SAP cybersecurity: Best Practices for Protecting Your Business

What is SAP Cybersecurity?

SAP Cybersecurity refers to the set of practices and technologies designed to protect SAP systems and applications from cyber threats such as data breaches, cyber attacks, and unauthorized access. SAP systems are widely used in businesses to manage critical operations and store sensitive business and customer data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Ensuring the security of SAP systems is critical for protecting a company's assets and reputation, and it involves implementing security measures such as: access controls, regular software updates, security audits, and ongoing security training for employees.

Why is SAP Cybersecurity Important?

SAP Cybersecurity is of vital importance because SAP systems store sensitive business and customer data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. A successful cyber attack can result in financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. In addition, cyber attacks on SAP systems can disrupt business operations, resulting in downtime, lost productivity, and typically loss of revenue. Ensuring the security of SAP systems is critical for protecting a company's assets, reputation, and operations. Implementing strong cybersecurity measures can help prevent cyber attacks and data breaches, and can also help companies comply with regulations and industry standards whether they are in the manufacturing, utility, or chemicals industry.

What are Common Threats and Risks to SAP Systems?

Threats

There are several main threats to SAP systems that companies should be aware of as they consider SAP cybersecurity:

Cyber attacks: Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in the SAP system to steal data, launch attacks on other systems, or disrupt business operations.

Malware: Malware such as viruses, worms, and trojans can infect SAP systems and steal sensitive data or give attackers control over the system.

Insider threats: Employees or contractors with authorized access to SAP systems can intentionally or unintentionally cause harm, steal data, or compromise the system.

Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks can trick SAP system users into revealing their login credentials, which can be used to gain unauthorized access to the system.

Configuration weaknesses: Misconfigured SAP systems can have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers, allowing them to gain unauthorized access or steal data.

It is important for companies to identify and address these threats through regular security assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing. This can help ensure the security of SAP systems and protect against cyber attacks and data breaches.

Risks

Potential risks to SAP cybersecurity can be significant and can have serious consequences for businesses. Some key risks include:

Data breaches: Cyber attacks on SAP systems can result in the theft of sensitive business and customer data, including financial information, intellectual property, and personal information.

Financial loss: Data breaches and cyber attacks can result in financial losses for businesses, including costs associated with recovery, legal fees, and regulatory penalties.

Reputation damage: A data breach or cyber attack can damage a company's reputation, leading to loss of trust and potential loss of business.

Business disruption: Cyber attacks on SAP systems can disrupt business operations, leading to downtime and lost productivity. For industries designated as critical infrastructure, this can be devastating both in terms of human impact and in terms of compliance or regulatory standards.

Compliance violations: Data breaches can result in violations of industry regulations and data protection laws, which can result in legal and financial penalties.

It is essential for businesses to take SAP cybersecurity seriously and implement strong security measures to protect against these risks. This includes regular security assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing, as well as ongoing security training for employees and implementation of industry-standard security protocols.

Best Practices of SAP Cybersecurity

Here are some best practices for SAP cybersecurity that businesses can implement to protect their SAP systems:

Implement Access Controls

Control access to SAP systems through role-based access control (RBAC) and use multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Regularly Update Software

Keep SAP software up-to-date with regular patches and updates to fix known vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of cyber attacks.

Conduct Regular Security Audits

Regularly conduct security audits to identify potential vulnerabilities in SAP systems and implement appropriate measures to mitigate risks.

Provide Ongoing Security Training

Ensure that all employees with access to SAP systems receive regular security training to raise awareness of the risks and help prevent attacks.

Monitor User Activity

Monitor user activity on SAP systems to detect suspicious behavior and identify potential security breaches.

Perform Regular Vulnerability Scans and Penetration Testing

Conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers.

Implement Industry Standard Security Protocols

Implement industry-standard security protocols such as encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems to protect SAP systems from cyber threats.

By implementing these best practices, businesses can significantly reduce the risks associated with SAP cybersecurity and ensure the safety of their critical systems and data.

Common Challenges with SAP Cybersecurity

SAP Cybersecurity is Often Forgotten or Left in a Gray Area

ERP systems often fall into a cybersecurity blindspot or gray area, left unprotected against internal misuse and external attacks. The results can be devastating for businesses.

64%
of ERP systems were breached
in the last two years

6
SAP vulnerability alerts were published
by US-CERT in the last five years

70%
of organizations say their application
portfolios have become more vulnerable

Most traditional cybersecurity vendors don’t provide visibility into the application layer of complex ERP implementations.

Securing ERP applications requires visibility that many organizations lack because ERP implementations are highly custom to the business, with:

Dozens of modules
Hundreds of interfaces
Thousands of custom code modifications

Complexity

SAP systems are complex and often require specialized knowledge to configure and maintain. This can make it challenging for businesses to identify potential security risks and implement appropriate security measures.

Integration

SAP systems almost always integrate with other systems and applications, making it difficult to ensure consistent security across all systems and applications.

Lack of Resources

Businesses may not have the necessary resources, including staff and budget, to implement and maintain strong SAP cybersecurity measures, especially when it comes to patch management.

Constantly Evolving Threats

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and businesses must keep up with the latest threats and security measures to stay ahead of attackers

Compliance Requirements

Businesses may be subject to industry regulations and data protection laws that require them to implement specific security measures and comply with reporting requirements.

Overcoming these challenges requires a proactive approach to SAP cybersecurity, including regular security assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing, ongoing security training for employees, and implementation of industry-standard security protocols. It is important for businesses to stay up-to-date with the latest security trends and technologies and to allocate the necessary resources to protect their SAP systems and data.

Take Your Next Step for SAP cybersecurity

Onapsis Research Labs is the only organization focused on finding vulnerabilities within ERP applications. With the discovery of over 1,000 vulnerabilities, Onapsis Research Labs are the undisputed experts in SAP and Oracle security. If you’re ready to secure your ERP, visit our resource center.

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SAP Cybersecurity Tips for CISOs and CIOs

As a CISO or CIO responsible for SAP cybersecurity, here are some tips to help ensure the security of your organization's SAP systems:

Develop a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy

Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes policies, procedures, and guidelines to protect SAP systems from cyber threats. This strategy should be based on industry standards and best practices, such as the NIST cybersecurity framework.

Establish a Risk Management Framework

Establish a risk management framework to identify and prioritize potential risks to SAP systems and develop appropriate controls to mitigate them.

Ensure Compliance with Regulations and Standards

Ensure that your organization's SAP systems comply with relevant regulations and standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.

Conduct Regular Security Assessments

Regularly conduct security assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities in SAP systems and take appropriate measures to address them.