> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.siftstack.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Step 1: Understand how Sift organizes telemetry data

## Overview

Before covering the different import options, let's review how Sift organizes time-series data.

## Assets, Channels, and Runs

Sift uses three core building blocks: [Assets](../../documentation/ingest/stream/organize-streamed-data-into-assets-and-runs), [Channels](../../documentation/reference/channels-reference), and [Runs](../../documentation/reference/runs-reference). These building blocks help structure telemetry data, making it easier to explore, analyze, and reuse it across different experiments or observation periods.

* <Icon icon="cube" /> **Assets**: These represent physical or virtual systems that generate data.
* <Icon icon="wave-pulse" /> **Channels**: These represent individual time-series signals recorded from an Asset.
* <Icon icon="stopwatch" /> **Runs**: These represent time windows or observation sessions during which data is collected from one or more Channels.