Business Process Management (BPM) in Epicor® is a powerful way to automate logic, enforce rules, and enhance data quality. But poorly secured BPMs can expose your ERP environment to serious risks — from unauthorized actions to data leakage and compliance violations. Whether you’re a system admin or IT decision-maker, understanding how to secure BPMs is critical to protecting your business operations.
In this post, Epicforce Tech shares essential, field-tested security tips to help you build and maintain secure Epicor® BPMs — without compromising on usability or performance.
1. Follow the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)
One of the most overlooked aspects of BPM security is access control. Ensure that BPMs only execute actions that the initiating user is authorized to perform. Avoid using high-privilege user accounts for BPM logic unless absolutely necessary.
Tips:
- Map BPM roles to Epicor® user groups carefully
- Audit privileges for BPM-triggered actions
- Avoid hardcoding admin users in custom logic
2. Secure External Calls and Integrations
BPMs often include custom code that interacts with external systems via REST APIs, SQL connections, or webhooks. These external calls can be exploited if not secured properly.
Best practices:
- Use encrypted connections (HTTPS, SSL)
- Store API keys and credentials in secure encrypted locations, not in plain BPM code
- Validate all inputs and responses from external systems
3. Implement Input Validation and Sanitization
Untrusted input — whether from users, external systems, or imported files — can pose a serious security risk if it’s processed directly inside BPMs.
What to do:
- Validate all user inputs before they enter BPM logic
- Use regex or Epicor® functions to clean data
- Sanitize strings to avoid code injection or formatting exploits
4. Use Custom Code Blocks with Caution
While custom C# code in BPMs allows flexible logic, it also opens doors to security vulnerabilities if not written and reviewed properly.
Secure coding checklist:
- Avoid unnecessary use of reflection or file I/O
- Log only necessary details, avoid PII
- Perform regular code reviews
- Use try-catch blocks to handle exceptions securely
Epicforce Tech strongly recommends that any custom BPM code be reviewed against internal security guidelines or by an experienced Epicor® consultant.
5. Audit BPM Activity Regularly
Security isn’t a one-time task. Build ongoing monitoring into your Epicor® BPM lifecycle.
Recommended audits:
- Track changes to BPM workflows or directives
- Use Epicor® audit logs to monitor who triggered what
- Schedule monthly reviews for dormant or overly complex BPMs
This helps identify suspicious patterns or legacy scripts that could become attack vectors.
6. Apply Role-Based Conditions in BPM Logic
Design BPMs that adapt to user roles. This not only improves user experience but prevents unauthorized actions from being performed unintentionally.
Examples:
- Limit financial overrides to users in specific roles
- Block critical transactions from non-manager accounts
- Apply tiered approval logic based on user access level
Role-based security in BPMs helps enforce organizational policies without relying solely on user training.
7. Disable or Archive Unused BPMs
Dormant or test BPMs that remain active can introduce unpredictable behavior or be exploited unintentionally.
Steps to take:
- Maintain a BPM inventory document
- Clearly label test BPMs
- Use the disable function instead of deleting so you preserve history but reduce risk
8. Protect Sensitive Data in BPMs
BPMs can read and write to multiple data sources in Epicor®. If not handled properly, this could expose sensitive information to unauthorized users or logs.
Best practices:
- Mask or omit confidential fields in BPM-generated messages
- Avoid logging personal data or financial figures
- Encrypt fields when exporting or transferring data
Epicforce Tech helps clients implement compliance-aligned BPMs that support industry regulations such as GDPR and SOX.
9. Use Secure Exception Handling
Without structured exception handling, errors in BPMs can reveal system paths, expose sensitive logic, or crash critical workflows.
Use structured exception blocks that:
- Catch and log errors without halting execution
- Avoid detailed error outputs to end-users
- Escalate critical failures to the right team or log destination
10. Maintain BPM Documentation and Version Control
Untracked or undocumented BPMs are a serious risk, especially during ERP upgrades, audits, or staff changes.
Documentation should include:
- Purpose and scope of the BPM
- Triggering modules and conditions
- User access roles
- Known risks or overrides
Use version tags or naming conventions to manage changes safely and trace updates.
11. Conduct Security Reviews During ERP Upgrades
Every major Epicor® upgrade may affect BPM compatibility or security posture. Even minor version changes can impact how BPMs execute.
Security checklist before go-live:
- Re-test all mission-critical BPMs
- Review new modules or tables introduced in upgrades
- Update custom code to match new SDKs
Epicforce Tech provides upgrade-readiness reviews that focus specifically on BPM integrity and security resilience.
12. Train Teams on BPM Awareness
Even the most secure BPM won’t help if users misunderstand how it works. Ensure your Epicor® users and developers receive ongoing training about BPM usage and governance.
Training ideas:
- Internal security briefings for Epicor® teams
- Scenario-based examples of secure/unsafe BPMs
- Access management policies for BPM editing
Conclusion: Build a Security-First BPM Strategy with Epicforce Tech
Epicor® BPMs offer unmatched power to enforce business logic across your ERP environment — but they must be secured with the same diligence as any enterprise application.
From access controls to input validation and upgrade reviews, securing BPMs is not a one-time fix. It’s an evolving part of your ERP governance strategy.
At Epicforce Tech, we help organizations build, review, and secure their Epicor® BPM implementations aligning automation with compliance and performance.
Ready to Secure Your Epicor® BPMs?
Speak to an Epicor® security expert at Epicforce Tech for a free consultation or code review.
(888) 280-5585
info@epicforcetech.com
Explore our Epicor® BPM services