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SAP GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance): What is it?

SAP GRC Governance Risk Compliance

SAP GRC stands for Governance, Risk, and Compliance and essentially describes the processes of an SAP product and the product itself. SAP GRC experts and related SAP GRC jobs are sought after by many organizations and are therefore in high demand. In this article, we explore the relevance of SAP GRC in the context of the necessary measures for cybersecurity. But before we start, here are a few basics.

What are SAP GRC modules?

There are multiple components represented in the SAP product. The most used SAP GRC modules are:  

  • SAP GRC – Access Control.  
  • SAP GRC – Process Control and Fraud Management.  
  • SAP GRC – Risk Management  


But also, these components are covered:  

  • SAP GRC – Audit Management  
  • SAP GRC – Fraud Management  
  • SAP GRC – Global Trade Services  

What is the need for SAP GRC?

With the SAP GRC solution, organizations can supervise and manage regulation, compliance, and risk in business processes. Cybersecurity is not necessarily the focus of this functionality. SAP Governance, Risk, and Compliance is more about taking care of business risks like helping organizations enhance cross-border supply within the limits of international trade management. 

What are SAP security and GRC?

The manufacturer SAP has already recognized that compliance and risk concerns alone are not enough to address the need for SAP cybersecurity. The following topics also always come into play here:  

  • real-time threat detection and anomaly detection 
  • secure configuration  
  • timely patching  
  • and data protection 

All of them become the focus of attention. Digital enterprises today need to close the existing gap for cybersecurity and data protection in their current business models. In addition to existing SAP GRC models, organizations need intelligent, automated, and embedded cyber and data security for SAP.  

To conclude - SAP GRC in evolution

The software solution and the associated processes are necessary, especially when the using organization is active in international trade, but also otherwise. Some time ago, SAP rearranged the building blocks in the GRC area on its website and has now introduced the following main areas:  

  • Enterprise Risk and Compliance  
  • International Trade Management  
  • Identity and Access Governance  
    And last but not least (and probably the topic you are here for): 
  • Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Privacy 

This seems logical because cyber threats continue to evolve, becoming more intense and increasingly successful in reaching critical applications and sensitive data – even among seemingly security-conscious organizations. Now that many companies, maybe including yours, are undergoing a digital transformation or are planning to migrate to S/4HANA, we encourage you to take the opportunity to add cybersecurity to your existing SAP GRC processes and rethink them to build a secure foundation. 

Posted by

Ivan Mans
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