J
Jessica Malakian
Guest
The Progress OpenEdge platform features a variety of advanced security features designed to help organizations fortify themselves against breaches and strengthen robust data protection. Having these features is important as cyberattacks become increasingly frequent and sophisticated. Hackers exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software versions to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive data and disrupt business operations. The financial and reputational damage from a data breach can be catastrophic, potentially costing millions of dollars and irreparably harming your brand’s reputation.
Because of these risks, regulatory bodies worldwide are imposing stricter data protection laws. Compliance with regulations such as GDPR, LGPD and HIPAA is not optional, as failure to comply can result in hefty fines and legal repercussions.
By not upgrading your OpenEdge applications to fully supported versions, you may lack security capabilities that support these stringent requirements, putting your organization at risk of non-compliance.
As the latest OpenEdge version, OpenEdge 12.8 has features, tools and capabilities built to strengthen the security posture within your mission-critical business applications and support risk mitigation. Some of the top features include:
Dynamic Data Masking, or DDM, helps protect sensitive data by masking it from unauthorized users while keeping the data unchanged in the database. This reduces the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. DDM allows for different levels of data visibility based on user roles and permissions. This means that sensitive data can be masked for most users while remaining accessible to those with the necessary authorization. DDM supports efforts to align with regulatory requirements, such as GDPR and HIPAA, by keeping sensitive information from being exposed to unauthorized users. By masking sensitive data, DDM minimizes the risk of data exposure during activities like software testing, sales demos or user training.
Transparent Data Encryption, or TDE, encrypts sensitive data at rest, helping reduce the risk of unauthorized access and breaches. This is crucial for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the data. By encrypting at-rest data, TDE minimizes the risk of data theft or loss, which can have severe financial and reputational consequences for the organization. TDE is also designed to be transparent to applications, meaning it does not require significant changes to existing systems or workflows. This allows for seamless integration and minimal disruption to business operations. In a market where data breaches are increasingly common, having strong data encryption measures in place can support a proactive approach to data security.
External Security Administration Manager, or ESAM, enables administrators to manage security policies across multiple OpenEdge environments in a consistent and centralized manner, reducing complexity and potential gaps in security. By operating independently of OpenEdge code and configurations, ESAM provides governance without requiring changes to existing applications or environments, minimizing disruption and deployment effort. The default always-on policy enforcement supports consistent application of security policies, promoting efforts to reduce vulnerabilities from misconfigurations or oversight. ESAM policies are designed to align application runtime practices with corporate and security requirements, helping organizations meet regulatory and internal compliance standards. As a flexible and external manager, ESAM supports evolving security needs and can scale with an organization’s infrastructure, allowing for longevity and relevance.
For a deep dive into each of these features, read the whitepaper.
The cost of a data breach can be staggering. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million—up about 10% from the prior year. This includes direct costs such as legal fees, fines and remediation efforts—plus indirect costs like lost business and loss of trust. Investing in a migration to the latest OpenEdge platform version is a fraction of this cost and can reduce the risk of these devastating financial losses.
A data breach can severely damage your organization’s reputation. Customers and partners expect their data to be protected, and a breach can erode trust and confidence. Rebuilding a tarnished reputation can take years and significant resources. By proactively migrating to a more secure OpenEdge version, you demonstrate a commitment to data security and help uphold your brand’s integrity.
Progress OpenEdge 12.8 offers an expansive suite of features designed to protect enterprise applications and data. This includes our Advanced Security Package , which features DDM, TDE, Hardware Security Module (HSM) and JSON Web Encryption (JWE). Alternatively, the TDE feature is included in the OpenEdge Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) Advanced Enterprise Edition (AEE).
The security posture of your business applications is not something to be taken lightly. The risks associated with outdated software are just too great to ignore. Migrating your OpenEdge applications to the latest version is not just a technical upgrade—it is a strategic imperative that helps reduce your exposure to cyberthreats, supports efforts toward regulatory alignment and aids in equipping your business for the future.
Don’t wait for a breach to happen. Act now to bolster your application security posture and support your organization’s resilience in the future.
Read the whitepaper to learn more.
Continue reading...
Because of these risks, regulatory bodies worldwide are imposing stricter data protection laws. Compliance with regulations such as GDPR, LGPD and HIPAA is not optional, as failure to comply can result in hefty fines and legal repercussions.
By not upgrading your OpenEdge applications to fully supported versions, you may lack security capabilities that support these stringent requirements, putting your organization at risk of non-compliance.
Key Security Features in OpenEdge 12.8
As the latest OpenEdge version, OpenEdge 12.8 has features, tools and capabilities built to strengthen the security posture within your mission-critical business applications and support risk mitigation. Some of the top features include:
Dynamic Data Masking (DDM)
Dynamic Data Masking, or DDM, helps protect sensitive data by masking it from unauthorized users while keeping the data unchanged in the database. This reduces the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. DDM allows for different levels of data visibility based on user roles and permissions. This means that sensitive data can be masked for most users while remaining accessible to those with the necessary authorization. DDM supports efforts to align with regulatory requirements, such as GDPR and HIPAA, by keeping sensitive information from being exposed to unauthorized users. By masking sensitive data, DDM minimizes the risk of data exposure during activities like software testing, sales demos or user training.
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
Transparent Data Encryption, or TDE, encrypts sensitive data at rest, helping reduce the risk of unauthorized access and breaches. This is crucial for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the data. By encrypting at-rest data, TDE minimizes the risk of data theft or loss, which can have severe financial and reputational consequences for the organization. TDE is also designed to be transparent to applications, meaning it does not require significant changes to existing systems or workflows. This allows for seamless integration and minimal disruption to business operations. In a market where data breaches are increasingly common, having strong data encryption measures in place can support a proactive approach to data security.
External Security Administration Manager (ESAM)
External Security Administration Manager, or ESAM, enables administrators to manage security policies across multiple OpenEdge environments in a consistent and centralized manner, reducing complexity and potential gaps in security. By operating independently of OpenEdge code and configurations, ESAM provides governance without requiring changes to existing applications or environments, minimizing disruption and deployment effort. The default always-on policy enforcement supports consistent application of security policies, promoting efforts to reduce vulnerabilities from misconfigurations or oversight. ESAM policies are designed to align application runtime practices with corporate and security requirements, helping organizations meet regulatory and internal compliance standards. As a flexible and external manager, ESAM supports evolving security needs and can scale with an organization’s infrastructure, allowing for longevity and relevance.
For a deep dive into each of these features, read the whitepaper.
The Cost of Inaction
The cost of a data breach can be staggering. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million—up about 10% from the prior year. This includes direct costs such as legal fees, fines and remediation efforts—plus indirect costs like lost business and loss of trust. Investing in a migration to the latest OpenEdge platform version is a fraction of this cost and can reduce the risk of these devastating financial losses.
A data breach can severely damage your organization’s reputation. Customers and partners expect their data to be protected, and a breach can erode trust and confidence. Rebuilding a tarnished reputation can take years and significant resources. By proactively migrating to a more secure OpenEdge version, you demonstrate a commitment to data security and help uphold your brand’s integrity.
What’s Next?
Progress OpenEdge 12.8 offers an expansive suite of features designed to protect enterprise applications and data. This includes our Advanced Security Package , which features DDM, TDE, Hardware Security Module (HSM) and JSON Web Encryption (JWE). Alternatively, the TDE feature is included in the OpenEdge Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) Advanced Enterprise Edition (AEE).
The security posture of your business applications is not something to be taken lightly. The risks associated with outdated software are just too great to ignore. Migrating your OpenEdge applications to the latest version is not just a technical upgrade—it is a strategic imperative that helps reduce your exposure to cyberthreats, supports efforts toward regulatory alignment and aids in equipping your business for the future.
Don’t wait for a breach to happen. Act now to bolster your application security posture and support your organization’s resilience in the future.
Read the whitepaper to learn more.
Continue reading...