North Dakota needed to secure sensitive PeopleSoft data and boost visibility into user activity. With Pathlock, they added masking, MFA, and logging to protect payroll and streamline audits.
Gaps in Native PeopleSoft Security Left Sensitive Data Exposed
North Dakota’s IT and security teams were tasked with strengthening protections around employee and third-party data in PeopleSoft. Native features didn’t provide the data masking, access logging, or network-based controls they needed. Personally identifiable information (PII) was visible to more users than necessary; login logs lacked transactional detail, and high-risk pages, such as banking and payroll, couldn’t be properly secured outside the corporate network.
Field-Level Masking, Transaction Logging, and Network-Aware Controls with Pathlock
To address the existing security gaps, the state deployed Pathlock Native for PeopleSoft across its Human Capital Management (HCM), Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM), and Enterprise Learning Management (ELM) systems. This implementation included several key features designed to enhance data protection and security.
First, they introduced field-level data masking equipped with “click-to-view” functionality for privileged users. This enhancement allows authorized personnel to access sensitive data while maintaining comprehensive audit trails of all data interactions. Additionally, they established location-based security measures to block access to banking pages from outside the state’s network, ensuring that multifactor authentication (MFA) is enforced for remote self-service users.
Furthermore, the integration provided granular logging capabilities that enable tracking of user activity at the transaction level, categorized by user role, such as recruiters and payroll administrators. This segmentation facilitates streamlined audits and strengthens accountability. Notably, the integration also functioned seamlessly with SafeNet, the state’s existing two-factor authentication (2FA) provider, enhancing overall security without disrupting current operations.
Stronger Data Protection, Seamless MFA, and Streamlined Audits Across Systems
With Pathlock, North Dakota tightened access to payroll data and defended against threats like payroll diversion, all while minimizing disruptions to day-to-day user needs. Audit teams now have complete transaction logs to investigate suspicious activity. By layering visibility, access controls, and user-based authentication, the state enhanced security across both employee and supplier workflows.
Cybersecurity is a priority for the State, and Pathlock’s solution enabled us to enhance our security posture, providing even stronger safeguards for our critical systems and personnel data while offering greater visibility for administrators into transaction-level details.
