PeopleSoft is used across thousands of enterprises worldwide. The application integrates core business processes under a single, unified system.
Organizations have dedicated IT teams to oversee the deployment, maintenance, and of course, application security. But, with a system comprised of human resource, financial, and comprehensive business information, what’s the secret to protecting sensitive application data?
Application Access
Safeguarding data against internal attacks, modification, and unauthorized use requires a strong security framework and continuous monitoring.
PeopleSoft applications can handle complex business requirements across multiple departments, but that does not mean access should be a free-for-all.
In most cases, you would not want every department to view or have access to all your applications. Nor would you want every employee in a department to have access to every function.
There needs to be a level of hierarchy. In PeopleSoft, this is done so using three main security definition types.
PeopleSoft Security Definitions Types
- User Profiles
- Roles
- Permission Lists
Every PeopleSoft user is given a user profile. This serves as a unique identifier and maintains security access. User profiles are linked to one or more roles.
Roles are the intermediate objects between user profiles and permission lists. Multiple roles can be assigned to a user profile; and likewise, multiple permission lists can be assigned to a role.
Permission lists are groups of authorizations that are assigned to roles.
Seem straightforward? Unfortunately, managing object security and application data can be anything but.
Challenges of Managing Security
The challenges of controlling access can stem from a number of factors. Sometimes, it’s even the most obvious of reasons – like turnover.
When an organization cycles through DBA and system admins, training gaps can be evident. The constant change can also lead to differing opinions of security best practices. Companies may be tempted to outsource to third-party providers, yet is that only a bandaid to the main issue?
The root of the problem boils down to the overall complexity of PeopleSoft security. Therefore, the only viable solution is to make PeopleSoft security simple.
Simplified Solutions
To better protect sensitive application data in PeopleSoft, you must first know which of your users can access it. If this information is buried in ever-changing roles and permission lists, you can start to see how managing security becomes a challenge.
By seeing the functions authorizations provide, controlling access becomes much easier, even with continuous turnover. It takes the guesswork out of administering security and minimizes granting too much access.
This simplified security framework is made possible with Sentinel. Learn how.
User Access Reviews
Protecting sensitive application data doesn’t just stop there. It involves continuous monitoring and conducting access reviews – regularly.
Audits and access reviews mitigate the risk of a data breach and prevent unauthorized use. It’s seen as an essential part of security, yet somehow still falls to the wayside for many organizations.
If conducting an access review is time-consuming or impacts daily work, it can easily be placed on the backburner.
With Sentinel, access management is easy, readily available, and does not slow down traditional work processes. Managers can review their employee’s roles or privileged access online and in real-time. Plus, alerts to sensitive application data changes are available on-demand.
Ready to start protecting sensitive application data in PeopleSoft? Learn more.
