Effective threat detection in SAP landscapes hinges on the comprehensive and accurate collection of security-relevant data. SAP Enterprise Threat Detection (ETD) relies heavily on the ingestion of logs and event data from various SAP systems and components. Configuring the right data sources is therefore a critical step in enabling ETD to deliver real-time insights and proactive security monitoring.
This article explores the process of configuring data sources for SAP ETD, highlighting key considerations, supported sources, and best practices to optimize threat detection capabilities.
¶ Understanding Data Sources in SAP ETD
Data sources in SAP ETD refer to the systems and logs from which security-relevant information is collected. These include application logs, system logs, change documents, and user activity records. By integrating multiple data sources, ETD gains a holistic view of user behavior and system activity across the SAP landscape.
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SAP Security Audit Log
- Captures security-related events such as user logon/logoff, failed logins, changes to user master records, and authorization checks.
- Essential for detecting unauthorized access attempts and privilege misuse.
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Change Documents
- Track changes to critical SAP objects like user roles, system parameters, and configuration settings.
- Help identify unauthorized or risky configuration changes.
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System Log (SM21)
- Records system-level events including system failures, job scheduling, and performance warnings.
- Useful for identifying system-level anomalies related to security incidents.
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Application Logs (SLG1)
- Logs from specific SAP applications or modules capturing application-level events.
- Provide context-specific data for threat detection scenarios.
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Business Transaction Logs
- Include transaction usage data and changes affecting business processes.
- Helpful for detecting fraudulent activities and segregation of duties (SoD) violations.
Ensure that all relevant logs (e.g., security audit log, change documents) are activated in the SAP systems feeding data into ETD. This often involves:
- Configuring Security Audit Log via transaction SM19.
- Activating Change Document Logging for relevant objects.
- Ensuring System Logs and Application Logs are properly maintained.
SAP ETD collects data through collectors or agents installed on SAP systems or integrated through centralized logging solutions.
- Install and configure the SAP ETD Collector components on source systems.
- Define data collection parameters, such as filtering criteria, log levels, and connection settings.
Data is transmitted from source systems to the ETD server via secure channels.
- Set up communication protocols (e.g., SSL/TLS) for secure data transfer.
- Schedule regular data uploads or enable continuous streaming depending on system capacity.
¶ 4. Map and Normalize Data
ETD normalizes data from heterogeneous sources into a consistent format.
- Use built-in parsers and mapping rules.
- Customize parsing rules for custom logs or specific business contexts if needed.
¶ 5. Validate and Test Data Flow
Once configured, validate data ingestion by:
- Monitoring the ETD dashboard for incoming events.
- Running test scenarios to verify detection and alert generation.
- Troubleshooting any missing or inconsistent data sources.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Include all critical SAP components and logs to ensure no blind spots.
- Filter and Prioritize: Apply filters to avoid unnecessary data volume and focus on security-relevant events.
- Secure Communication: Use encrypted channels to protect data in transit.
- Regular Review: Periodically review and update data sources and logging configurations.
- Collaboration: Coordinate between security, SAP basis, and application teams to align logging with detection goals.
Configuring data sources for SAP Enterprise Threat Detection is foundational for achieving effective, real-time security monitoring in SAP environments. By enabling and integrating relevant logs from across the SAP landscape, organizations empower ETD to detect and respond to threats swiftly and accurately. Careful planning, secure configuration, and ongoing management of data sources ensure the ETD solution delivers maximum value in protecting critical business assets.