Securing Oracle EBS with Application Masking: Mage Data’s Solution for a Leading Oil & Gas Company
Introduction
In the dynamic and often risky environment of the oil and gas industry, safeguarding sensitive data is paramount. A prominent exploration and production company in the Middle East, a cornerstone of its nation’s energy sector, faced critical challenges in data protection within their Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS). With a need to prevent insider threats, reduce the risk of data breaches, and enable operations in less secure environments, they turned to Mage Data’s Application Masking solution for a robust, comprehensive security.
The Challenge: Protecting Sensitive Data in a Complex Environment
Operating primarily in the Middle East, this company is a key player in the energy sector, known for leveraging technology to maximize resource extraction while maintaining responsible practices. Their reliance on Oracle EBS for managing crucial finance and HR operations exposed them to several risks.
- Preventing Insider Threats and Accidental Exposure
Employees with access to Oracle EBS required restrictions to view only data pertinent to their roles, especially in HR and finance where sensitive information such as employee names and bank accounts are handled. - Reducing the Risk of Data Breaches via Compromised Credentials
The company needed a safety net against potential breaches resulting from compromised credentials or malicious lateral movements within the organization. - Enabling Operations in Less Secure Environments
There was a necessity to extend limited access to certain environments or contractors without exposing sensitive data, all while ensuring smooth operational continuity.
The Solution: Dynamic Data Masking with Mage Data
Mage Data stepped in with application-level redaction solution. This innovative approach provided dynamic data masking across Oracle EBS, effectively addressing the company’s challenges:
- Comprehensive Masking Implementation:
Utilizing Mage Data’s EBS Intelligence Pack that is offered out of the box, the company swiftly established precise masking policies. This allowed them to identify and secure over 100 sensitive forms across HR and finance modules. By applying dynamic masking rules based on user roles, sensitive data was redacted in real-time without disrupting operations. - Granular Control Over Data Visibility:
Mage Data’s platform supported masking not just at the field level, but also for pages, sub-pages, and lists of values (LOVs). This allowed for granular control over what data was visible, ensuring that only necessary information was accessible to users. - Flexible and Scalable Solution: The solution’s flexibility enabled field-level masking with custom policies for specific fields, which did not affect entire forms. It was designed to scale, supporting enterprise-wide policy management and adaptability to new forms or users seamlessly.
Outcomes: Enhanced Security and Operational Excellence
With Mage Data’s solution, the company achieved significant outcomes that enhanced both security and operational functionality:
- Controlled Data Access in Production
Enforcing the principle of least privilege, users only interacted with data elements necessary for their job functions. This minimized the risk of accidental data exposure by authorized personnel. - Enhanced Data Security and Breach Impact Reduction
Sensitive information such as PII and financial records were shielded from unauthorized exposure, improving compliance and privacy. Even if a breach occurred, compromised data remained redacted, reducing reputational and financial risks significantly.
Conclusion
Mage Data’s application Masking solution empowered the oil and gas company to protect its sensitive data effectively, manage risks, and maintain operational integrity. By dynamically redacting data based on user roles, the company could confidently pursue its business objectives without compromising on security.
