SAP Identity Management (SAP IdM) is a powerful tool that centralizes and automates the management of user identities, roles, and access rights across diverse IT landscapes. While SAP IdM comes with a broad set of pre-built connectors for popular applications and systems, organizations often face the need to integrate with unique, legacy, or custom applications. This is where developing custom connectors becomes essential.
In this article, we’ll explore the importance of custom connectors in SAP IdM, the development process, best practices, and key considerations.
A connector in SAP IdM is a software component that enables communication and synchronization between SAP IdM and a target system (e.g., SAP systems, databases, web services, or third-party applications). Connectors handle user provisioning, updates, and de-provisioning by performing operations such as create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) on the target system.
Although SAP IdM provides many standard connectors (e.g., for SAP ERP, Active Directory, LDAP, databases), not all systems fit into standard templates. Common reasons to build custom connectors include:
- Integration with proprietary or legacy systems without standard APIs
- Connecting to non-standard or industry-specific applications
- Supporting complex business rules or custom workflows
- Enhancing functionality beyond what standard connectors offer
- Addressing unique data models or protocols
Custom connectors help organizations ensure seamless identity lifecycle management across all their IT assets.
When developing a custom connector, you typically implement:
- Connector Interface: Defines the contract for connector operations (e.g., provisioning, reconciliation).
- Adapter Layer: Manages communication with the target system (protocols like REST, SOAP, JDBC, or custom APIs).
- Schema Mapping: Translates SAP IdM object attributes to the target system’s data model.
- Workflow Integration: Integrates with SAP IdM workflows to automate identity processes.
- Error Handling and Logging: Captures exceptions and logs activities for troubleshooting and audit.
- Identify target system specifications, including protocols, data structure, and security requirements.
- Define connector use cases, including which identity lifecycle operations must be supported.
- Understand business rules for attribute mapping and transformation.
- Design the connector interface based on SAP IdM’s Connector Framework.
- Define attribute mappings and data transformations.
- Plan for authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms.
- Design error handling and retry mechanisms.
- Develop the connector logic using Java (SAP IdM connectors are typically Java-based).
- Implement communication with the target system (via APIs, database calls, etc.).
- Build attribute mapping and conversion logic.
- Integrate with SAP IdM workflows and event triggers.
- Implement logging and error reporting.
- Perform unit testing on connector functions.
- Conduct integration testing to verify end-to-end provisioning and reconciliation.
- Test error scenarios and performance.
- Validate compliance with SAP IdM standards.
¶ 5. Deployment and Maintenance
- Package the connector for deployment in SAP IdM.
- Monitor operational performance and error logs.
- Update the connector as target systems or business requirements change.
- Follow SAP IdM Connector Framework: Leverage SAP’s standard APIs and best practices to ensure compatibility and maintainability.
- Modular Design: Build reusable components to simplify updates and reduce duplication.
- Robust Error Handling: Ensure graceful failure and clear error messages to aid troubleshooting.
- Security First: Protect sensitive data in transit and at rest, and implement strong authentication.
- Documentation: Maintain detailed technical and user documentation to facilitate handover and support.
- Performance Optimization: Optimize connector calls and batch processing for scalability.
¶ Challenges and Considerations
- Complex Data Models: Custom systems may have complex or poorly documented data models, requiring careful mapping.
- Limited APIs: Legacy systems may lack modern APIs, necessitating creative solutions such as database-level integration or screen scraping.
- Synchronization Conflicts: Handling data conflicts between SAP IdM and target systems requires clear reconciliation logic.
- Compliance and Auditing: Ensure connectors support audit requirements for GDPR, SOX, or other regulations.
- Change Management: Systems evolve, so connectors must be maintainable and adaptable.
Developing custom connectors for SAP Identity Management empowers organizations to extend identity governance to all their critical systems — including those not supported by standard connectors. By carefully analyzing requirements, designing robust interfaces, and following SAP best practices, custom connectors can deliver seamless, secure, and automated identity lifecycle management.
For SAP professionals, mastering custom connector development is a valuable skill that enhances SAP IdM’s flexibility and value, enabling comprehensive and compliant identity management across diverse IT landscapes.