---
title: "Create the Data Activation Layer"
description: "To get started with Data & Insights you must first activate your Data & Insights configuration. You'll only need to perform this action once as an…"
url: "https://www.contentstack.com/docs/lytics/create-data-activation-layer"
product: "Contentstack"
doc_type: "guide"
audience:
  - developers
  - admins
version: "current"
last_updated: "2026-08-04"
---

# Create the Data Activation Layer

To get started with Data & Insights you must first activate your Data & Insights configuration. You'll only need to perform this action once as an organization Admin and depending on the age of your account may have been performed automatically for you.

### 1\. Access Organization Administration

From the app switcher at the upper right or lower left for older accounts click on Administration to access Org Admin.

![](https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt2d43f51baca745a8/am25ea2f6511b24475/9f386f06b218b2c337e908fa/6dd62fece30c69f760c2e0bfc0e64d2b56afef31d2f978b77e6f8f1c1dc518b3-image.png)

### 2\. Access Data & Insights Configuration

From there, select Data Activation Layer to access your organization level DAL management area.

![](https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt2d43f51baca745a8/am2df09ff459a8db9a/7ccdefe51ec4860821b0cabe/daed33dbf1400171c501071cca6f0ce0e240c7c5e7d8db7deee1619807c64844-image.png)

### 3\. Set up Data & Insights

If this is your first time, you'll be presented with a Set Up Data & Insights screen. This connects your Contentstack org to your new Data & Insights org. Simply press New Data & Insights Configuration and follow the prompts.

![](https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt2d43f51baca745a8/am4bf1c60bea4465aa/2405e22ca21082dfdc8f193c/4671774282eba5f014f3b2d9be2cd4990fcfd3d944f35a549ce8a76e15f2f3e1-image.png)

### 4\. Configure your Data & Insights

You'll be presented with a series of inputs from the slide out at the right.

Input

Description

**Title**

This title will be used to create your Data & Insights instance. Pick a name that best represents your org — it’ll stay fixed once set.

**Domain**

Enter the domain (e.g. mysite.com) of the site on which you plan to install the Data & Insights tag. This can be changed later but it is best to be accurate as it will simplify the initial setup.

**Connect Projects**

Data & Insights provides insights and additional functionality across a range of your existing Contentstack products. Here you'll choose which of those instances you'd like tied to your new DAL. As a best practice we recommend linking instances for "development", "staging" and "production".

**CMS Stacks**

Which Stacks would you like to associate with Data & Insights? This will impact how content is synced, classified, and ultimately associated with your end consumers.

**Launch Projects**

Which Launch project you'd like to associate with Data & Insights. This will impact what JavaScript tag is installed, be it manually or via the Launch integration.

**Personalize Projects**

Which Personalize project should be synced with your Data & Insights managed audiences and customer profiles. This will impact how you can personalize the experience for your end consumers in real-time.

![](https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt2d43f51baca745a8/am08024eb8e14759ad/178acbafbc2b0517b6254246/9abc046a0f84b5969a267fee3ba1bd401b29855463e024debaef3b40ff934f8e-image.png)

### 5\. Create Lytics Account

Your DAL is powered by Lytics. In most cases you'll get started by selecting the "Create a New Lytics Account" option. In some cases, you may already have a Lytics account, in which case you can simply select it and "Save".

![](https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt2d43f51baca745a8/am5eb04ce82b9632ce/445554d972cd752057cd7f86/b5edf6e40911b9575951c62e53caaf99a99dfa3e69253a48e88293aab3dd7325-image.png)

🎉 That's it. You've configured your organization to access Data & Insights. Go on to the next section where we'll configure your Data & Insights to get the most out of every customer interaction.