---
title: "Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine"
slug: "sitecore-cortex-processing-engine"
abstract: "Overview of Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine supported infrastructure, references, scaling, and privacy and security."
---
# Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine

The Sitecore Cortex™ Processing Engine service performs data processing tasks at scale.

> [!note]
> For information on how to work with and extend the processing engine, see the [Sitecore Experience Platform documentation](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/sitecore-experience-platform/sitecore-cortex-processing-engine.html).

<details>
<summary><h2>Supported infrastructure</h2></summary>

You can host the Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine service on:

- Windows Service
- Azure Web Job

Refer to the [Sitecore compatibility table](https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/087164) for compatible versions.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>Reference structure</h2></summary>

The Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine service has its place in the Sitecore reference structure. It can be referenced by other roles, and it can also reference other roles.

![Illustration showing the Sitecore Cortex™ Processing Engine service's place in the Sitecore reference structure.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/images/Cortex-processing-engine-reference-structure-102.png)

### Referenced by

The Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine service is not referenced by other roles.

### References

The Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine service references the following roles:

#### Storage roles

| Role name | Connection string name | Port | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Processing Storage](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/sitecore-cortex-processing-storage.html) | processing.engine.storage | 1443 | SQL |  |
| [Processing Tasks database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/sitecore-cortex-processing-tasks-database.html) | processing.engine.tasks | 1443 | SQL |  |
| [xDB Reporting database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/xdb-reporting-database.html) | reporting | 1443 | SQL |  |

#### Application roles

| Role name | Connection string name | Port | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [xConnect Collection service](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-collection-service.html) | xconnect.collection | 443 | HTTPS |  |
| [xConnect Collection Search service](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-collection-search-service.html) | xconnect.search | 443 | HTTPS |  |

> [!note]
> Set the xconnect.configuration connection string value to the same value as xconnect.collection. There is no separate configuration service role.

The following client certificates are required in a secure production environment:

| Role | Connection string name | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [xConnect Collection Search service](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-collection-search-service.html) | xconnect.search.certificate | Certificate |  |
| [xConnect Collection service](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-collection-service.html) | xconnect.collection.certificate | Certificate |  |
| [xConnect Collection service](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-collection-service.html) (no separate configuration role) | xconnect.configuration.certificate | Certificate |  |

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>Privacy and security</h2></summary>

The Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine service handles personal data in the following ways:

- Processing workers can read contact and interaction data from an xConnect data source.

</details>