Many transactions are processed via interfaces on highly automated processes, making data protection and SAP interface security crucial. The flexibility offered by the SAP S/4HANA, or SAP NetWeaver products, does not end with its connectivity. SAP Standard Interfaces (RFC, BAdI, IDoc, SOAP, OData,..) offer possibilities for connecting external systems to SAP. A high level of integration between SAP and non-SAP solutions is required for the digital enterprise to evolve.
You cannot neglect SAP interface security, as GDPR data, trade secrets, etc., are exchanged. Man-in-the-middle attacks or direct infiltration using a publicly accessible interface pose enormous risks for companies unable to protect themselves sufficiently. Securing the new SAP interfaces with simultaneous governance and monitoring of existing SAP integrations is necessary to guarantee the confidentiality and integrity of the data. Interception of data from interface communication is part of the repertoire of experienced attackers. The possibility of damage caused if company data falls into the wrong hands is unimaginable. Due to time and budget constraints, SAP Interface Security is often on the back burner since most integration projects focus on establishing interfaces. When you upgrade from SAP NetWeaver to S/4HANA technology, the opportunity to clean up the SAP Interface chaos that has developed over the years arises.
SAP Interface Security describes all activities necessary to protect data from cyber attacks processed through SAP automated communication interfaces. The SAP Interface Security Domain is divided into several topic blocks:
As the Interface Governance topic block focuses on creating, modifying, and decommissioning integrations, the other topics cover technical configuration and contextual monitoring. SAP audits and SAP Penetration Tests often show weaknesses in the secure configuring of interfaces. For example, in the context of the RFC interface, privileged users are used with which the attacker can gain full access to the target system.
In the past few years, SAP has continued to work on the open architecture and, in addition to the established interface technologies based primarily on RFC (remote function call) via the proprietary DIAG protocol, has also made HTTP(s) a fixed component of the communication strategy. Every technology change creates new technical capabilities, while on the other hand, new attack vectors can arise. HTTP is used today not only for data exchange between SAP systems but also with SAP end users. The OData services provide the user interfaces with the data the client needs to operate the SAP FIORI application. HTTP is a communication protocol that transmits information in clear text, meaning the data transmitted is encrypted. You must use an SSL certificate to do this.
SAP Interface Security should establish increased confidentiality, integrity, availability, binding, and accountability. For this purpose, SAP systems offer many techniques, such as encryption (SNC, SSL), identity management, authentication, and special SAP transactions for monitoring.
There are numerous guides from the manufacturer, but also independent consulting companies, which describe the measures to protect SAP Integration. The adaptation of cloud and SaaS solutions requires additional integration. A rapid response is required if SAP interfaces are exploited or data transfer is attacked. Many serious incidents are carried out through or with the help of vulnerabilities in SAP interface securit
The abbreviation SNC stands for Secure Network Communications, a method for protecting RFC data transmissions. SNC can be used to encrypt and cryptographically secure data communication paths such as DIAG communication or RFC communication between various client and server components of SAP systems. SNC provides several levels of security:
The SAP Cryptographic Library is a product available free of charge to customers for SNC connections between system components. It is SAP’s standard security product for encryption functions in SAP systems. It can be used to provide SNC between different server components or to use the TLS/SSL protocol with AS ABAP.
The Open Data Protocol (OData) is an open protocol that enables the creation and use of queryable and interoperable RESTful APIs in a simple and standardized way. Retrieving and modifying data is done via URL-based service calls. Among other things, the FIORI interfaces of various SAP products use it, e.g., S4/HANA and SAP Business ByDesign.
The Remote Function Call is a method for automated data exchange. Here, the data is transferred, and the function for data processing is precisely controlled. In the SAP ABAP stack, all function modules marked as remote-capable can be used by an authenticated and authorized caller.
Securing your SAP landscape is no longer optional. Security shall be unavoidable but workable, a core requirement within today’s interconnected world. For this reason, SecurityBridge is designed to be always on, 24/7.
