Subject: SAP-Security-Operations
In the world of enterprise IT, data security during transmission is crucial. SAP systems often exchange sensitive business information across networks that can be vulnerable to interception or tampering. SAP Secure Network Communications (SNC) is a technology designed to protect the communication between SAP components by providing encryption, integrity, and authentication services. This article explores the fundamentals of SNC and how to configure it effectively within the scope of SAP Security Operations.
SAP Secure Network Communications (SNC) is a security layer that integrates external security products (such as cryptographic libraries) to secure communication channels between SAP systems or between SAP systems and external applications. SNC ensures that data transmitted over the network is encrypted, authenticated, and tamper-proof.
SNC acts as a wrapper around the SAP communication protocol, providing:
SAP systems typically use protocols like DIAG, RFC, or HTTP for communication, which by default do not provide strong encryption or authentication. Using SNC helps:
SNC Library:
The software module responsible for implementing the security functions. SAP supports different external security products, such as:
SNC Name:
A unique identifier (usually a distinguished name or a principal name) representing the security context of an SAP system or user.
Security Kernel:
Embedded within SAP, it provides the interface between SAP applications and the SNC library.
When SNC is enabled for a communication channel:
This secure communication is transparent to end-users and developers, requiring configuration at the system level.
Configuring SNC involves several steps, typically handled by SAP Security and Basis administrators:
Use transaction RZ10 or RZ11 to set the following profile parameters:
snc/enable = 1
Enables SNC on the SAP system.
snc/identity/as = <SNC_NAME>
Defines the SNC name (security principal) of the SAP system.
snc/gssapi_lib = <path_to_snc_library>
Specifies the full path to the SNC library.
snc/accept_insecure_rfc = 0
Ensures that only SNC-secured RFC connections are accepted.
To enable SNC in the SAP GUI client for connecting securely:
snc/accept_insecure_rfc = 0 to avoid fallback to unsecured protocols.SAP Secure Network Communications (SNC) is a vital security feature within SAP Security Operations, providing essential protection for data in transit. By encrypting communication channels and authenticating partners, SNC helps organizations safeguard critical business data, meet compliance requirements, and strengthen their SAP security posture. Proper understanding and configuration of SNC are essential tasks for SAP security professionals aiming to maintain a secure and resilient SAP environment.