1. A method for retrieving and analyzing data associated with an object from a data source in accordance with a configuration file that specifies the object, an object processor, at least one setting nested within the object, and at least one rule providing instructions for analyzing the data, the method comprising; loading the object processor; dispatching a data source collector associated with the data source; submitting to the data source collector the object and the settings; generating at the data source collector a query formatted for execution at the data source to retrieve the data; and analyzing the retrieved data according to the rules.