String value = properties.getProperty(key, "");
 
-               if (value.equals("")) {
+               if ("".equals(value)) {
                        error = "Missing configuration for: " + key;
                        LOGGER.error(MessageEnum.RA_SDNC_MISS_CONFIG_PARAM, key, "SDNC", "", MsoLogger.ErrorCode.DataError, "Missing config param");
                        ALARMLOGGER.sendAlarm("MsoInternalError", MsoAlarmLogger.CRITICAL, error);
                String urlPropKey = Constants.REQUEST_TUNABLES + "." + parts[2];
                sdncUrl = properties.getProperty(urlPropKey, "");
 
-               if (sdncUrl.equals("")) {
+               if ("".equals(sdncUrl)) {
                        error = "Missing configuration for: " + urlPropKey;
                        LOGGER.error(MessageEnum.RA_SDNC_MISS_CONFIG_PARAM, urlPropKey, "SDNC", "", MsoLogger.ErrorCode.DataError, "Missing config param");
                        ALARMLOGGER.sendAlarm("MsoInternalError", MsoAlarmLogger.CRITICAL, error);
 
                myUrl = properties.getProperty(Constants.MY_URL_PROP, "");
 
-               if (myUrl.equals("")) {
+               if ("".equals(myUrl)) {
                        error = "Missing configuration for: " + Constants.MY_URL_PROP;
                        LOGGER.error(MessageEnum.RA_SDNC_MISS_CONFIG_PARAM, Constants.MY_URL_PROP, "SDNC", "",
                                MsoLogger.ErrorCode.DataError, "Missing config param");
                        + (myUrl == null ? "" : ", myUrl=" + myUrl)
                        + "]";
        }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}