TECHNOLOGY

Best Practices for Securing SAP Systems

Published

7 months ago

April 24, 2023

SAP systems play a crucial role in the operations of many organizations, from managing financial transactions to tracking inventory.

With the increasing risk of cyber attacks, securing vital organizational systems has become a top priority for businesses. In this article, we will discuss some best practices for securing SAP Security systems and effective risk management.

Understand the Associated Risks

Before delving into the best practices for securing SAP systems, understanding the potential risks associated with them is essential. Cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities in SAP systems to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive data, and disrupt business operations. Some common risks associated with SAP systems include:

Unauthorized access to critical data and systems
Malware and virus attacks
Denial of service (DoS) attacks
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks
SQL injection attacks

To effectively mitigate these risks, businesses must implement robust security measures to secure their SAP systems.

Best Practices for Securing SAP Systems

Regular Updates and Patches

Keeping your SAP systems updated with the latest patches and updates is crucial in mitigating potential security risks. Software vendors regularly release updates and patches to address vulnerabilities and security loopholes in their systems. By keeping your SAP systems updated, you can ensure that they are protected against the latest cyber threats.

Strong Password Policies

Weak passwords are a leading cause of security breaches in SAP systems. Businesses must implement strong password policies, such as enforcing complex passwords and regular password changes, to mitigate this risk. Companies can also implement two-factor authentication to include an extra layer of security.

Access Control

Limiting access to critical systems and data is essential in securing SAP systems. Businesses must ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information and that their access is restricted based on their job roles and responsibilities. Additionally, businesses can implement access control measures, such as multi-factor authentication and role-based access control, to enhance security.

Encryption

Encrypting sensitive data can effectively protect against data breaches and unauthorized access. Businesses can implement encryption technologies to protect their SAP systems’ data at rest and in transit.

Monitoring and Logging

Monitoring and logging are essential in detecting and responding to security incidents in SAP systems. Businesses must implement real-time monitoring and logging to identify potential threats and react quickly to security incidents.

Regular Security Audits

Regular security audits are crucial in identifying potential security loopholes and vulnerabilities in SAP systems. Businesses can conduct regular security audits to identify gaps in their security measures and implement effective risk management strategies.

Effective Risk Management Strategies

Effective risk management strategies involve proactive measures to mitigate potential security risks in SAP systems. Some effective risk management strategies include:

Threat Modeling

Threat modeling involves identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities in SAP systems and implementing security measures to mitigate them. Businesses can conduct threat modeling exercises to identify potential security risks and implement effective risk management strategies.

Incident Response Planning

Incident response planning involves developing a plan to respond to security incidents in SAP systems. Businesses can develop incident response plans to respond quickly to security incidents and minimize their impact on business operations.

Employee Training and Awareness

Employee training and awareness are essential in ensuring that personnel know potential security risks and how to respond to them. Businesses can conduct regular employee training and awareness programs to ensure personnel are well-equipped to handle potential security incidents.

Implement Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) offers an extra layer of security that needs users to provide two forms of identification before accessing the SAP system. The use of Two-factor authentication can help prevent unauthorized access even if a user’s password is compromised. Two-factor authentication is implemented using hardware tokens, software tokens, or SMS-based authentication.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Encryption occurs when data is converted to a code to prevent unauthorized access. Businesses should implement encryption to protect sensitive data stored within the SAP system, such as customer information or financial data. Companies can implement encryption at the application, database, and network levels to protect data at all times.

Monitor Third-Party Access

Third-party vendors or contractors with access to the SAP system can pose a security risk. Businesses should implement controls to monitor and manage third-party access. These controls include reviewing the access privileges of third-party users, restricting their access to only what is necessary for their job, and monitoring their activity while they are logged into the SAP system.

Conclusion

Securing SAP systems is critical to effective risk management for organizations. With increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks, it is essential to implement best practices to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access. When companies adopt a proactive approach to security, they can limit damage from data breaches and other security incidents resulting in possible financial losses and reputational damage.

Some key takeaways from this article include the need to conduct regular security assessments, establish clear security policies and procedures, implement access controls, and provide ongoing employee training. Additionally, organizations should consider using specialized security solutions designed for SAP systems and partnering with experienced security professionals who can help identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Effective risk management requires a commitment to ongoing security and a willingness to adapt to changing threats. By implementing best practices for securing SAP systems, organizations can help protect critical business data and maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.

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TECHNOLOGY

HCLTech and Cisco create collaborative hybrid workplaces

Published

20 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Max

Digital comms specialist Cisco and global tech firm HCLTech have teamed up to launch Meeting-Rooms-as-a-Service (MRaaS).

Available on a subscription model, this solution modernises legacy meeting rooms and enables users to join meetings from any meeting solution provider using Webex devices.

The MRaaS solution helps enterprises simplify the design, implementation and maintenance of integrated meeting rooms, enabling seamless collaboration for their globally distributed hybrid workforces.

Rakshit Ghura, senior VP and Global head of digital workplace services, HCLTech, said: “MRaaS combines our consulting and managed services expertise with Cisco’s proficiency in Webex devices to change the way employees conceptualise, organise and interact in a collaborative environment for a modern hybrid work model.

“The common vision of our partnership is to elevate the collaboration experience at work and drive productivity through modern meeting rooms.”

Alexandra Zagury, VP of partner managed and as-a-Service Sales at Cisco, said: “Our partnership with HCLTech helps our clients transform their offices through cost-effective managed services that support the ongoing evolution of workspaces.

“As we reimagine the modern office, we are making it easier to support collaboration and productivity among workers, whether they are in the office or elsewhere.”

Cisco’s Webex collaboration devices harness the power of artificial intelligence to offer intuitive, seamless collaboration experiences, enabling meeting rooms with smart features such as meeting zones, intelligent people framing, optimised attendee audio and background noise removal, among others.

Want to learn more about cybersecurity and the cloud from industry leaders? Check out Cyber Security & Cloud Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: Cisco, collaboration, HCLTech, Hybrid, meetings

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TECHNOLOGY

Canonical releases low-touch private cloud MicroCloud

Published

1 day ago

November 28, 2023

Max

Canonical has announced the general availability of MicroCloud, a low-touch, open source cloud solution. MicroCloud is part of Canonical’s growing cloud infrastructure portfolio.

It is purpose-built for scalable clusters and edge deployments for all types of enterprises. It is designed with simplicity, security and automation in mind, minimising the time and effort to both deploy and maintain it. Conveniently, enterprise support for MicroCloud is offered as part of Canonical’s Ubuntu Pro subscription, with several support tiers available, and priced per node.

MicroClouds are optimised for repeatable and reliable remote deployments. A single command initiates the orchestration and clustering of various components with minimal involvement by the user, resulting in a fully functional cloud within minutes. This simplified deployment process significantly reduces the barrier to entry, putting a production-grade cloud at everyone’s fingertips.

Juan Manuel Ventura, head of architectures & technologies at Spindox, said: “Cloud computing is not only about technology, it’s the beating heart of any modern industrial transformation, driving agility and innovation. Our mission is to provide our customers with the most effective ways to innovate and bring value; having a complexity-free cloud infrastructure is one important piece of that puzzle. With MicroCloud, the focus shifts away from struggling with cloud operations to solving real business challenges” says

In addition to seamless deployment, MicroCloud prioritises security and ease of maintenance. All MicroCloud components are built with strict confinement for increased security, with over-the-air transactional updates that preserve data and roll back on errors automatically. Upgrades to newer versions are handled automatically and without downtime, with the mechanisms to hold or schedule them as needed.

With this approach, MicroCloud caters to both on-premise clouds but also edge deployments at remote locations, allowing organisations to use the same infrastructure primitives and services wherever they are needed. It is suitable for business-in-branch office locations or industrial use inside a factory, as well as distributed locations where the focus is on replicability and unattended operations.

Cedric Gegout, VP of product at Canonical, said: “As data becomes more distributed, the infrastructure has to follow. Cloud computing is now distributed, spanning across data centres, far and near edge computing appliances. MicroCloud is our answer to that.

“By packaging known infrastructure primitives in a portable and unattended way, we are delivering a simpler, more prescriptive cloud experience that makes zero-ops a reality for many Industries.“

MicroCloud’s lightweight architecture makes it usable on both commodity and high-end hardware, with several ways to further reduce its footprint depending on your workload needs. In addition to the standard Ubuntu Server or Desktop, MicroClouds can be run on Ubuntu Core – a lightweight OS optimised for the edge. With Ubuntu Core, MicroClouds are a perfect solution for far-edge locations with limited computing capabilities. Users can choose to run their workloads using Kubernetes or via system containers. System containers based on LXD behave similarly to traditional VMs but consume fewer resources while providing bare-metal performance.

Coupled with Canonical’s Ubuntu Pro + Support subscription, MicroCloud users can benefit from an enterprise-grade open source cloud solution that is fully supported and with better economics. An Ubuntu Pro subscription offers security maintenance for the broadest collection of open-source software available from a single vendor today. It covers over 30k packages with a consistent security maintenance commitment, and additional features such as kernel livepatch, systems management at scale, certified compliance and hardening profiles enabling easy adoption for enterprises. With per-node pricing and no hidden fees, customers can rest assured that their environment is secure and supported without the expensive price tag typically associated with cloud solutions.

Tags: automation, Canonical, MicroCloud, private cloud

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TECHNOLOGY

AWS and SoftwareOne collaborate on RISE with SAP

Published

1 week ago

November 22, 2023

Max

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and SoftwareOne Holding AG, a global provider of end-to-end software and cloud technology solutions, have partnered to help customers transition to RISE with SAP on an AWS cloud environment.

Called the Ready for RISE on AWS bundle, it combines SoftwareOne’s deep SAP advisory and implementation knowledge with AWS technologies to expedite a client’s SAP transformation journey.

The collaboration comes at a time when there is growing pressure on organisations to decide how to modernise their SAP environments driven in part by the end of mainstream support for SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) in 2027. Despite the imminent deadline, many organisations are still confused as to which path to take, including when to adopt RISE with SAP, SAP’s bundled offering of cloud solutions, infrastructure, and services that helps migrate SAP ERP to the cloud.

Ireneusz Hołowacz, Director of Application Development Center at GAVDI Polska, said: “A stable, efficient, and cost-effective environment for consultants and programmers is one of the most important priorities of our daily work. Thanks to the migration of our SAP systems to the AWS cloud with the help of SoftwareOne, GAVDI Polska has achieved all the goals set for this process.

In a survey recently conducted by SoftwareOne with Americas’ SAP Users’ Group (ASUG) – the full details of which will be revealed in January 2024 – showed that while 42% of respondents were familiar with RISE with SAP, 40% had heard of it but weren’t familiar with the details and 18% had never heard of it. Over half (52%) said they were still unsure how RISE with SAP would impact their existing relationship with cloud service providers.

“SAP customers have implemented some of the most comprehensive and complex enterprise systems in the industry and moving them to cloud services like AWS requires many important decisions to be made to optimise these investments,” says Joshua Greenbaum, Principal at EAC. “SoftwareOne’s extensive experience in the SAP ecosystem, combined with its unique capabilities around system rationalisation, cost containment, contracts and licenses, and cloud service management, among others, will provide customers deploying on AWS with the ability to make the most of RISE on SAP and other SAP offerings. Ready for RISE on AWS is an important offering for SAP customers at this critical moment in their business transformations.”

The Ready for RISE on AWS bundle will help clients understand their SAP transformation options and offer a comprehensive solution to organisations who consider RISE with SAP. It includes advisory data preparation, conversion services, data and AI, cloud innovation platform, supporting the entire journey to RISE on AWS. Clients will benefit from accelerated Return on Investment (ROI), optimal data management, and cost-saving strategies while laying the foundation for ongoing innovation and long-term business success.

Matt Schwartz, worldwide director, SAP Alliance & Partner Network at AWS, said: “As a valued AWS Premier Consulting Partner, AWS is working closely with SoftwareOne to offer SAP customers comprehensive assistance through each step of their journey to RISE with SAP on AWS. SoftwareOne’s ability to bundle Advisory, Data & AI, Cloud Platform, and Operations considerations can be of high interest to customers who are seeking to understand RISE with SAP as well as the cloud native and operation considerations that surround and support the RISE with SAP construct.”

PF Grillet, SAP Business Lead at SoftwareOne, said: “There are many choices available to SAP clients who know they need to modernise but aren’t sure of the best option, particularly given the business-critical nature of the applications.

“All of our services are centered around our customers and what is right for them. This includes supporting and optimising RISE with SAP in scenarios when it’s the right decision based on their requirements. Our extensive knowledge of and relationship with AWS means we can help them better prepare and achieve a seamless transition to S/4HANA using RISE with SAP on AWS with reduced costs and risks. This collaboration goes beyond preparing businesses for change; it’s making transformation and becoming innovation-ready a reality using AWS technologies.”

The offering includes SNP tooling to reduce a customer’s data footprint and accelerate migration. SoftwareOne will migrate selected data to an AWS data lake, accelerate innovation readiness and ensure SAP data is suitable for broader data analytics and AI use cases. Clients gain access to innovative tools like AWS’ Sagemaker for Machine Learning, continuous data management and optimisation within the AWS environment. The AWS innovation platform also includes Amazon Bedrock that helps organisations accelerate adapting Large Language Models and deploying GenAI use cases that leverage the extended data set.

“While the future innovation opportunities are exciting, clients need to balance these with a pragmatic approach to costs,” explained Marilyn Moodley, Country Leader for South Africa and WECA at SoftwareOne, “We integrate ‘Cost-Out’ recommendations into the core of our services, providing a more cost-effective solution for customers, like reducing the data footprint size and optimising storage and archiving.

“Our expertise in the complexities of SAP licensing further drives cost savings while our FinOps capabilities enable customers to optimise their AWS cloud spend and effectively manage their AWS cloud environment, ensuring full transparency in their budgets. The overall result is a significantly reduced time for RISE migration, which translates into a quicker time to value.”

Tags: AWS, partnership, SAP, SoftwareOne, transition

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