Obvious Trusted Private AI]
Real Obvious Trust Enforcement actively prevents (blocks / quarantines) untrusted software and data from being stored, transferred, installed, or used in operations.
Real Obvious Trust Enforcement can…
- Recognize Datasets
- Determine if a Dataset is…
- Certified (100% integrity / trusted)
- Unsigned (100% integrity / untrusted)
- Invalid (<100% integrity / untrusted)
- Block / quarantine Datasets which are Unsigned / Invalid
- Block / quarantine Datasets which are Certified but which do not meet organizational defined requirements
Real Obvious Trust Enforcement is integrated into the Real Obvious Collection of Trusted Solutions including:
- Real Obvious Trusted Software Factory (TSF)
- Real Obvious Trusted Repository Services (TRS)
- Real Obvious Trusted Private AI (AI)
Note: Real Obvious Trust Enforcement is different than traditional Anti-Virus (AV) protection. While Real Obvious Trust Enforcement leverages AV scan results it does not require running a AV like service (which typically degrades system performance).
Real Obvious Trusted Repository Services (TRS) supports block data storage and Network Attached Storage (NAS) as secure storage for certified datasets.
Real Obvious TRS integrates with GitLab, Huggingface, JFrog Artificatory, YUM, and more.
Yes. A Real Obvious Enterprise+ license is required to deploy and operate a self managed Real Obvious Trusted Software Factory instance (on-premise, cloud, hybrid cloud, or hybrid multi-cloud configurations).
Once a license has expired, all systems assigned to that license are unable to access Real Obvious Certified Dataset Updates, and are unable to download software updates.
Note: Deployed systems running Real Obvious Trusted Solution licensed software will continue to operate with a lapsed license.
Yes. Business and Enterprise licenses can be acquired at any time to replace a lapsed license.
Contact Real Obvious to renew a lapsed Enterprise+ license.
A Dataset is either a folder or a file…
- Dataset Folder – The collection of all files and sub-folders within the folder
- Dataset File – An individual file (typically a tar or zip)
A Certified Dataset includes…
- Dataset Folder / File
- Real Obvious Trust Certificate
Real Obvious Trust Certificates are…
- Created by Real Obvious Trusted Software Factory (TSF)
- Stored with the Dataset Folder / File
- A folder (.ro) or file (.ro_trust)
- A fingerprint of the Dataset (manifest, hashes, scan results / score, certificate hash, and more)
- Digitally signed by a Real Obvious Trusted Certificate Authority
Real Obvious Trust Enforcement can…
- Recognize Datasets
- Determine if a Dataset is…
- Certified (100% integrity / trusted)
- Unsigned (100% integrity / untrusted)
- Invalid (<100% integrity / untrusted)
- Block / quarantine Datasets which are Unsigned / Invalid
- Block / quarantine Datasets which are Certified but which do not meet organizational defined requirements
A Real Obvious Trust Certificate is used to verify the integrity and authenticity of a Dataset (a folder of files or just one file).
Real Obvious Trust Certificates are…
- Created by Real Obvious Trusted Software Factory (TSF)
- Stored with the Dataset Folder / File
- A folder (.ro) or file (.ro_trust)
- A fingerprint of the Dataset (manifest, hashes, scan results / score, certificate hash, and more)
- Digitally signed by a Real Obvious Trusted Certificate Authority
Real Obvious Trust Certificates are used by…
- Certified Datasets
- Real Obvious Trust Enforcement
Real Obvious Trust Certificates are integrated into the Real Obvious Collection of Trusted Solutions including:
Real Obvious Info is a MediaWiki Enhancement designed to be installed and used on MediaWiki websites connected to the Internet or operated within isolated enclaves / dark sites.
Real Obvious Warning is a MediaWiki Enhancement designed to be installed and used on MediaWiki websites connected to the Internet or operated within isolated enclaves / dark sites.
Real Obvious Highlight is a MediaWiki Enhancement designed to be installed and used on MediaWiki websites connected to the Internet or operated within isolated enclaves / dark sites.
Compatibility, Simplicity, and Cost.
Compatibility – To ensure the widest possible compatibility across MediaWiki servers, Real Obvious Info is installed as an enhancement (not a plugin). Installing Real Obvious Info is easy as 1-2-3 — Step 1) Upload the info image; Step 2) Update common.css; Step 3) Create the MediaWiki Info Template.
Simplicity – MediaWiki Templates are used to add “Info” messages to a wiki page. Real Obvious Info ensures a common look and feel of Info messages for the MediaWiki site.
Cost – Real Obvious Info is made available free of charge.
Real Obvious Clipboard is a MediaWiki Enhancement designed to be installed and used on MediaWiki websites connected to the Internet or operated within isolated enclaves / dark sites.
Compatibility, Simplicity, and Cost.
Compatibility – To ensure the widest possible compatibility across MediaWiki servers, Real Obvious Warning is installed as an enhancement (not a plugin). Installing Real Obvious Warning is easy as 1-2-3 — Step 1) Upload the warning image; Step 2) Update common.css; Step 3) Create the MediaWiki Info Template.
Simplicity – MediaWiki Templates are used to add “Warning” messages to a wiki page. Real Obvious Warning ensures a common look and feel of Warning messages for the MediaWiki site.
Cost – Real Obvious Warning is made available free of charge.
Compatibility, Simplicity, and Cost.
Compatibility – To ensure the widest possible compatibility across browsers and devices, Real Obvious Clipboard uses the clipboardjs open source library to perform the “copy to clipboard” action.
Simplicity – MediaWiki Templates are used to add the “copy to clipboard” capability to a wiki page. A temporary alert message is displayed when a user copies text to the clipboard providing the user feedback / confirmation of the action.
Cost – Real Obvious Clipboard is made available free of charge.
Compatibility, Simplicity, and Cost.
Compatibility – To ensure the widest possible compatibility across MediaWiki servers, Real Obvious Highlight is installed as an enhancement (not a plugin). Installing Real Obvious Highlight is easy as 1 (no 2 or 3) — Step 1) Create the MediaWiki Highlight Template.
Simplicity – MediaWiki Templates are used to add “Highlight” of text to a wiki page. Real Obvious Highlight ensures a common look and feel of Highlighted text for the MediaWiki site.
Cost – Real Obvious Highlight is made available free of charge.
Real Obvious Alert is a MediaWiki Enhancement designed to be installed and used on MediaWiki websites connected to the Internet or operated within isolated enclaves / dark sites.
Compatibility, Simplicity, and Cost.
Compatibility – To ensure the widest possible compatibility across MediaWiki servers, Real Obvious Alert is installed as an enhancement (not a plugin). Installing Real Obvious Alert is easy as 1-2-3 — Step 1) Upload the alert image; Step 2) Update common.css; Step 3) Create the MediaWiki Alert Template.
Simplicity – MediaWiki Templates are used to add “Alert” messages to a wiki page. Real Obvious Alert ensures a common look and feel of Alert messages for the MediaWiki site.
Cost – Real Obvious Alert is made available free of charge.
Nothing. Real Obvious Clipboard is provided free of charge.
Nothing. Real Obvious Info is provided free of charge.
Here is how Real Obvious Clipboard works…
Page Viewer – The visitor clicks “Copy” and the designated text (and formatting + images) is copied to their clipboard.
Page Editor – Copy to clipboard is added to a page using standard MediaWiki Templates “{{Clipboard|…}}”
Wiki Admin – Copy to clipboard is installed by updating common.css, common.js, uploading an image, and creating the Clipboard template.
Nothing. Real Obvious Warning is provided free of charge.
This is a MediaWiki Enhancement to simplify the process of installation and to improve compatibility with various versions of MediaWiki.
Nothing. Real Obvious Highlight is provided free of charge.
The unique id is used to find the text to be copied. This allows multiple “copy to clipboard” links on a page. This also allows the separation of the “copy to clipboard” link(s) from the text to be copied.
Here is how Real Obvious Info works…
Page Viewer – Info messages are displayed embedded in wiki pages to the viewer.
Page Editor – An Info message is added to a page using standard MediaWiki Templates “{{Info|…}}”
Wiki Admin – Real Obvious Info is installed by updating common.css, uploading an image, and creating the Info template.
Here is how Real Obvious Warning works…
Page Viewer – Warning messages are displayed embedded in wiki pages to the viewer.
Page Editor – A Warning message is added to a page using standard MediaWiki Templates “{{Warning|…}}”
Wiki Admin – Real Obvious Warning is installed by updating common.css, uploading an image, and creating the Info template.
Here is how Real Obvious Highlight works…
Page Viewer – Highlighted text is displayed embedded in wiki pages to the viewer.
Page Editor – Highlighted text is added to a page using standard MediaWiki Templates “{{Highlight|…}}”
Wiki Admin – Real Obvious Highlight is installed by creating the Highlight template.
Nothing. Real Obvious Alert is provided free of charge.
Here is how Real Obvious Alert works…
Page Viewer – Alert messages are displayed embedded in wiki pages to the viewer.
Page Editor – An Alert message is added to a page using standard MediaWiki Templates “{{Alert|…}}”
Wiki Admin – Real Obvious Alert is installed by updating common.css, uploading an image, and creating the Alert template.
This is a MediaWiki Enhancement to simplify the process of installation and to improve compatibility with various versions of MediaWiki.
Yes. To ensure quality, all submissions are reviewed by Red Rake.
Visit the Red Rake – Contact Us web page for details on how to contact Red Rake and submit your changes.
Real Obvious products were first introduced in 2001. Real Obvious products are in use by…
- Commercial / Technology Companies
- Government / Federal / DoD Agencies
- Non-Profit Organizations
Real Obvious Solutions are developed, delivered, and supported by Red Rake.
Red Rake provides consulting services, intellectual property, and investments to businesses.
Red Rake helps businesses succeed by leveraging technology in time-proven and innovative ways. Working together with clients, Red Rake helps them Dream, Design, and Deploy compelling new business opportunities.
Real Obvious is a marketing brand name used by Red Rake (a company) to develop, deliver, and support a collection of software products and solutions.
- Red Rake = Company
- Real Obvious = Products