In complex enterprise environments, users often require access across multiple SAP systems such as SAP ERP, S/4HANA, SAP BW, and non-SAP systems. Managing user access consistently and securely across these heterogeneous landscapes is challenging but critical for effective governance. SAP Access Control offers robust capabilities to configure and manage cross-system user access, ensuring compliance, reducing risks, and streamlining administration.
This article provides a detailed overview of configuring cross-system user access management within SAP Access Control, helping SAP security consultants and GRC administrators implement centralized and compliant access governance.
Cross-System User Access Management refers to the process of managing, controlling, and monitoring user access rights across multiple, connected SAP and non-SAP systems through a unified platform. This ensures consistent enforcement of security policies and segregation of duties (SoD) rules regardless of the target system.
SAP Access Control enables centralized user provisioning, risk analysis, and access request workflows that span across different technical systems, simplifying complex access management scenarios.
- Centralized User Provisioning: Manage access requests and role assignments from a single interface.
- Unified Risk Analysis: Identify SoD conflicts across multiple systems, reducing compliance blind spots.
- Consistent Policy Enforcement: Apply uniform access policies and approval workflows.
- Improved Auditability: Consolidate logs and reports for cross-system access activities.
- Reduced Administrative Effort: Minimize duplicate efforts and errors by automating cross-system access management.
- SAP GRC Access Control System: Central system for access management.
- Target SAP Systems: ERP, S/4HANA, BW, CRM, etc.
- Non-SAP Systems: Other business-critical applications connected via connectors.
- Connectors and Plugins: RFC connections and GRC plugins on target systems enable communication and provisioning.
- Create RFC connections from SAP Access Control to all target systems.
- Install necessary GRC plugins on each backend system to enable role and user data exchange.
- Test connectivity using SAP GRC system tests.
- Access Maintain Configuration Settings via SPRO or NWBC.
- Register each connected system as a Connector with a unique connector ID.
- Assign relevant system roles and define connector attributes.
- Schedule synchronization jobs to regularly fetch user master, role, and profile data from connected systems.
¶ Step 3: Upload Role and User Data
- Execute data synchronization jobs to import roles, users, and role assignments from all target systems.
- Ensure role metadata and user assignments are up-to-date for accurate risk analysis.
- Customize SoD Rule Sets to include roles and transactions from all connected systems.
- Perform Access Risk Analysis (ARA) across systems to detect conflicting access combinations.
- Define risk acceptance or mitigation workflows for cross-system risks.
- Enable users to request access to roles and authorizations across all connected systems via the centralized SAP Access Control portal.
- Configure request forms, workflows, and approval paths that incorporate multiple system targets.
- Automate provisioning requests to respective backend systems upon approval.
¶ Step 6: Monitor and Audit Cross-System Access
- Use SAP Access Control reporting tools to generate cross-system access and risk reports.
- Monitor logs and audit trails for provisioning actions executed across all systems.
- Integrate with enterprise SIEM or audit platforms as required.
- Maintain System Connectivity Health: Regularly monitor RFC connections and plugin status.
- Keep Role and User Data Current: Frequent synchronization avoids stale or inaccurate risk analysis.
- Use Role Templates and Harmonization: Standardize roles where possible across systems.
- Implement Risk-Based Approvals: Add extra controls for high-risk cross-system access.
- Engage Business and IT Stakeholders: Ensure access policies reflect organizational structure and compliance needs.
- Document Configuration and Procedures: For easier maintenance and audit readiness.
Configuring cross-system user access management in SAP Access Control empowers organizations to achieve centralized, consistent, and compliant access governance across their entire SAP and non-SAP landscapes. By leveraging the connectivity, risk analysis, and workflow capabilities of SAP Access Control, security teams can reduce risks, simplify administration, and ensure robust compliance with internal and external requirements.