¶ Managing Launchpad Roles and Authorizations in SAP Fiori
The SAP Fiori Launchpad is the central access point for users to interact with SAP Fiori applications. Effective management of roles and authorizations within the Launchpad is crucial for ensuring users see the right applications and data aligned with their job responsibilities, while maintaining security and compliance.
This article provides an overview of managing Launchpad roles and authorizations in SAP Fiori, highlighting key concepts, tools, and best practices.
¶ Understanding Roles and Authorizations in SAP Fiori Launchpad
- Roles in SAP Fiori define a collection of catalogs and groups assigned to users.
- Roles determine which tiles (applications) and target mappings (navigation intents) a user can access on the Launchpad.
- They help segment content based on job functions, departments, or regions.
- Authorizations ensure users have the right permissions to execute backend actions, access business data, and use specific Fiori apps.
- Typically managed via authorization objects in SAP systems (e.g., S/4HANA or SAP Gateway).
- Authorization checks happen at both frontend (tile visibility) and backend (data access) levels.
¶ Key Components for Role and Authorization Management
- Collections of related tiles and target mappings.
- Catalogs are assigned to roles to provide users access to apps.
- Organizing apps into catalogs helps with modular and flexible role design.
- Groups organize tiles visually on the Launchpad home page.
- Groups are also assigned to roles.
- Users see groups as tile collections, enhancing usability.
- Defined in backend systems (e.g., SAP S/4HANA) or SAP Identity Management.
- Combine catalogs and groups with authorization objects.
- Manage both frontend content and backend access.
¶ Managing Roles and Authorizations: Step-by-Step
¶ Step 1: Define Catalogs and Groups
- Use SAP Fiori Launchpad Designer (
/UI2/FLPD_CONF in on-premise) or SAP BTP Launchpad service to create catalogs and groups.
- Add tiles and target mappings relevant to business functions.
- In SAP Gateway / Frontend System, use PFCG transaction to create roles.
- Assign catalogs and groups to the role in the role maintenance screen.
- Assign backend authorization objects that control access to underlying data and services.
- Assign roles to users via PFCG or identity management tools.
- Role assignments determine what tiles appear and what actions users can perform.
¶ Step 4: Test Access and Authorization
- Verify tile visibility on the Launchpad for assigned users.
- Test backend app access and data permissions.
- Use SAP authorization trace tools (e.g., ST01) to debug authorization issues.
¶ Best Practices for Role and Authorization Management
- Role Minimization: Assign the minimal necessary roles to users, following the principle of least privilege.
- Segregation of Duties: Avoid conflicts by segregating access appropriately.
- Modular Role Design: Use catalogs and groups to build reusable components.
- Regular Reviews: Periodically audit roles and authorizations for compliance and security.
- Use Role Templates: Leverage SAP standard roles as templates and customize as needed.
- Documentation: Maintain clear documentation of role design and assignments.
- SAP Fiori Launchpad Designer: For creating and managing catalogs, groups, and tiles.
- PFCG Transaction: For backend role and authorization management.
- SAP Identity and Access Management (IAM): For centralized user and role management, especially in hybrid landscapes.
- Authorization Trace (ST01): For troubleshooting authorization failures.
Managing Launchpad roles and authorizations is a critical task to secure and streamline the SAP Fiori user experience. A well-structured role design not only controls access efficiently but also enhances user productivity by providing the right content at the right time.
By combining frontend role configuration with backend authorization management and following best practices, SAP teams can build a secure, scalable, and user-friendly Fiori Launchpad environment aligned with organizational needs.