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Security Checkpoints

The purpose with security checkpoints is to provide extra security in a specific function, method or business flow. With an activated security checkpoint on a function the current user will have to re-authenticate in order to fulfill the function. Additionally, whenever a security checkpoint is successfully passed a security checkpoint log is written, creating an audit trail of what was done.

Security Checkpoint simplified flow chart

Security Checkpoint is designed for prevent this attack scenario:

  • A malicious person, Mallory, is walking around the office, looking for unlocked workstations to abuse.
  • Mallory finds an unlocked workstation running a IFS Cloud client.
  • Mallory attempts to perform malicious actions, such as authorizing a false invoices in order to commit fraud.

If Security Checkpoint is enabled for specific business flows, Mallory cannot perform these actions without authenticating (i.e. entering correct password) as the logged on user. Therefore these fraudulent attempts will be terminated.

User interfaces

The Security Checkpoint user interfaces are designed to allow the user to approve an transaction, or optionally cancel it. To approve it, the user need to enter username and password. Important features to this interface includes;

Default user interface components

Username - The username is with default settings filled in with the user's username. It is also possible to configure Security Checkpoint so the user always need to retype the username. No other username than the current user's username will be accepted.

Password - Password authentication is the default authentication scheme for Security Checkpoint. Because the end user knows the username of the logged on user, the end user can be assumed to be the same as the logged on user, with a reasonable amount of assurance.

Comment - This field allows users to comment transactions they know might look strange to auditors; which ideally will reduce auditors need to investigate legitimate transactions and be quicker to single out the actually illegitimate transactions in the Security Checkpoint audit logs.

OK button - The OK button is pressed when the Security Checkpoint information is properly filled in.

Cancel button - The idea with the cancel button is that this dialog will help users think twice when doing important transactions, and that they might often choose to cancel, recheck entries (and maybe do some changes) and then submit changes again. Also, by offering a cancel button, the user is never faced with the "I'm stuck, I need to approve this whatever it is to get unstuck, now I approve and I don't care what" feeling.

Technical information

Several gates within a single transaction

A Security Checkpoint Gate is only open during a transaction, as soon as one transaction is ended the Security Checkpoint Gate is closed again. If more than one Security Checkpoint Gates are active during one transaction, then only the first one requires authentication by user. That is after first active Security Checkpoint is passed all other gates are open, until the transaction ends.

The Security Checkpoint service can be enabled or disabled using IFS Solution Manager.

Security Checkpoint Gate

A Security Checkpoint Gate consists of two parts, configuration and implementation code.

Configuration

The configuration consists of a unique id, a description and a Security Log message with possibility to add substitution parameters. In the configuration you can activate or inactivate each individual Security Checkpoint Gate.

Implementation code

In order to work a Security Checkpoint Gate must have some implementation code executed in some business flow. If wanted you can use the same Security Checkpoint Gate in many business flows, but this gives you less possibility to auditing or tracing of what have happened in the different business flows.

Security Checkpoint Log

The Security Checkpoint log is where you can trace where any user has passed a Security checkpoint. The log gives you information about who, when and a message about what have passed this Security Checkpoint Gate in a particular business flow.

Security Checkpoint Event

When ever a successful Security Checkpoint occurs a event, called SECURITY_CHECKPOINT_SUCCESS, is executed. This event can be configured to execute specific code, like sending a mail, whenever a successful Security Checkpoint occurs.