Is Data Safe in Alteryx?

Question

Hi, I'm new to Altryx and was just wondering about data security when using the app. I recently downloaded a trial, but I am hesitant to put any sensitive customer data in the tool. Does any of the data get transmitted to Alterxy servers when you use the app or does everything stay within my network?

Not a tech person for context, thanks.

apathetichell · Answer

Is it safe vs what? an Oracle on-prem server? Python?

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/malicious-pypi-packages-with-over-10-000-downloads-taken-down/

Alteryx Designer is safe - but is it safe from the end-user?  you can still publish data to unsecure places. Hypothetically someone could build a trojan horse workflow. It would need an end-user to install and run that workflow. So if you download something stupid from the web-  or go out of your way to e-mail your data to Russian hackers - Alteryx can't stop you.

Alteryx (unclear if this is Designer Cloud or Designer) is currently applying for SOC2 if that helps.

mceleavey · Answer

Hi @ferab91966 ,

The data in Alteryx does not go anywhere other than where you choose. As the workflows run the data is processed in RAM, meaning the data exists in Alteryx during the actual run time of the workflow, which is then purged. If you choose to cache the data, it then sits in RAM until you clear the cache, but the physical location of the data has not changed.

There are many tools in Alteryx that allow you to output the data, and this will move the data according to where you want to put it, so if you choose to pick up 1,000 spreadsheets, manipulate and cleanse the data, then output into Snowflake, then the data will move into RAM then into Snowflake.

If you are using the server the same applies.

Alteryx has it's own proprietary file formats that allow you to store data wherever you want, for example in .yxdb or Calgary formats, both of which require an Alteryx licence to open.

You dictate where the data is held and stored.

I hope this helps,

M.

Qiu · Answer

@ferab91966 
I agree with @NikyN , as long as you are using Alteryx Designer, the data should not be transferred to anywhere.
Alteryx server is another issue, but Alteryx should already established policy to gurantee its safety.