In the SAP ecosystem, Segregation of Duties (SoD) is a fundamental control mechanism to prevent fraud, errors, and unauthorized transactions. SAP GRC Access Control provides predefined SoD rule sets aligned with industry standards and common business risks. However, organizations often face unique operational complexities requiring custom SoD rules tailored to their specific business processes and compliance needs.
This article explores how to create custom SoD rules in SAP GRC Access Control and implement effective mitigation strategies to manage unavoidable risks.
Predefined SoD rules address common conflicts such as “Create Vendor” and “Approve Vendor Invoice.” However, custom business scenarios may involve unique processes or transaction combinations that pose risks not covered by standard rule sets. Custom SoD rules allow organizations to:
Begin by analyzing business processes to identify transaction pairs or role combinations that could result in conflicts or fraud risks. Engage process owners, auditors, and risk managers to:
Each custom SoD rule consists of:
In SAP GRC Access Control (typically via the Access Risk Analysis module):
Run a simulation to check the rule against existing user roles and assignments to identify violations. Refine the rule to minimize false positives or missing conflicts.
Despite efforts to segregate duties, certain SoD conflicts may be unavoidable due to resource constraints or business needs. Mitigation strategies provide a way to manage these risks:
Implement alternative controls to detect and prevent misuse, such as:
SAP GRC enables the creation of Mitigation Controls linked to specific SoD risks:
For critical but temporary access needs, use SAP GRC’s Emergency Access Management (EAM) to provide controlled “firefighter” access with audit trails and post-use reviews.
Creating custom SoD rules is essential for addressing unique risk profiles in complex SAP environments. Coupled with effective mitigation strategies, these rules help maintain a strong internal control framework, ensuring regulatory compliance and reducing fraud risks. By following a structured approach to rule creation, testing, and mitigation, organizations can tailor their SAP Access Control environment to their specific needs while safeguarding critical business processes.