March 16, 2023
Data security is important for any system, and all the more so for enterprise-critical information in the SAP cloud. By failing to protect what matters, you could run the risk of incidents like account hijacking and data breaches—from inside and outside your organization. Fortunately, there are security tools available to keep your data secure.
Cloud security for SAP includes features such as the code vulnerability analyzer and single sign-on, among others. These tools work in conjunction with service providers to reinforce the security of your database and applications. Safeguarding your enterprise data is integral to protecting your company’s ability to perform, and it’s also necessary for regulatory compliance.
Approyo provides the leading solutions for SAP cloud security, offering active defenses 24/7—no matter the threat. No other solution has earned this level of trust in protecting your online data.
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A properly secured SAP cloud system is crucial for an organization to keep operating effectively. Mission-critical data in the cloud—if compromised—can expose your business to devastating financial and legal repercussions.
Hackers trying to penetrate the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system could, for example, make off with trade secrets or personally identifiable information (PII). These attacks on SAP may see offenders capturing data. And it doesn’t stop there. Your reputation could also be impacted, and business continuity would no longer be assured. Isn’t it much better to have effective security in place before an attack occurs rather than having to recover after the event?
A complete SAP cloud security program encompasses the tools and processes necessary to manage attacks. Personnel should also be properly prepared—or have a reliable technology partner they can turn to.
Cloud security experts are primed to keep on top of the latest threats. They’ll monitor your systems to identify and defuse problems. Overall, it’s vital to secure SAP cloud systems to mitigate business risks and help you adhere to information laws.
SAP cloud deployments are widespread enough to have attracted attacks—and in the process reveal their most common vulnerabilities. Addressing the most critical problems is a useful approach to start securing your installation.
One of the most ubiquitous attacks to affect not only SAP cloud systems but nearly all IT networks is weak authentication. Essentially, this boils down to a lack of adequate measures for ensuring that users are who they say they are.
And there are many other ways for authentication to falter. For instance, if poor passwords are allowed—or if passwords aren’t updated regularly—attackers can easily hijack an account. Given the sensitivity of data in SAP cloud systems, it’s considerably more important to use strict security policies here than with other solutions.
It’s not only when users access SAP cloud systems that you’re exposed to threats. These may also occur when multiple systems connect through interfaces, thereby increasing the attack surface. In addition, wrongly configured interfaces can make your data more vulnerable.
When hackers break into a system through a misconfigured interface, they can take control of applications and private information. That’s why you need to secure all interfaces with defenses such as encryption and correct authorization. Furthermore, if you’re using an interface, make sure it’s accurately logged to help monitor potential breaches.
All events and resources pertaining to SAP cloud systems need to be widely monitored to keep abreast of threat actors. If not, your organization may be subject to undetected attacks that can wreak havoc for months—or years—like the slow exfiltration of data.
Security team are able to counter these threats by logging who does what, where, and when, via modern security tools. These include SAP HANA Cloud’s monitoring features as well as external tools. For example, with the help of an SAP consultant, Approyo’s technology is able to automate SAP cloud monitoring anywhere on the planet.
It’s popular to use third-party applications to add functionality to SAP cloud solutions. However, doing so also adds to the risk of security lapses. In fact, a fault in any third-party app has the potential to bring down the entire SAP system—and to steal your data.
As a general rule, organizations should only use reliable third-party code. That said, it can be difficult to know ahead of time which apps to trust. This is why it’s also crucial to perform routine security evaluations and conduct tests of third-party applications.
Data leakage is another common problem that SAP cloud deployments face. Media such as the web or social apps will share your private data without authorization. In the course of operations, data may lack the appropriate encryption, falling out of the permitted channels.
When sensitive data leaks, it undermines security and compliance. And while data can leak in just a few minutes, the damage may unfold for years.
After seeing how many common vulnerabilities there are, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s all doom and gloom. Nonetheless, there are practical methods available to protect SAP cloud installations against these threats.
Industry-approved techniques to defend data include: keeping software up-to-date, enforcing tight controls on authentication policies, and employing appropriate access controls. Users should only have permission to use what they need for their jobs. Additionally, it’s smart to perform multiple tests of the applications and interfaces—as well as to log and monitor the system extensively.
Give your staff proper instructions on how to adhere to password requirements and other security policies. Further, teach them how to respond to “phishing” e-mails and other attacks. A well-educated workforce is an essential element in good online security.
Complementing all these efforts, one of the best steps you can take to protect your organizational data is to work with a time-tested SAP cloud consultant. Such a partner will already have years of knowledge and experience in digital security technology. Professional expertise is—without contest—vital to defending your data.
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Enterprise data calls for enterprise-grade security. Too often, a vulnerability threatens to cause a data breach. Among the common problems now seen are weak authentication, misconfigured interfaces, and improper monitoring. Third-party applications can expand the likelihood of attacks, and data leakage remains a concern.
With so many risks currently on the scene, do you really want to go it alone? Approyo is a reputable SAP cloud expert, with top-notch data security. Contact us now to cover your SAP security needs.
