An introduction to SAP S/4HANA
Based on the in-memory database SAP HANA, SAP S/4HANA is a suite of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for companies. It enables organizations to conduct transactions and perform real-time corporate data analysis. SAP refers to the business strategy based on S/4HANA as an intelligent enterprise. S4 HANA security is essential for business continuity since it is the digital foundation of the SAP S4 HANA migration strategy that enables companies to carry out digital transformation activities. Most broadly, digital transformation entails changing an organization’s current business model, work processes, and models, or creating new ones. It increases a company’s adaptability, responsiveness, and resilience to changing external circumstances, client demands, and business needs.
Security considerations for SAP S/4HANA
Based on the SAP HANA database, SAP S/4HANA seems to function as a standard ERP package in terms of security. The foundation of SAP S4 HANA Intelligent ERP is SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP, which indicates that it involves all of the same standard switches, security controls, optimization options, and customizations as other SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP-based systems.
However, in reality, security requires more than merely examining the SAP HANA database in your SAP S/4HANA deployment. In this case, SAP HANA serves as both the application server and the database. It supports application processes natively, which are based on SAP HANA-extended application services. The ABAP code stack and security constraints can be bypassed by SAP HANA-native applications, which you need to fix.
Cloud-based business processes are already being used by many businesses, SAP S/4HANA provides many options for integrating cloud-based operations in a hybrid setting. Security teams must closely monitor the integration of external apps and systems because this configuration suggests that vital security data is located off-premises. Coordinating access to every application and instance is also crucial; this is where a centralized, effective user authentication management system comes in handy.
More than simply database security is needed to ensure security in SAP S/4HANA; Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) must be entirely implemented to control user access and protect sensitive data.
Key factors to consider for ensuring security in SAP S/4HANA
- Database security: Since the HANA database is a key element of the solution, it is just as essential to secure and provide access to it as it is to applications.
- Increased attack surface: Users can access the application from different access points thanks to SAP Fiori’s omnichannel interaction capabilities across numerous devices, which expands the attack surface for possible threats. Check out our S/4HANA Fiori guide to learn more.
- Higher risk of impact: S/4HANA systems act as a unified digital platform, which implies they contain an extensive amount of information. Critical information is present, so a successful breach might have a severe impact. Role-based authorization must be used to improve SAP security because limiting user access to SAP applications is insufficient to protect your system.
- Standard template risks: You shouldn’t expect S/4HANA’s template roles to be flawless because they frequently involve an inherent compliance risk and segregation of tasks (SoD).
- Configuration overhead: A standard SAP S/4HANA project requires a great deal of business process reengineering and updating. You might have to make a lot of adjustments to the job responsibilities, roles, and permissions within your organization.
- Risk assessment: You cannot rely on S_TCODE to completely understand the user access risk landscape because standard transactions are an additional mechanism for carrying out tasks in an S/4HANA project.
Best practices for securing SAP S/4HANA
Following the migration of SAP HANA ERP Suite to S/4HANA, you should think about how you can improve the security of your S/4HANA system.
1. Upgrade your roles and authorizations
The first step in securing SAP S/4HANA is to change the roles and authorizations inside your company. To protect your data and business operations from unauthorized checks, review your authorization objects. Examine previous transactions to allow role/authorization modifications.
Authorized users can access SAP Fiori applications, which are usually web services, in SAP S/4HANA. Establish new roles and make sure they comply with the S/4HANA design modifications. Because users who are unfamiliar with Fiori may find it challenging, the security team needs a thorough understanding of the work processes for creating roles.
2. Strengthen your security infrastructure
Opportunities for innovation and customized services to enhance the client experience are presented by digital transformation. Real-time payment processing is made possible by combining blockchain technology with SAP, which simplifies and secures transactions. Accessing business apps and publishing them to various groups or devices is also made simpler for external users by SAP Fiori.
By implementing security measures like multi-factor authentication, S/4HANA protects access to business-critical components and guarantees that users may access the appropriate apps. To improve internal security, the SAP Gateway ought to be a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Administrators must safeguard the network where RFC or HTTPS connections use reverse invocations to cross zones and encrypt data transmissions using standard procedures like TLS.
3. Implement SAP cloud applications
SAP enables you to keep your on-premises apps private from external users. It is safer to use cloud technologies to improve user interaction. You can connect your on-premise system to your SAP cloud apps and share data using SAP Cloud Platform and Cloud Connector.
S/4HANA should be implemented both on-premises and in the cloud by the security team if your business processes are hybrid. Permissions for cloud applications can be granted using SAP’s Platform Identity Provisioning and Cloud Platform Identity Authentication. Analyze the Cloud Connector configuration in comparison to the SAP router and Web Dispatcher setups.
4. Manage user access and authentication
In a digital environment, coordinating a variety of access can be difficult. To streamline data transfers between various systems, you must configure users both natively and in S/4HANA to provide access to SAP Gateway. To keep your SAP S/4HANA system secure, you must be familiar with SAML and federated SSO (single sign-on). You can use it to create an identity management system that will make tracking user accounts easier.
Although cloud users can be different, you must also set up a central user management system so that you can manage SAP S/4HANA and SAP Gateway from the same location. Make sure you choose the right technologies for your SAP S/4HANA migration.
Future-proof SAP S/4HANA security with Accely
The transition to S4 HANA can be a significant undertaking that requires extensive preparation and planning. Until they are nearly prepared to go live on a new platform, businesses often forget to consider how their security and access control plans will evolve. S4 HANA often requires an innovative approach to access control that can adapt to meet the new challenges and environment.
Organizations using SAP S4 HANA can automate an array of key SAP security processes with Accely, offering comprehensive protection throughout the SAP system environment.
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