SAP is a popular Platform-as-a-Service. Thanks to its advanced database management solutions and application development framework, this vendor allows businesses to build a highly customized IT infrastructure.
SAP stands out thanks to its integration suite, built-in insights, and automation features, but there are a few things you should know about security before determining if SAP is a good fit for you. Read on to learn more about SAP security features and the importance of SAP security certifications.
Manage Authentication and Access
With SAP Single Sign-On, you can set a single password to unlock access to SAP and non-SAP apps running on your architecture. This approach streamlines authentication and results in a better user experience while implementing consistent security standards across all your apps.
This feature uses OAuth 2.0 authorization tokens. SAP is the default provider, but you can choose a third-party authorization service by going to Security, Trust, and Application identity Providers in your Cockpit.
You can roll out this feature to your mobile applications and add mobile-specific authorization checks for an additional layer of security.
If you use SAP to manage your database with SAP HANA, you can access additional authorization features with a single sign-on option and customized password requirements.
You can also increase security by deploying SAP Identity Management, an add-on that centralizes your identity data for all your applications and gives you access to additional tools for identity management.
While SAP has some great built-in features to authenticate users and manage access, you’re responsible for configuring these features and rolling them out to your mobile apps.
Keep Your Data at Rest Safe
With SAP HANA, businesses have access to a comprehensive database management framework with some noteworthy built-in security features. Note that SAP HANA is a versatile environment. You might not need all the security functions and can enable and disable these features as needed.
Here’s how SAP HANA can keep your data safe:
- User management options let you create groups with customized access rights and security policies.
- Role management features allow you to control what users can see and do based on their roles.
- You can keep your data private with masking, data anonymization, statistical noise, and other methods.
- Your data at rest is safe thanks to SAP’s built-in encryption feature. You can also customize this feature by importing your own encryption keys.
Protect Your Infrastructure from Cyber Threats
SAP has limited built-in security features designed to protect you from external threats. The platform uses encryption for data in transit, which makes your data useless if a malicious agent intercepts it.
You can go further by using SAP Enterprise Threat Detection to manage your risks. This tool is an add-on you can deploy to protect your SAP cloud environment. Note that you’re responsible for adding this tool to your SAP stack and configuring it.
SAP Enterprise Threat Detection acts as a real-time monitoring tool. It uses a risk-based approach to spot, analyze, and prioritize threats. This tool provides protection at the application server and database levels.
This tool can analyze your log data to spot unusual activities. It can use attack detection patterns to recognize threats in their early stages and even detect new attacks.
The attack investigation tools will help you understand where your vulnerabilities are so you can address them.
Physical Safeguards
SAP stands out thanks to the best practices used in this vendor’s data centers. SAP has data centers in several countries, but all these facilities follow the same standards and meet ISO 27001, SOC1, and SOC2 compliance requirements.
There is a physical separation between the main servers and the backup servers to mitigate risks. SAP also uses video and sensor surveillance, access logs, and advanced alarm systems to keep these facilities safe.
Plus, the vendor has high standards for the partners and contractors it works with and uses segregation of duties to reduce risks.
Final Thoughts: Why Are SAP Security Certifications Important?
SAP stands out when it comes to offering comprehensive authentication solutions or building a safe environment for your data at rest with SAP HANA.
However, this Platform-as-a-Service has a few downsides when it comes to security. The high level of customization that the application development environment and integration framework allow for can lead to significant vulnerabilities if they’re not properly configured.
In fact, 40% of SAP users worry about internal threats. SAP isn’t an unsafe platform in itself, but it’s crucial to follow a strict set of best practices to configure your SAP and non-SAP applications to avoid vulnerabilities.
The best way to make your SAP infrastructure safer is to explore SAP security certifications. These certifications will empower your IT team to leverage everything SAP has to offer while keeping your business safe.
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