Hiding Restriction Rules: The ENCRYPT Command

In this section:

How to:

Since the restriction information for a FOCUS data source is stored in its Master File, encrypt the Master File in order to prevent users from examining the restriction rules. Only the Database Administrator can encrypt a description. You must set PASS=DBAname before you issue the ENCRYPT command. The syntax of the ENCRYPT command varies from operating system to operating system.


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Syntax: How to Hide Restriction Rules: ENCRYPT Command
ENCRYPT FILE filename

where:

filename

Is the name of the file to be encrypted.



Example: Encrypting and Decrypting a Master File

The following is an example of the complete procedure:

SET PASS=JONES76
ENCRYPT FILE PERS

The process can be reversed in order to change the restrictions. The command to restore the description to a readable form is DECRYPT.

The DBA password must be issued with the SET command before the file can be decrypted. For example:

SET PASS=JONES76
DECRYPT FILE PERS

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Encrypting Data

You may also use the ENCRYPT parameter within the Master File to encrypt some or all of its segments. When encrypted files are stored on the external media (disk or tape) each is secure from unauthorized examination.

Encryption takes place on the segment level. That is, the entire segment is encrypted. The request for encryption is made in the Master File by setting the attribute ENCRYPT to ON.



Example: Encrypting Data
SEGMENT=COMPSEG, PARENT=IDSEG, SEGTYPE=S1, ENCRYPT=ON,$

You must specify the ENCRYPT parameter before entering any data in the data source. The message NEW FILE... must appear when the encryption is first requested. Encryption cannot be requested later by a change to the Master File and cannot be removed after it has been requested or any data has been entered in the data source.


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Performance Considerations for Encrypted Data

There is a small loss in processing efficiency when data is encrypted. Minimize this loss by grouping the sensitive data fields together on a segment and making them a separate segment of SEGTYPE=U, unique segment, beneath the original segment. For example, suppose the data items on a segment are:

They should be grouped as:

Note: If you change the DBA password, you must issue the RESTRICT command, as described in How to Change a DBA Password.


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Setting a Password Externally

Passwords can also be set automatically by an external security system such as RACF®, CA-ACF2®, or CA-Top Secret®. Passwords issued this way are set when WebFOCUS first enters and may be permanent (that is, not alterable by subsequent SET USER, SET PASS, or -PASS commands). Or they may be default passwords that can be subsequently overridden. The passwords may be permanent for some users, defaults for other users, and not set at all for other users.

The advantage of setting WebFOCUS passwords externally is that the password need not be known by the user, does not require prompting, and does not have to be embedded in a PROFILE FOCEXEC or an encrypted FOCEXEC.

Passwords set this way must match the passwords specified in the Master Files of the data sources being accessed.


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