Why doesn't Oracle provide view only access to their data via forms???

I'll continue to say it... Oracle doesn't have a clue how to build their applications to meet common GRC and internal control requirements. Those that have followed my work for long know my feelings on this topic...

In the traditional forms development standards Oracle has provided organizations with the ability to easily create a custom "read only" form by setting the QUERY_ONLY=Yes parameter. However, in OA framework forms, no equivalent process has been provided. Why not? Because they don't understand how companies have to customize (personalize) the application in the real world.

EVERY form/web page should have an equivalent inquiry form out-of-the-box. Auditors and others in the organization such as Business Analysts need access to such data in Production environments and NOT via Discoverer, OBIEE, or another other ad hoc method.

Thanks for listening to my rants...

Regards,
Jeffrey T. Hare, CPA CISA CIA

The politics of a project and the impact on addressing risks

Just finishing a project where we helped design and implement application security for a global rollout of a manufacturing company. The politics of a project never cease to amaze me and every project has its own unique politics. I’ve seen it all... A well run project takes strategic vision and the proper leadership to support all the objectives. More often than not, a project is well supported from an operational perspective, but does not have the same level of support or leadership when it comes to security and controls. This is why using a firm independent form the system integrator is so important. Without a proper understanding of the risks involved in implementing the applications from a project as a whole or an individual element such as application security, management is running blind. In many cases, management does not have the experience or expertise in implementing ERP systems, in general, or the specific ERP system. Having both types of knowledge is critical to being able to effectively manage a project.
All too often, the bidding process for system integrators lends to the ‘get it done on time and on budget’ and ‘to hell’ with things like properly designed security or implementing proper internal controls PRIOR to go live. Without strong project leadership, often proper security and controls never gets implemented because post-go-live funding is difficult to attain because the ‘core’ project is over-time and over-budget.
I suspect this blog may hit a few nerves and am looking forward to any comments.

Big 4 - copyright violations...

Interesting start to the morning... I am working with a company helping them to evaluate their "SOD" rules. They initially had their Oracle GRC software installed and configured by a large firm that does a lot of outsourced internal auditing. In about 2 hours work I showed them that this firm's rules recommended to the customer were complete crap - failing to understand risk in the applications (and outside the applications as well) and the functions that related to the risks.

Their external auditors ( a firm that begins w/ a "P") reviewed my comments. This audit firm verbatim copied from my risk assessment content (that is copyrighted). Here is part of the verbiage they used in their response to the client "Enter Suppliers vs. Enter AP Payments: Access to enter suppliers allows a user the ability to enter a supplier, including the setting up of a fictitious supplier. It also allows a user to override system level tolerances that are set in Payables Options - tolerances related to Qtr Ordered, Qty Received, Tax, and Price. In Oracle, you cannot make a payment to a supplier without first entering an invoice so this risk is minimized unless someone with this access can approve an invoice outside the system..."

It seems even some of the large audit firms have no respect for copyrights. Charles Caleb Colton said "Imitation is the best form of flattery." The least thing my imitators can do is change the language to make it their own.

As I continue to emphasize to clients and prospects, if your consulting partner fails to perform a proper risk assessment process, whatever tool you implement will fail to meet your objectives leading to a failure to get a proper ROI on your investment. Perhaps an idea for another webinar...

Another example of Oracle not focusing on Best Practices

Look at Metalink Note 227010.1. This note is for "Script to check for Default Passwords being used for some common usernames."

Why just 'common' usernames? Why not all usernames? Why can't they maintain this document and the related test scripts for all known usernames? Would it be so difficult to put into their development QA process to update this document when a new schema is added or another type of default database user is added? It is ironic that this script published doesn't even take into account all the usernames suggested to monitor in their own "Best Practices" document - 189367.1 and 403537.1 which aren't being maintained (reference earlier blog).

Yet another example... Oracle, where is your Norman?

Oracle needs to focus on Best Practices

Arggghhh.... Look at Metalink Note 403537.1 - Best Practices for Securing Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12. It was last updated February 27, 2007. Yes... that is not a typo - 2007. The last update to this document was over three years ago. Is it possible that nothing has changed or nothing needed to be added to this document in over three years? Hardly the case. A lot has changed since then. New products have been launched and many new features have been added to existing applications. That SHOULD mean that new recommendations need to be added to the document - two obvious ones are new seeded database users and new seeded application users. We at ERP Risk Advisors have identified 10 new seeded application users {see Internal Controls Repository (for end users only) at: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/oracleappsinternalcontrols/) for more on this topic}.

If Oracle is going to produce a best practices document it needs to maintain the document or provide a caveat stating that the document is a sampling of best practices that should not be relied upon as a comprehensive list. Just my two cents...

Email me with comments at jhare@erpra.net.

Regards,
Jeffrey T. Hare, CPA CISA CIA
ERP Risk Advisors / ERP Seminars
www.erpseminars.com
www.erpra.net

Where is Oracle's Norman?

I am an avid user of LinkedIn, having amassed over 1700 connections, I host two groups (Oracle GRC and Oracle ERP Auditors), and am a member of several other groups including a group on GRC and a group hosted by the IIA. I have bumped into several posts from Norman Marks whose title is "Vice President, GRC at SAP BusinessObjects division." Norman is an advocate for GRC best practices and regularly blogs on the topic on LinkedIn, the IIA site and other.

SAP has clearly invested in this man. Go do your thing. Go promote GRC best practices. Go be an expert... knowing that the reputation this builds for SAP as a thought leader is priceless. I am not saying necessarily that SAP GRC's focus is stronger than Oracle's because I don't know SAP software well enough to make a valid comparison. However, it does beg the question... "Where is Oracle's Norman?"

Food for thought...

Regards,
Jeffrey T. Hare, CPA CISA CIA
Industry Analyst.Author.Consultant.Audit Trail Evangelist
Phone: 970-785-6455
Cell: 970-324-1450
Email: jhare@erpseminars.com
Website: www.erpseminars.com
Author of the book “Oracle E-Business Suite Controls: Application Security Best Practices” - buy it at: http://stores.lulu.com/erpseminars
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreythare
Oracle Users Best Practices Board: www.oubpb.com
LinkedIn Oracle GRC group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2017790
LinkedIn Oracle ERP auditors group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2354934
Oracle internal controls and security listserver: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/OracleSox/
Oracle internal controls repository: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/oracleappsinternalcontrols/
Any opinions or advice stated in this e-mail or the attachments thereof do not constitute legal or accounting advice and provide no indemnification from fraud or material misstatements.

Manage Proxies... A great R12 'feature'

Manage Proxies is new functionality that allows delegation of security to another user. Whereas Worklist Access and Vacation Rules are a delegation of approval authority, Manage Proxies is a complete delegation of security to another user.

Fortunately, The Manage Proxies functionality is only available if the Manage Proxies role is granted to the user. This role can only be granted to a user via the User Management module.

The manage proxies functionality is extremely powerful and, therefore, extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, there isn’t any out-of-the-box report (similar to the Users of a Responsibility report) in the User Management module that provides you with a list of users that are assigned roles such as the Manage Proxies role. All inquiry related to the User Management module needs to be custom built.

Manage Proxies in the next in a long list of 'features' that may be a good idea from an operational perspective, but a nightmare from an internal controls perspective, especially without the necessary controls-related monitoring that should could 'standard' with this functionality. Oracle needs to build in the necessary monitoring and auditing requirements into the design of each of their new features. This is one area where they seriously missed the mark. Let's hope they've refined their processes and talent in Fusion Apps.

Regards,
Jeffrey T. Hare, CPA CIA CISA