SAP & Compliance: Efficient Risk Minimization with XCW & CRAF
Table of Contents
Basic understanding of SAP authorizations
Understanding SAP authorizations, especially with regard to compliance, is crucial for ensuring corporate security and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. SAP systems offer an extensive and complex authorization structure that enables detailed control over which data and processes individual users are allowed to access. This is particularly important in terms of compliance, as inappropriate access rights can lead to security breaches and violations of legal regulations.
In-depth consideration of the SAP authorization structure
The SAP authorization structure is designed to enable finely graded access rights. This structure includes:
- Roles and profiles: Roles define which transactions and functions are accessible to a user. Profiles are technical implementations of these roles that can be assigned directly to a user account.
- Authorization objects: These specify the exact activities that may be carried out within a transaction. Authorization objects contain fields that can take on certain values in order to further refine access.
Compliance requirements in SAP authorizations
Compliance in SAP authorizations means that access rights are configured in such a way that they comply with legal regulations and internal guidelines. This includes :
- Data protection and security: Compliance with laws such as the GDPR, which regulates the protection of personal data.
- Internal control systems (ICS): Establishment of control mechanisms to ensure that financial reporting is correct and fraud is prevented.
- Audit trails: Ensure that all system activities are logged so that they can be traced and checked if necessary.
Risks of non-compliance
Failure to comply with SAP authorizations can result in a number of serious risks that can cause both immediate financial losses and long-term damage to the company’s image and operational stability.
Operative disorders
Incorrectly configured permissions lead to delays and inefficiencies. Excessive access can lead to data leaks and internal fraud, requiring costly corrections and security investigations.
Data theft and loss
Inadequately secured authorizations enable data theft and loss, which leads to financial losses and damage to the competitive position.
Increased audit and monitoring costs
Compliance violations lead to more frequent and more thorough audits, which increases internal costs for compliance management and monitoring.
Challenges in compliance management
The management of compliance, especially in the area of SAP authorizations, is faced with a variety of challenges.
Dynamic changes in business processes
In a fast-moving business world, authorization settings must be continuously adapted to keep pace with changes in business processes. An agile compliance management system is required to respond quickly and efficiently to these changes.
Segregation of Duties (SoD)
Segregation of duties and responsibilities (SoD) minimizes fraud and errors by ensuring that no individual can perform a complete transaction on their own. This requires careful planning and monitoring to distribute roles and authorizations in a way that minimizes risk.
Compliance monitoring and auditing
SAP systems must be regularly checked for compliance requirements. These audits are time-consuming, complex and require specialized knowledge to ensure the correct assignment and use of all authorizations.
XCW & CRAF as a solution for compliance
XCW (Xiting Central Workflows)
XCW is a user-friendly and modern software solution that is based on standardized SAP workflows and specifically targets the challenges of compliance and authorization management.
Integration with XAMS and CRAF
XCW can be licensed together with the extended version of the Xiting Authorizations Management Suite (XAMS). This integration enables seamless collaboration between XCW and XAMS, providing a comprehensive solution for workflow and access management.
The Critical Authorization Framework (CRAF)
CRAF is an integral part of the Xiting Authorizations Management Suite (XAMS) and is used to identify critical authorizations and ensure compliance with Segregation of Duties (SoD) policies.
How CRAF works
CRAF works in combination with XCW by performing comprehensive checks when a role is requested. When a new role is requested, XCW uses CRAF to automatically analyze the risk combinations of the authorization objects to be assigned and checks the existing authorizations of the person concerned. Potential conflicts are identified during the analysis, in particular SoD conflicts. If a conflict is detected, XCW automatically starts another approval process.
Advantages of CRAF integration
- Automated identification of critical authorizations
- Efficient management of SoD conflicts
- Transparent compliance reports
- Integration with XCW
XCW can do more than just compliance with CRAF
XCW (Xiting Central Workflows) offers much more than just integration and use in combination with CRAF to meet compliance requirements. It is a comprehensive IAM tool that provides a variety of functions to optimize user and authorization management in SAP ABAP systems. Here are some of the additional features and benefits of XCW:
Self-service workflows
XCW relieves the helpdesk and administrators through self-service workflows such as password reset and user unlocking. These functions reduce the support workload and significantly improve the user experience.
User and role content
XCW enables the definition of user and role owners who are responsible for approving user creations and role assignments. This supports compliance with security guidelines and ensures that only authorized persons have access to certain data and functions.
Flexible implementation options
XCW is a stand-alone product in the SAP ABAP landscape that requires no additional hardware and is available both via SAP GUI and the more modern Fiori user interface. This flexibility facilitates implementation and use, regardless of the existing IT infrastructure.
Dashboards and reports
With XCW, users can easily view the status of user and role requests via dashboards, which supports transparency and facilitates audits. This feature provides a clear overview of all activities and approvals, which simplifies compliance monitoring and improves risk management.
Conclusion
XCW offers companies an efficient and effective solution for managing SAP authorizations and meeting compliance requirements. The combination of automation, self-service workflows and seamless integration with XAMS and CRAF makes XCW a powerful tool that assists organizations in achieving their security and compliance goals.
FAQs
A software solution for automating user provisioning and managing the user lifecycle in SAP ABAP systems.
A framework for identifying and managing critical authorizations and SoD conflicts.
CRAF automatically checks risk combinations for role requests and starts additional approval processes in the event of conflicts.
Seamless collaboration and comprehensive workflow and access management.
Conflicts where one individual can perform too many critical functions.
It helps to minimize security risks and meet compliance requirements.
CRAF analyzes the risk combinations of the authorizations and checks existing authorizations during role requests.
Companies of all sizes, especially in highly regulated industries.
Usually within one to three days.
Password reset and user unlocking.
Authorizations that are particularly sensitive and require special monitoring.
Detailed reports and dashboards on the compliance situation.
Yes, companies can create a customized risk ruleset.
Through automatic identification of SoD conflicts and critical authorizations.
Through additional approval processes when conflicts are detected.
A suite for managing and analyzing SAP authorizations.
Yes, it can be used independently or together with XAMS.
By identifying and managing critical authorizations and SoD conflicts.
Companies that use SAP systems and have to meet strict compliance requirements.
By identifying and managing critical authorizations and SoD conflicts.
Experienced in developing Identity Lifecycle processes. Responsible for projects that involve implementing SAP Identity Management, Xiting Central Workflow & BTP including IAS & IPS.
