Understanding How Security Works for SAP Cloud Systems

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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The Importance of Security for SAP Cloud Systems

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.

Common SAP Cloud System Vulnerabilities

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.

Weak Authentication

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.

Misconfigured Interfaces

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.

Improper or Insufficient Monitoring

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.

Third-Party Applications

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

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.

How to Protect Your SAP Systems From Loopholes and Vulnerabilities

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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Solidify Your SAP Cloud Security with Approyo

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.

Best Practices for AI in Sales and Marketing SAP

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized modern business operations, and its adoption is rapidly accelerating. In fact, predictions place the global AI market at $407 billion by 2027, with an annual growth rate of 36.2%. Businesses are increasingly integrating AI in sales functions with tools such as chatbots to interact with customers and employees. ChatGPT is the most advanced of these bots and has been the fastest-growing app since its launch.

SAP is another leading tool in today’s business landscape. The powerful software suite helps enterprises manage their entire operation, from supply chain, accounting, and human resource functions to customer relationships, sales, and marketing.

In this guide, we uncover the potential of combining these two powerful business applications for revenue growth through sales and marketing transformation.

Can AI Be Used in Sales and Marketing SAP?

The popularity of ChatGPT has led 45% of executives to increase their investment in AI for their business, especially in sales and marketing efforts aimed at the customer experience. This is a clear sign that execs believe AI has the potential to transform their business and impact their bottom line.

Artificial intelligence functions are enabled by technologies such as machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision.

• Machine learning is the development of algorithms and models that enable computers to learn and make predictions or decisions without much human intervention and programming. ML systems can analyze data, identify patterns, and learn from examples or experiences to independently improve their performance over time.
• Natural language processing uses machine analysis of the structure and patterns of discourse to allow machines to understand human language.
• Computer vision is an AI capable of identifying objects and images.

Generative AI combines these three elements to create new content, solutions, and ideas based on existing patterns and data. This is especially useful for leveraging historic sales and marketing data to create the most effective content and campaigns. What’s more, the ability to apply generative AI to existing SAP software will be an in-demand skill set in future SAP HANA jobs.

ChatGPT is a specific implementation of generative AI, and it’s a game-changing sales and marketing tool for businesses. It understands natural language, analyzes user-inputted text, generates appropriate responses, and performs tasks. You can also train ChatGPT on data sets to improve performance in certain fields. This versatile chatbot has numerous applications and benefits for sales and marketing functions across various industries.

Benefits of Using AI and SAP for Sales and Marketing

By adopting AI in sales and marketing, businesses have changed the way they approach customer service, lead generation, and online campaigns. In his book Mastering SAP: The Power of AI in Business, Christopher M. Carter outlines the following benefits of integrating ChatGPT with SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems:

Personalized Customer Experience

AI enables businesses to use customer data, such as past interactions, preferences, and purchases, to craft more personalized recommendations. Advertising is more targeted, and special offers appeal directly to individual consumer interests. This facilitates better customer experiences and satisfaction, leading to loyalty and repeat sales.

Lead Generation and Conversion

Through AI, companies can use sophisticated algorithms to pinpoint potential leads and assess their conversion potential. For instance, AI can draw on customer data, social media interactions, browsing history, and other relevant details to determine which leads are more likely to purchase. Sales teams can then prioritize high-probability leads.

Sales Forecasting and Revenue Optimization

AI analyzes market trends, competitor analysis, historical sales data, and external factors to create accurate forecasts. This helps businesses make data-driven decisions about inventory management, pricing strategies, and resource allocation to make the most revenue possible.

Improved Customer Service

ChatGPT can handle multiple customer queries simultaneously around the clock. As a virtual assistant or customer care agent, it can offer instant support to guide customers through their sales journey. This decreases the average handling time for routine inquiries. It also reduces sales support costs and improves conversion rates.

Streamline Sales Processes

ChatGPT automates basic sales processes, such as sending follow-up emails, inputting data, and formulating reports. Automation increases productivity and efficiency by reducing repetitive tasks and improving accuracy. Fewer precious leads fall through the cracks, and team members can spend their time on more valuable customer engagement activities.

Optimize Marketing Campaigns

AI enables businesses to identify patterns, trends, and insights in large data sets that can then be used to inform targeted marketing campaigns. For instance, AI algorithms perform A/B tests of page layouts and ad copy to produce real-time recommendations that optimize your return on investment (ROI). Sales leaders can also use churn modeling and customer-journey mapping to identify and improve touchpoints.

Best Practices for Integrating ChatGPT and SAP for Sales and Marketing

To ensure the successful integration of AI tools such as ChatGPT and SAP in sales and marketing, Carter advises businesses to follow these best practices:

• Define Clear Goals: Identify clear and measurable goals for the integration initiative. This might include enhancing lead acquisition, reducing cost-per-conversion, increasing engagement, or boosting conversion rates.
• Ensure Data Quality: ChatGPT relies on highly accurate data to provide reliable, up-to-date recommendations. Before integrating ChatGPT and SAP for sales and marketing, businesses should clean and process their data.
• Choose the Right Solutions and Plan the Integration Process: Plan ahead for ChatGPT and SAP integration to ensure your IT infrastructure can support it. Consider using an expert partner such as Approyo to manage the integration and determine the best fit for your objectives. This can significantly reduce performance issues and downtime.
• Train Employees: Training employees on how to use ChatGPT and SAP is key to maximizing sales and marketing results. The extent of results correlates directly with your team’s ability to fully use these tools to its advantage.
• Ensure Security and Privacy: It’s critical to ensure that the newly integrated systems are secure. They must also comply with the latest privacy regulations.
• Monitor and Adjust: Businesses should continuously monitor and test output quality to ensure consistent results and timely troubleshooting.

Leverage AI in Sales and Marketing With Approyo

By integrating AI in sales and marketing SAP systems, businesses achieve better results at a lower cost. At the same time, consumers benefit from personalized and highly engaging experiences. AI tools such as ChatGPT can also enhance data-driven decision-making, assist in resource allocation, and improve strategic planning.

To get the most out of your SAP integrations, system expertise is critical. With the provision of full SAP technology services, our expert team at Approyo can help you streamline integration for maximum results.

We’re a leading SAP cloud-centric solution provider with extensive capabilities in hosting and managed services, upgrades, and migrations. Connect with our experts today to customize a solution for your unique business needs. And be sure to get your copy of Mastering SAP: The Power of AI in Business.

Future Trends in SAP Cybersecurity That Will Benefit Your Business

Enterprise software from SAP enables many large organizations to process data. In a digital and highly competitive world, this ability is often their key to survival. As such, SAP cybersecurity is a top priority.

Of course, blocking attackers from important data isn’t a one-and-done task. Rather, it’s a dynamic game of cat-and-mouse in which attackers and defenders vie to outmaneuver each other.

It may seem like SAP cybersecurity is already a big issue in business. But in the coming years, experts predict it will become an even hotter topic. The pace of growth remains high for digital technology, online attacks, and new defenses. Coming developments will bring massive security advantages to companies that know how to use them.

For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology are grabbing news headlines and receiving major investments. You can also expect quantum computing to go mainstream down the road. And methods such as DevSecOps and Zero Trust are winning converts in tech circles.

Embracing the Future of SAP Cybersecurity

All these exciting trends promise to deliver improved protection against the growing menaces to business. But the new technologies pose a challenge to the organizations that want to adopt them. There’s generally a learning curve for innovations; and in some cases, it’s too steep for a company to climb. What’s more, some of these technologies are double-edged swords that add new capacities but expose data to new risks.

Managed security solves these problems by offering the services of technology professionals who understand the innovations deeply. Providers such as Approyo stay on top of the tech through comprehensive cloud solutions such as monitoring, installation and upgrades, and SAP cybersecurity management. This means you can access the benefits of cutting-edge technology without the usual worry, cost, or risk.

Trends Affecting SAP Cybersecurity

Those responsible for IT should track the latest trends. These developments affect SAP cybersecurity by presenting new ways to tighten the system’s safeguards. Ongoing improvements apply to all levels: the basic hardware and network, the database and applications, organizational procedures, and so on.

1. Cloud Technology

The cloud is a spread-out set of IT resources that flexibly deliver both computation and storage. SAP has bet on the cloud, focusing development efforts on its cloud-based solutions. Some of these products and services are already available. But the trend is toward ever greater use of the cloud to host deployments like SAP S/4HANA Cloud and its database SAP HANA Cloud.

As companies move their enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to the cloud, they’ll see more benefits to security, scalability, and cost. In addition, cloud-based SAP installations have multiple layers of defense. The facilities use physical, network, and software measures. But there are also security challenges, such as migrating and managing data.

Expert-led cloud transformation addresses these challenges. A careful assessment underpins the cloud strategy. Application modernization and regulatory compliance built on this strategy bring your systems up to snuff. With managed security for the leading cloud platforms, you’ll have SAP cybersecurity you can trust.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Typically, computers were programmed to perform specific calculations in a direct, logical sequence. But more recent techniques powered by AI actually mimic human thinking. Machine learning (ML) is one such approach—devices are programmed to experiment with a problem until they find their own answer.

AI and ML are exploding in popularity, with new applications regularly coming to market. In terms of SAP cybersecurity, AI and ML enable organizations to recognize and resolve threats before they cause damage. For example, a bank could teach a machine learning algorithm to identify hacking attempts. It could then shut down attacks before they break into customer accounts.

3. Blockchain

Blockchain technology is even newer than cloud or AI technology. Basically, a blockchain ledger records transactions over the internet in a secure fashion. These transactions are often for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, but there are many other interesting blockchain uses. For instance, future businesses may use “smart contracts,” and global finance and logistics will come to depend on blockchain technology.

When it comes to SAP cybersecurity, blockchain can protect the authenticity of business data. Because a blockchain ledger produces a record of events that cannot be modified, it will prevent people from tampering with your data. This is critical for data integrity, which lies at the foundation of the information systems driving modern business.

SAP is a longstanding contributor to the Hyperledger Project that’s bringing highly secure blockchain to more industries. For SAP cybersecurity, the use of blockchain could also bring more trust to the open-source modules used within enterprise software by tracking contributions flawlessly.

4. Quantum Computing

Compared to the other trends, quantum computing is the farthest from current technology in terms of its practicality for business. Classical computers work by sending electricity through a number of logic gates. By contrast, quantum computing relies on the more recently discovered physical phenomena called “superposition” and “entanglement.”

What this means for SAP cybersecurity is that future quantum computers may be able to break the encryption now in use.

Think of all the encrypted financial information, medical information, military and government data, and enterprise data that exists. Now, think of all that data out in the open. Threat actors are “harvesting” and stockpiling data to decrypt when quantum hacking becomes feasible. So, technology firms will need to develop quantum-resistant encryption schemes.

On the other hand, quantum cryptography enables new features like secure key sharing. Only the sending and receiving parties should have the key to unlock encrypted messages. With conventional technology, an attacker could try to steal the key undetected. But with quantum mechanics, any such attempts on a future quantum system would be found out.

5. DevSecOps and Zero Trust Methodologies

There are two models gaining steam among software professionals that help ensure SAP cybersecurity. One of them, DevSecOps, takes its name from the combination of development, security, and operations in IT. This approach uses automation extensively throughout the software lifecycle to make businesses more agile. Security is considered a core component of the entire process, not an add-on as in earlier methodologies.

The other model is called Zero Trust. As the name implies, this architecture doesn’t allow any connected device or user to access data without proper verification. With the increasing connectivity of workplaces, it’s becoming untenable to grant access beyond what’s truly necessary. In Zero Trust, even if someone has logged in before or is working from the corporate intranet, the system still has to authenticate them anew.

DevSecOps and Zero Trust join the technology-based trends generating stronger SAP security. Incidentally, these trends don’t work in isolation—they interconnect. For instance, quantum computing must now be taken into account for Zero Trust models to protect against future attacks. A complete solution provider can assist your organization with all these tactics.

Prepare for the Future of SAP Cybersecurity With Approyo

Hacks are growing in number and complexity each year. These attacks threaten to overwhelm companies that aren’t prepared. Fortunately, there are also several technologies in development to counteract the threats.

For instance, cloud technology is already on the scene and continues to expand its presence. Approyo has in-depth expertise in providing cloud solutions that future-proof enterprises. We also have vast experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Emergent technologies like blockchain and quantum computing are drastically altering the competitive environment. What’s more, new methodologies, including DevSecOps and Zero Trust will rise to the occasion to enhance SAP cybersecurity. A knowledgeable technology partner is crucial to make it through the tough years ahead.

Learn more about these threats and their solutions in this book, Mastering SAP: Protecting Your SAP Environment in Today’s Cybersecurity World.

Now is the time to safeguard your data for the future. Connect with Approyo today for a free SAP cybersecurity consultation.

Most Common Questions about SAP S/4HANA Migration by Businesses on the Fence

SAP, one of the largest enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions in the world, is evolving. SAP S/4HANA is the latest version of this popular business suite. And in light of its unique architecture that facilitates faster, real-time analytics and computational capabilities, SAP S/4HANA migration is a hot topic for many enterprises!

For over 40 years, SAP has been a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes, helping them execute mission-critical tasks—to the point that the software has become an integral part of business operations. However, come 2027, SAP will end support for its current business suite applications. Although this is in large part being done to encourage SAP S/4HANA migration, the advantages of the new generation’s performance enhancements are undeniable.

If your business is still on the fence about data migration to S/4HANA, then you’re missing out on its increased efficiencies, flexibility, and ease of use. And the longer you wait for the transition, the farther you’ll fall behind the competition.

Why Should We Migrate to SAP S/4HANA?

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Data migration to S/4HANA is more than just a technical upgrade—it’s a tool to transform your business. Full migration brings with it a multitude of benefits and an enviable return on investment.

Here are 3 compelling reasons to consider the upgrade.

1. Improved performance

SAP S/4HANA is designed to improve performance in multiple ways. Its most important feature is in-memory technology. Here, embedded analytics enable faster processing of data as well as generating insights in real time. Moreover, centralized data helps with coordination across different departments.

2. Digital Transformation

Many companies have large and complex data landscapes that are increasingly difficult to manage or have become redundant over time—all of which can be costly to clean up.

Harmonizing data is a core feature of digital transformation. S/4HANA can migrate historical data, remove duplications, and consolidate trusted data into a single structure. This makes your data systems more streamlined and efficient.

Another major benefit of S/4 HANA is that it allows the automation of repetitive tasks, using more than 150 robotic process automation (RPA) bots. Moreover, its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology automates data collection and generates intelligent insights.

3. Cost Saving

SAP S/4HANA migration can help you cut costs in several ways. Thanks to its in-memory technology and simplified data model, you won’t have to invest in additional IT infrastructure. Further, as it reduces data redundancy, even the maintenance expenses go down. You’ll also notice significant cost savings in day-to-day operations.

S/4HANA's real-time processing and analytics capabilities help companies make better-informed decisions and take corrective actions faster. HANA provides a single, integrated view of business processes to reduce errors and improve efficiency.

How Long Will It Take to Fully Implement?

The timeline for implementing SAP S/4HANA migration differs from company to company. Critical criteria include the complexity of the project, the size of your organization, and the level of customization required. Full implementation may take anywhere from six months to over a year, including the time required for testing, migration, and troubleshooting.

Because these steps can be complex and time-consuming, enterprises frequently opt for a phased implementation of SAP S/4HANA migration. This means starting with a specific business unit before rolling it out fully. The benefits of this approach lie in minimizing disruption as well as allowing you to become more accustomed to the system before tackling full implementation.

Do remember, however, that the implementation process doesn’t end with the initial deployment. Going forward, you’ll need to consider ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and improvements to keep the system running smoothly.

To minimize the risk of delays or complications, it makes sense to work with an experienced SAP partner or consultant who can guide you through the implementation process.

What Is Needed to Fully Implement SAP S/4HANA?

SAP provides several tools to make data migration easier. Here are some that you’ll need for installing SAP S/4HANA and migrating data.

SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit

The SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit automates data migration and data cleansing. It’s a user-friendly and intuitive process. The cockpit provides a step-by-step approach to migration, which includes pre-checks, system preparation, testing, and post-migration activities. You can also use this tool to track and troubleshoot any errors that may occur during the migration process.

Moreover, the migration cockpit lets you perform a "simulation" or a dry run. This helps to test the process, validate the steps, and identify any issues that could potentially result in data loss or corruption.

SAP S/4HANA Migration Object Modeler (MOM)

MOM defines and maps data migration objects, made up of individual data elements, between the source and target systems. Further, it provides a data modeling feature that allows users to create and edit data models. This is useful for preventing data corruption.

SAP Landscape Transformation (SLT)

SAP Landscape Transformation (SLT) is a tool used for real-time data replication and data integration between different systems. This means that any changes made to the data in the source system are immediately replicated in the target system. The result is near real-time data availability—a hugely useful feature for reporting and analytics.

Software Provisioning Manager (SWPM)

The SWMP is what you use to create a backup of the system prior to migration. In addition, to help with installing new software and migrating the data, it performs post-migration tasks, such as updating the system configuration and applying post-migration patches.

In addition to these migration tools, you’ll need to develop a comprehensive project plan that outlines the scope, timelines, and milestones of the implementation, and dedicate a project team for the task—not to forget training end-users and IT staff to ensure proper system usage and maintenance.

Will Our Third-Party Add-Ons Impact the Migration?

Any customized changes you’ve made to your existing SAP system won’t necessarily be compatible with the new system. And if re-coding or replacement is required, it will increase the time and resources required for the migration. To avoid this, first, do a code review and impact analysis to determine whether these custom developments can be replaced by standard SAP functionalities.

As an added precaution, you should retest third-party add-ons once the migration is complete. This will determine whether the custom developments are working as expected.

Approyo: Your Data Migration Partner

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Migration to SAP S/4HANA fits perfectly with your company's digital transformation goals—making your business more agile, capable, and productive. Moreover, with support for the current SAP suite set to end by 2027, it's important to make the migration now.

Partnering with an experienced SAP cloud provider like Approyo can make your migration process close to seamless. Approyo has managed over a thousand SAP environments worldwide. To start with, they’ll conduct a thorough discovery and assessment to ascertain your cloud readiness. After this, their dedicated IT team will map out the entire process for migrating your system, based on best practices. Approyo also provides options for ongoing support and monitoring after project completion.

With Approyo, you can trust that your workload migration will be stress-free and efficient. Contact them today for a consultation.

SAP Database Protection: A Blueprint to Guarding Your Important Information

The modern business ecosystem increasingly relies on SAP systems. At the heart of this technology is an SAP database, which manages information for an entire enterprise. While this pivotal technology makes businesses more agile, it also exposes mission-critical data to cybersecurity threats. So, well-designed database protection is essential.

Managed security protection covers organizations against the growing menaces they face. The only way to stay ahead of the threats is to employ industry-leading practices.

For instance, Approyo’s 24/7 threat detection enables instant response times. It protects the SAP database as well as your network and connected devices, covering vulnerabilities and identifying risks. In addition, Approyo’s Overwatch technology monitors both cloud and on-premise environments to secure your enterprise data. Real-time reports and expert consultations keep your team abreast of SAP database security.

The key to navigating the modern threat landscape is knowing who’s doing what with your data. Let’s explore the most common database threats that businesses face, along with best practices to protect your sensitive data.

Threat Landscape for SAP Databases

The leading cybersecurity challenges come when bad actors threaten to steal or destroy sensitive information. With businesses now reliant on their data, such breaches affect their survival prospects. An attack that breaks into an SAP database could lead to severe problems such as fines and litigation, lost customers, and stolen trade secrets.

What’s more, the threat landscape constantly evolves, with new attacks developing to counter available defenses. One of the more common threats is phishing. Basically, cybercriminals trick employees into revealing sensitive information like database passwords. Numerous variants have also developed, including spear phishing. This targets a specific individual rather than casting the net among several victims.

Ransomware is a particularly pernicious attack in which data is encrypted so your enterprise can’t access it. The perpetrators then demand payment to unlock your data—a bargain they may not uphold. Ransomware falls under the broader category of malware, which is malicious software that harms a system.

Another category of attack is distributed denial of service (DDoS). These crimes use overwhelming traffic to defeat a system’s normal defenses. An SAP database hit by such an attack may become slow or unusable due to the massive influx of connections.

Many hacks are conducted by individuals or groups unknown to the victim. But in some cases, insider threats occur from employees, contractors, or others who have access to your infrastructure. These threats impose additional challenges, since it’s harder to tell if employees are using their credentials properly or improperly. It’s also tougher to limit insider permissions while still letting people do their jobs.

SAP Database Threats

All these threats to your database can strike at any moment. For instance, hackers actively scan SAP ports to find security holes they can take advantage of. There are more than a thousand such weaknesses.

A complex environment contains an SAP database as well as applications and configurations. The custom code that enterprises commonly use exposes yet more SAP vulnerabilities, which hackers then exploit. One security flaw enabled attackers to completely take over unpatched systems, reading and writing any SAP database record.

New cloud deployments can be located and attacked in just three hours. Within a day of finding a vulnerability, the attackers can develop a break-in tool. And in under three days, they can clean out your organization. Given the great risks to business, you must be proactive and prepare for attacks.

Blueprint for SAP Database Protection

Securing your SAP database takes a multi-faceted approach, integrating various protective measures. Techniques like access controls and encryption work together to shield the database comprehensively. Approyo CEO Christopher Carter outlines these techniques and more in his book, Mastering SAP: Protecting Your SAP Environment in Today's Cybersecurity World.

Carter shares a five-step blueprint for protecting your SAP database. These best practices will solve your security problems and streamline your processes to improve your overall efficiency. It’s like having Approyo’s certified SAP consulting services in your back pocket. Let’s dig in.

1. Establish Robust Access Controls

Access control lets you restrict who can use which resources in an SAP database. There are multiple approaches, such as role-based access, in which users are assigned to permission groupings. For example, your organization could have roles for cashiers, managers, marketing, HR staff, and so forth.

Robust access controls limit privileges to only those necessary to do specific jobs. These controls can prevent unauthorized access, minimizing the risk of insider threats.

Access controls can also limit the damage done by other attacks. Say a hacker uses phishing on a naive secretary. Most of your organization’s data will remain protected.

2. Strengthen Password Policies

A common way for attackers to gain access to sensitive data is by taking advantage of weak or default passwords. An improved password policy addresses this issue and bolsters SAP database protection.

Your system should enforce a minimum password complexity and length, with frequent expiration. That way, employees will have varied passwords that are difficult for criminals to guess. You should also advise employees to not reuse their SAP database passwords for other systems.

Strong password policies serve as an initial line of defense against attempts at unauthorized access. They complement access controls to prevent people from abusing your resources, enhancing your overall database security. Another related measure is not storing passwords in plain text, which brings us to encryption measures.

3. Deploy Encryption Measures

Database encryption is the application of mathematical techniques to conceal information. It’s a highly secure way to protect passwords and other sensitive material. Any private data should be encrypted. In many cases, such as financial or medical data, encryption is a legal requirement.

SAP database technology includes functionality for encryption. This applies to data that’s both “at rest” (in storage) and “in transit” (being moved). You can encrypt individual columns like credit card numbers or the entire database.

When used correctly, encryption measures prevent data exposure—even in the event of a breach. The attacker won’t be able to see the contents of the stolen data.

4. Enact Security Monitoring and Routine Log Reviews

To ensure your other measures are working as desired, it’s important to have proactive security monitoring and routine log reviews. If you have a misconfigured access control policy—or if someone’s cracked a password—you’d want to notice as soon as possible. Security monitoring detects unauthorized access attempts and other anomalies.

Real-time monitoring enables you to detect unusual activity or violations. It’s like having a security camera system for your SAP database. Suspicious activity triggers a response, identifying problems before they become unmanageable.

5. Execute Patch Management

Any software can have vulnerabilities, so developers create “patches” that fix these vulnerabilities when they’re found. Regular patch management is a critical step in maintaining the security of your SAP database. Unpatched vulnerabilities are often exploited to break into a system.

All too often, organizations delay or ignore patches. SAP publishes frequent updates as it discovers new vulnerabilities. In a given year, it may release over a hundred SAP Security Notes with patches.

An unpatched database can grant criminals access to your complete database, along with the underlying operating system and connected systems. It’s the worst security outcome, revealing why it’s necessary to use the best protection: working with a demonstrated technology partner.

Secure Your SAP Database With Approyo

SAP database protection is critical for the many enterprises relying on this software. The threat landscape poses a broad range of challenges, including dangerous attacks like ransomware and denial of service.

Use industry best practices such as access controls, strong password policies, and encryption to tackle these problems. Security monitoring ensures these measures work properly, and patch management keeps your software up-to-date.

Database security is an ongoing process. You must be vigilant and adaptable to survive in an ever-evolving environment. Approyo’s 24/7 monitoring and best-in-class security processes protect hundreds of SAP deployments. Plus, the secure-by-design philosophy means problems are identified and fixed faster and at a lower cost.

Our dedicated team of experts is on hand to provide your organization with unparalleled defense. Contact Approyo now for a free security consultation that’s tailored to your unique requirements.

What Is Government Doing to Protect American Tech Companies in Foreign Places?

American tech companies are actively expanding into global markets to both grow their customer bases and access new pools of talent. However, this international reach also exposes them to new threats to safety and security. For instance, foreign threat actors including governments regularly target American data and intellectual property.

A security breach can cost a business in numerous ways. Lost data impacts its ability to continue operations. What’s more, criminals may sell an organization’s confidential information or commit blackmail. There’s also the threat of fines for failure to protect sensitive information.

The Government’s Role in Protecting American Tech Companies

Fraud protection and data security are the responsibility of American tech companies and the government. The U.S. government has taken some steps to protect businesses from foreign influence. For instance, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews foreign investments in U.S. companies—and their national security implications.

But is this enough? China has been accused of acquiring American tech companies to steal technology and overtake America as a tech innovator. Russia actively fights against American interests. Foreign countries may also use stolen tech to spy on U.S. citizens.

As innovation becomes more critical to the economy, there’s growing pressure for the American government to do more to protect the nation’s tech firms. Otherwise, we risk the collapse of a company’s—or even the country’s—infrastructure.

Technology fuels everything from businesses and personal activities to military applications. It’s so widespread that people take it for granted. But the United States can’t afford serious losses to its IT sector; finance, health, and transportation rely on secure data. Reinforced policies are necessary.

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The Threat of Data Theft to American Tech Companies

As data becomes a more valuable commodity, it’s attracting the attention of criminals. Thieves who make off with business data can sell it on the black market or exploit it for themselves. For instance, hackers can drain bank accounts using stored credentials or threaten to expose customers’ private information to the public.

American tech companies are particularly susceptible to threats because they rank among the most innovative on the planet. Criminals plot against these organizations for economic and political gain. They can steal data from company servers or from American employees working overseas.

Now that people and resources depend heavily on information, the government must defend it.

The Cost of Data Theft

Companies should know the risks of doing business overseas. For one thing, they’re vulnerable to data breaches, ransomware, and other attacks. Financial losses can add up to millions of dollars for a single occurrence. But the loss of reputation and customers can be even more severe.

And in the aggregate, it’s not just about individual companies—they’re also putting the country at risk. American security depends on tech leadership. The defense and finance of the nation are now tied to its technology.

Tech enlarges the size of an attack—a single exploit can affect thousands of organizations. What’s more, practically everyone is now exposed to data in the cloud. Medical and financial data are especially vulnerable to hacks. And it’s not just outright theft that’s a risk, but also the acquisition of sensitive data through corporate mergers and joint ventures.

For example, foreign companies may offer several times the market value to acquire American companies. That should raise suspicions. These companies may have close ties to their governments and may be purchasing American companies for their data and trade secrets.

How to Improve Current Policies

The U.S. government can improve its defense of American tech companies by increasing its oversight of international mergers. After all, takeovers risk putting unique tech in enemy hands. And it’s not just military technology that’s sensitive; medical technology also exposes U.S. lives to threats and should have stronger oversight.

Oversight should focus on a combination of risks: corporate takeovers, exports of sensitive technology, overseas operations, and security policies for data stored in international cloud facilities. A new federal agency specifically dedicated to this task would make sense.

Often enough, the U.S. government responds to threats only after tech companies report them. The government should instead anticipate security risks more actively and collaborate more closely with the private sector.

At the same time, U.S. government intervention has already slowed down some investment in American tech companies. Therefore, policies must strike a balance in which they protect businesses against overseas threats without unduly interfering in the market.

America Needs Firm Policies in Place

The U.S. intelligence community has recently started advising American tech companies on emerging technologies to protect. This information should be more widespread and updated as new advances unfold. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) and other developments may overturn the world order. If America wants to remain ahead, policies must recognize which technologies and companies need defense.

The Chinese and Russian governments are employing all means at their disposal—including illegal measures—to gain a strategic advantage. They’re willing to hack into U.S. companies and place insiders to access data.

As a result, America and its tech companies must understand the situation as a potential conflict and enact policies appropriate to this level of implications. Foreign governments are attempting to usurp America’s technology lead. Only firm policies will staunch the loss of data and security.

The foreign powers threatening U.S. technology companies are run by dictators who don’t share American values. Therefore, the United States should enforce strict requirements on proposed mergers and joint ventures. It should also spend resources securing data on particularly important innovations. Finally, violations of American data security must be found and punished.

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Protecting American Tech Companies

While there’s plenty of opportunity for American tech companies to do business internationally, there are also plenty of risks. Data breaches have become more common and larger in size. Foreign attackers are working to undermine the safety and security of U.S. data—and the American public.

Government protections have only gone so far. More resources geared toward modern security threats and greater public-private cooperation will help protect American technology and data. Innovation will continue as policies improve. In the meantime, tech companies and the people who rely on their products and services must remain alert.

American tech companies like Approyo are working to improve data security internationally. For instance, Approyo’s Overwatch monitors IT infrastructure for clients globally, 24/7/365. Contact us today to see how we can help secure your business.

SAP S/4HANA Adoption: The Ultimate 2023 Roadmap

SAP S/4HANA adoption is gaining pace across the business community—including new and existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) customers.

The new ERP system from SAP—S/4HANA—adds exciting new features and capabilities to boost performance, productivity, and growth. It’s the biggest overhaul since R/3 in 1992, and leverages cloud-enabled technologies to optimize business processes.

S/4HANA runs on an extremely fast in-memory database that increases the system’s speed and intelligence. Further, it includes finance, logistics, extended warehouse management, and more in a single solution. However, while the benefits of S/4HANA migration are extensive, the transition is also somewhat more complicated than previous upgrades.

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The Six Steps to SAP S/4HANA adoption

Each step of SAP S/4HANA adoption helps to ensure a worry-free installation—and an enterprise system that will last for years.

The stages include discovery, preparation, exploration, realization, deployment, and implementation, and generally occur in a series. However, depending on your schedule, it’s possible to work on two or more stages in parallel to accelerate deployment. Take note that while these stages apply to SAP S/4HANA itself, the process can be modified for add-on software.

Switching to SAP S/4HANA involves a range of challenges for the deployment team. These can be categorized into areas such as project management, architecture, configuration, testing, and support. Every one of these stages is critical, and working together is vital to achieving a smooth and efficient transition.

Quality “gates” between each step help to validate the progress of adoption. Should any of these checks fail, return to the previous stage to iron out the issues. Some tasks occur within a single stage, while others extend over several. In combination, these six stages will carry an organization into the digital future of big data and real-time analytics.

1. Discovery

Start the journey to SAP S/4HANA adoption by exploring the technology and ways in which it can benefit your organization. Anything learnt during this stage will feed into a successful transition through the other stages. Here, you’ll discover the business value of the solution and how it fits into company processes.

With a cloud trial, you’re able to demonstrate how the new platform functions. Cloud technology hosts the enterprise resource planning data in servers at different geographic locations. The result is infrastructure flexibility and cost-effectiveness along with resilient security features.

A discovery assessment investigates the project scope and produces a report that can be used later on in the implementation phase. A key feature here is the in-depth insight it provides into the capabilities of the S/4HANA Cloud. Moreover, it brings together all the documentation related to organizational requirements.

You can edit the discovery assessment online at any time. To assist, there’s a purpose-built app that helps in identifying the necessary features and systems. You’re also free to ask SAP for clarification. Thereafter, the report is made available for use in the subsequent stages.

Application value and scoping complements the discovery assessment. This process addresses business rather than technical needs and identifies the rewards (or justifications) for moving to S/4HANA.

A separate analysis searches for potential road blocks to the deployment. If any such problems are found, they have to be dealt with before moving forward. The overriding rationale behind all these analyses and reports in the discovery phase is to ensure it makes sense for your business to prepare for and use S/4HANA.

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2. Preparation

Once you know what SAP S/4HANA is all about, it’s time to ready people and resources to deploy the new solution. A successful deployment depends on adequate preparation. This stage initiates the busiest elements of the implementation.

In the planning stage, familiarize yourself with the SAP documentation. Then, allow employees access to SAP resources—for instance, their support portal and best practices information. SAP will also connect your organization with the S/4HANA system.

Now you can now establish the project team environment, assign users, and determine goals. Tasks are given to specific users and their status is tracked.

During the course of preparation, the team studies the components of SAP tools at their own speed. It’s smart to learn as much as possible prior to deployment—and while you’ve got the time. Moreover, this will enhance efficiency at later stages.

The preparation stage marks the official start of the project, which has gone from an idea to an active area of work . It’s important that the manager in charge defines responsibilities and ensures that the necessary information and commitment are present.

Governance documents set the ground rules for how the project will be run going forward. This is where it’s vital for internal staff and executives to be on the same page as the implementation partner and other stakeholders.

Before instigating SAP S/4HANA, ensure you develop a schedule and a budget. This includes planning tasks and timetables for the initial deployment period. Project management should include enough structure to support the scale of the endeavor. Document the risks, changes, and other variables.

The project is now on a schedule, which can adapt to the unfolding progress and events. Preparations to start using the system are complete.

3. Exploration

The exploration phase of SAP S/4HANA adoption involves trying out the technology to see how it works in practice. At this point, you need to become more closely acquainted with the system itself. In addition to monitoring performance, address any discrepancies from the initial plan now.

Throughout exploration, it’s crucial to communicate with team members and assess the quality of output and presence of risk. The project doesn’t need to go precisely according to plan, but adjustments should be documented.

Perform a fit-to-standard analysis to validate the solution’s functionality and determine whether business requirements can be satisfied. There are workshops designed around the various aspects of S/4HANA to show you how the technology addresses business needs.

This analysis facilitates execution and highlights any areas where new requirements appear. It’s worthwhile going through fit-to-standard analysis several times to iron out any unexpected complications, noting updated configurations to include in the next phase.

At this stage, workshops will go over standard processes and ideas and see how they fit into the organization’s needs. Further, they examine any additional requirements, such as integrating with other software. As a result, you should be able to determine the appropriate configuration for execution. Ideally, you should document the entire analysis.

After the workshop, system experts begin running the standard processes. This is when everyone needs to be brought up to speed with the tools and confirm (or deny) decisions that were made earlier. Exploration provides an opening to course-correct while it’s still relatively easy.

Also, while in the “Exploration” stage, it’s helpful to plan and design for several activities, for example, extension and integration. This involves detailing which add-on packages from SAP or other vendors to use. You can also consider how to use analytics and artificial intelligence, which are key features of S/4HANA.

4. Realization

Here, you’ll build and test systems based on processes identified in “Exploration” phase. The basic ERP system is now in place, and you’re establishing its functionality.

In this phase, your company’s data goes into the environment. Plans are made for the go-live event itself and for ongoing operations after the switch. Further, steps are taken to plan for SAP S/4HANA adoption by users.

Thereafter, the test, development, and production systems and business configuration are engaged. SAP S/4HANA has to be configured in accordance with the fit-to-standard analysis before use. Any integrations should also be configured now. System access is enabled for users, while test and production configurations are kept in sync via a transport process.

Extensions can now be transported to the test and production systems. If setup guides are necessary, they’re produced at this time. This applies to key-user extensions, developer extensions, and side-by-side extensions.

Your organization should make easy-to-understand information available for users. Further, change management must take into account the expected transition. You can finalize any additional actions at this stage.

This is also the time to do build-test-document sprints, each of which may take a week or two. When the development system is configured, corrections are made, transported to the test system, and then to the production system. Bear in mind that SAP regularly releases software updates, which need to be reviewed.

Then, you need to prepare the system for robotic process automation (RPA), which is a modality of artificial intelligence (AI) used in S/4HANA. The relevant applications are installed and tested before being moved into production. The same sequence also applies to analytics functionality.

After you’ve documented the strategy and scheduled the transition to powering business operations, the system is finally ready for deployment.

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5. Deployment

With the technology vetted, you can set up production systems, test the business’s readiness, then switch operations to the new systems. S/4HANA goes into “Run” status, and after the cutover it will be live.

The production cutover involves business and technical actions in the days leading up to the big switch. This includes final setup for the production system and interface connections. It also covers the migration of data from any previous systems.

If any other entities are going to be affected by the transition, such as partners or suppliers, they should be notified ahead of time. This is also an opportunity to make final adjustments or decisions.

The process of training staff on the new system helps ensure that the organization is ready. That said, it will still take some time for business operations to become completely normalized for personnel. Therefore, monitoring should continue from the earlier phases and into deployment.

Deployment is also the stage at which any remaining organizational change management should be executed. Thereafter, your company will be operationally ready to make full use of the system. SAP S/4HANA adoption is now embedded into the enterprise.

At this point, the deployment team should verify that the project has met its goals, noting any issues for further work as well as completing regulatory documentation. After transitioning has taken place, the company can shut down any remaining legacy systems.

6. Implementation

Finally, after deployment, you can focus on fine-tuning the implementation, which includes further optimizing and automating the system. Having successfully adopted a new ERP system, the business should now be confidently employing the technology. This stage covers the ongoing use of SAP S/4HANA.

Automation can dramatically improve the system’s performance, helping it to function in a stable and efficient manner. Most importantly, it must remain available for users and facilitate the planned-for business activities.

Routine tests can verify that processes are running normally. Further, with continuous improvement, you’ll be able to elevate your company’s performance levels. In other words, deployment isn’t the end of the story. Experts will be able to identify additional areas where S/4HANA enhances business processes, as well as finding new features to incorporate.

Make use of benchmarking to reveal the degree of benefit afforded by S/4HANA production, as well as areas for improvement. Comparing results from the “Discovery” stage to those in the “Implementation” stage should make the differences clear as day.

Key performance indicators pertain to all business functions, including sales and finance. SAP provides real-time data on process maturity and best practices in relation to industry standards. Value management then supports the organization in working toward long-term goals. Taken together, the technology, lessons, and operational improvements gained from SAP S/4HANA adoption serve to put your business on the right track.

Make 2023 Your Year of SAP S/4HANA Adoption

The new enterprise software from SAP introduces a whole different way of managing data. The unique architecture and in-memory database provide enhanced capabilities, innovative features, and optimal speed—all guaranteeing improved performance for your company. Further, by following these six stages of SAP S/4HANA adoption, the transition becomes more manageable.

Approyo is the leading full SAP service provider, able to take care of upgrades and new installations as well as managing secure global infrastructure. If you’re looking for a partner to support your SAP S/4HANA transition, Approyo can help make the migration seamless.