A prominent global retailer needed to bolster its data privacy and compliance capabilities in the face of increasing data security threats. With over 237,000 columns and nearly 11,000 tables in its Customer Information Warehouse, the retailer struggled to monitor, classify, and protect sensitive information effectively. To remain compliant with evolving privacy regulations while minimizing operational costs, the organization required a solution that could identify and categorize sensitive data quickly and establish robust data access controls.

 

Alex provided a comprehensive solution through its automated sensitivity discovery and classification platform, identifying and profiling sensitive data quickly and precisely. Alex’s platform rapidly scanned metadata across thousands of tables and columns, allowing the retailer to identify more than 3,320 sensitive tables and 12,760 sensitive columns in under 15 minutes. This high-speed classification process was powered by specialized connectors that enabled efficient data profiling, significantly reducing manual effort and associated risks of human error. Alex’s automated workflows facilitated the retailer’s efforts to accurately assign data sensitivity levels and apply data access controls in line with corporate policy.

 

Several considerations drove the retailer’s decision to choose Alex. The platform’s ability to scan data at high speed with 99% accuracy provided unmatched value in terms of efficiency and precision. Additionally, Alex’s affordability made it the clear choice in a competitive market where low-cost, scalable solutions are essential. Alex’s automation features allowed the retailer to streamline compliance and data protection processes without incurring the excessive costs associated with other solutions, delivering on functionality and fiscal responsibility.

 

Alex’s implementation unfolded over two primary phases designed to support both immediate data classification and long-term operational governance. In the initial phase, Alex established data sensitivity levels and access controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel could access sensitive information. This was followed by operational governance safeguards, such as data masking and encryption measures, which Alex applied in accordance with the retailer’s security policies to protect sensitive data across all operational environments.

 

Alex’s platform delivered immediate benefits by significantly reducing the time required for data classification, cutting discovery time to under 15 minutes per scan. This efficiency minimized privacy risks through automated access controls and adherence to policy-driven safeguards. The long-term advantages were equally impactful: Alex’s solution decreased the cost and complexity of compliance operations while providing a scalable platform to manage expanding data volumes. The retailer’s data security stance was strengthened, reducing potential exposure to breaches and misuse of sensitive information.

 

Quantitatively, the results were impressive. Alex’s automated system scanned over 237,700 columns and 10,800 tables, accurately identifying 3,320+ sensitive tables and 12,760+ sensitive columns with 99% accuracy. This automation eliminated the need for manual data classification, allowing the retailer to achieve complete classification and compliance within minutes—a significant improvement in both time and cost savings.

 

In summary, Alex’s automated solution equipped the retailer with a fast, accurate, and cost-effective approach to data privacy and compliance. By integrating seamlessly with the retailer’s data environment and providing high-speed classification and governance capabilities, Alex enabled the organization to stay ahead of regulatory requirements, protect sensitive customer information, and operate with greater data security confidence in a complex global landscape.

 

 

Customer Overview

 

• Region: Global

• Industry/Sector: Retail

 

Challenge

 

• Capability Area: Data Privacy, Sensitivity, and Compliance

• Key Pain Points:

  • Managing and classifying over 237,000 columns and nearly 11,000 tables.

  • Identifying sensitive data quickly to meet global privacy regulations.

  • Reducing operational costs associated with manual data discovery and governance.

 

Technologies

 

• AWS Glue

• Amazon Redshift

• Amazon S3

• Databricks

• Power BI

 

Value to the Customer

 

Immediate Benefits:

• Achieved rapid classification of sensitive data, cutting data discovery time to under 15 minutes.

• Minimized data privacy risks through automated access controls and policy-driven safeguards.

 

Long-term Value:

• Reduced compliance costs with a scalable, low-cost solution.

• Strengthened data security posture, reducing the risk of breaches and data misuse.