SAP S/4HANA

The most common mistakes that put your system at risk

Security in SAP S/4HANA is no longer just a purely technical issue, but a strategic business factor. With the increase in integrations, cloud adoption, and remote access, many SAP systems become vulnerable not because of sophisticated attacks, but due to configuration and governance errors

In this article, we analyze the main security mistakes in SAP S/4HANA, often underestimated, that can expose the company to operational risks, data breaches, and compliance issues.

Underestimating the new SAP S/4HANA security model

One of the most common mistakes is treating SAP S/4HANA as just a simple upgrade from ECC.

Why is this a problem?

SAP S/4HANA introduces:

• New authorization objects

• Fiori Apps with different access controls

• OData Services exposed via the web

• Greater integration with SAP BTP and external systems

 Applying old ECC roles without review is a critical security flaw.

verly broad roles and violations of the ‘Least Privilege’ principle

Many productive systems have users with:

• SAP_ALL

• SAP_NEW

• Overdimensioned Z roles

Real risks

• Unauthorized access to sensitive data

• SOX and GDPR violations

• Difficulty in tracking responsibilities

Solution

• Implement the principle of least privilege

• Redesign roles based on real business processes

• Use SAP GRC Access Control or equivalent tools

Security of SAP Fiori Apps: a point often overlooked

Many companies activate SAP Fiori without an adequate security strategy.

Common mistakes

• Fiori catalogs assigned without restrictions

• OData services active but uncontrolled

• Lack of segregation between business and technical users

Impact

A user can access functionalities not intended for their role, even from external browsers.

Lack of control over technical users and RFC

Technical users are often the most dangerous.

Typical problems

• Passwords that never expire

• Shared RFC users

• Lack of logging and monitoring

Recommendations

• Strict password policies

• Use of Secure Network Communication (SNC)

• Monitoring with SAP Security Audit Log

Neglecting the security of integrations and APIs

SAP S/4HANA is increasingly connected: cloud, middleware, partners, custom applications.

Main risks

• APIs exposed without strong authentication

• Non-rotated tokens

• Lack of segregation between environments

Best practice

• OAuth 2.0 authentication

• API Management on SAP BTP.

• Continuous monitoring of calls.

Security patches and SAP notes ignored.

Many companies postpone the application of SAP Security Notes.

Consequences

• Known and easily exploitable vulnerabilities.

• High risk of automated attacks.

• “Non-compliance with security standards.

Patch management must be continuous, not reactive.

No strategy for continuous monitoring and auditing.

Security is not just prevention, but also detection.

Common mistakes.

• Unanalyzed logs

• No alerts on suspicious activities.

• Absence of periodic audits.

Solution

• Centralize the logs.

• Implement automatic alerts.

• Regular security audits.

Conclusion: SAP security is a process, not a project.

Security in SAP S/4HANA cannot be approached as a one-time activity. It requires:

• Governance.

• Awareness.

• Continuous review.

The errors described are not theoretical: they are the main causes of real incidents in modern SAP systems.

Investing in security today means protecting the business of tomorrow.

“Do you want to assess the security level of your SAP S/4HANA system?
A targeted Security Assessment can quickly identify risk areas and corrective actions.