An SAP Security Framework could encompass any security measure, including access controls, authentication, auditing, and encryption. There are various cybersecurity frameworks available. Unfortunately, most of them are not specifically for SAP environments. While SAP SE themselves rely on NIST CSF, SAP provides Security Recommendations and the Security Operation Map for their customers as a good starting point. However, both need to be fitted into any existing enterprise IT Security program. When adopting a cybersecurity framework, there are many challenges.
Some of the most common challenges of adopting one can be:
- Costs – Implementing a cybersecurity framework can come with additional costs. Implementation might require additional hardware, staff, and software.
- Complexity – As SAP systems can be complex, it is crucial to understand them to choose the best framework to secure them. Organizations might have to deal with multiple software, technologies, and databases with different security requirements.
- Compliance – As regulatory requirements evolve; cybersecurity frameworks continuously change. Organizations might struggle to keep up with the changing compliance requirements and standards.
- Integration – As SAP systems usually integrate with other third-party systems, organizations should keep in mind that each system might have a different security requirement. This impacts the adoption of a cybersecurity posture and can make it quite complicated.
Adopting a cybersecurity framework for SAP systems can be time and resource-consuming, but it is a crucial process that organizations should undertake. With cybersecurity framework organizations improve their security posture and standardize their complex security operations to protect their critical assets from cyber threats.