When you hear ‘data privacy’ or ‘security software’, you might picture complicated technical specifications and screens full of ABAP code. At EPI-USE Labs, the reality behind our Data Secure™ product is much more than that: a group of developers who view their work as more than just programming software. It’s all about problem-solving, listening closely to our clients, and experiencing the quiet satisfaction of building dependable technology which works in the real world.
When you hear ‘data privacy’ or ‘security software’, you might picture complicated technical specifications and screens full of ABAP code. At EPI-USE Labs, the reality behind our Data Secure™ product is much more than that: a group of developers who view their work as more than just programming software. It’s all about problem-solving, listening closely to our clients, and experiencing the quiet satisfaction of building dependable technology which works in the real world.
I recently sat down with two of our group of specialist Data Secure developers – Christian Devraj, Software Engineer II, and Andries Breedt, Senior Software Engineer and Engineering Lead for Data Secure – to discuss the personal drive behind their technical roles, and what makes their work meaningful.
For Christian and Andries, the professional reward of developing Data Secure comes from seeing their work create tangible benefits for organisations; making a positive contribution that extends past a desk and a laptop screen:
"It can sometimes feel like faceless code," admits Christian, "but there’s an actual commercial side to what we’re doing. We’re making a difference to our users, and it’s genuinely rewarding to see that difference being made in business."
Andries emphasises the intellectual satisfaction of integration. Data Secure is deeply integrated with other EPI-USE Labs products in the Data Sync Manager (DSM) and Data Privacy for SAP Suites, and its core technologies are very versatile.
"The most rewarding part for me is to not just develop something novel, but how that novel piece of technology can contribute to existing solutions that are well-established and being used in everyday transactions," says Andries. "It's about enhancing those solutions with something new that you've created."
This approach to the development of the product allows the developers to pivot creatively; for example, taking the engine originally designed for data privacy, and successfully applying it to complex System Landscape Optimisation (SLO) projects.
The typical image of a developer executing mundane, desk-bound tasks doesn't necessarily align with their day-to-day reality. Because Data Secure operates in highly customisable SAP environments, providing support to clients, solving tickets and innovating is possibly more comparable to an investigation:
"We’re collecting and solving clues all the time," says Christian. "Most of the challenges are because SAP systems are highly configurable. We always have to do a bit of investigative work... just to see what’s happening on the client’s side. No two problems are the same!”
As Andries explains, Data Secure must be designed to work under wildly different circumstances.
"A lot of our development principles can't follow specific examples," he notes. “The complexity means that while automated tools help with standard patterns, the crucial decisions about how and where to apply them (the strategy, the context and the deep analysis) require experienced human judgment.”
This sustained focus on both analysing and adapting has shaped Data Secure over time; with the product being described as a ‘dependable character’ that is reliable and trustworthy.
The unique ways in which our clients use Data Secure often provide Andries and Christian with some of the most valuable insights for product evolution. Christian frequently notices clients interacting with the software in ways that weren’t initially anticipated:
"That's very interesting for me. It's just a really big difference in perspective... I think that's how we are improving the software – by gaining insights from and engaging closely with the clients."
This direct engagement drives tangible changes. As Andries explains, when they notice recurring inconsistencies in how the product is used, they often update the standard delivered configuration to reflect real-world practice more closely:
"We use these issues and the things we're made aware of as an iterative feedback loop to improve the efficiency and delivery of the software."
"To design with empathy means to always leave room for the client... to understand their point of view, their needs, and their requirements," adds Christian.
The development outlook for Data Secure is focused on continuous innovation and expansion, with the introduction of new auditing features, including masking statistics, which provide granular transparency and build client confidence in the data processing.
A big undertaking is the Data Secure Cloud initiative, currently in client trials. This project focuses on consistent and connected masking across various enterprise systems, even beyond the SAP scope.
"If Bob becomes John on SAP, Bob will become John on Salesforce as well, for example," explains Andries. This work is paving the way for Data Secure to also become a standalone cloud application, extending its reach beyond the SAP environment and integrating modern technical capabilities.
Christian and Andries both find fulfillment not just in the work they do, but in the environment and culture that surrounds it. For Christian, the drawcard is collaboration and continuous growth:
"We really improve each other – our technical abilities, our academic and professional capabilities… it’s just a really great community to grow in." Every interaction becomes an opportunity to learn and sharpen skills, creating a culture at EPI-USE Labs where knowledge is shared and elevated.
Andries agrees with this sense of purpose, emphasising the impact that Data Secure has:
"There are very few places where the code I’ve written runs on over 1,000 systems in more than 100 countries… that’s something special."
Within the Data Secure group, developers are trusted to innovate, and are supported as they grow. They say that it’s more than just a job; it’s a place where skills matter, contributions count, and yes, that their code might just save the day… or at least make someone’s Monday a little less painful.