In today’s interconnected digital enterprise environments, securing SAP systems from web-based threats is a critical priority. SAP Gateway, which exposes SAP backend systems via OData services, is a prime target for cyber-attacks including SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. To safeguard these services, integrating a Web Application Firewall (WAF) is an effective security layer that protects against malicious web traffic before it reaches SAP Gateway.
This article explores the importance of WAF integration with SAP Gateway, key considerations, and best practices for securing your SAP OData services.
A Web Application Firewall is a security solution that monitors, filters, and blocks HTTP/HTTPS traffic to and from a web application. Unlike traditional firewalls that work at the network or transport layer, WAFs operate at the application layer (Layer 7), inspecting web requests and responses for threats such as:
SAP Gateway provides RESTful OData services which are accessed over HTTP/S protocols and exposed to internal or external clients, including mobile apps and third-party systems. This exposure necessitates strong protection against evolving threats.
Benefits of WAF integration:
Typically, the WAF sits in front of the SAP Gateway system, acting as a reverse proxy. Incoming client requests pass through the WAF, which inspects and filters traffic before forwarding safe requests to SAP Gateway.
Client → WAF → SAP Web Dispatcher → SAP Gateway → Backend SAP System
$filter, $expand, $select, and query options to avoid false positives.Use WAF as part of a layered security approach, including:
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| False positives blocking valid OData queries | Customize and fine-tune WAF rules specific to OData syntax. Start with monitoring mode. |
| SSL Offloading affecting end-to-end encryption | Use SSL passthrough or re-encrypt traffic between WAF and backend. |
| Performance degradation | Choose high-performance WAF and monitor resource usage closely. |
| Authentication token interference | Configure WAF to allow necessary headers and cookies without alteration. |
Integrating a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SAP Gateway is a strategic move to strengthen your SAP landscape’s security posture. A WAF provides critical application-level protection by filtering and blocking malicious HTTP/S requests targeting your OData services.
With careful configuration tailored to SAP Gateway’s protocols and security requirements, WAF integration can help organizations mitigate risks from web-based attacks while maintaining service performance and user experience.