As one of the most widely used enterprise software, SAP applications encompass critical aspects of business operations, ranging from CRM and ERP to financial transactions and supply chain management. The sensitive data contained within the SAP applications are under increasingly rampant threats of data loss. Externally, researchers discovered a 400% increase in ransomware incidents that involved compromising the SAP systems and data in recent years. Internally, dispersed workforce and extended collaboration landscape increased the risks of accidental data leakage.
The imperative to guard against external and internal threats calls for a fine-grained and flexible solution that protects SAP data regardless of where it resides throughout its lifecycle. This is a scenario where a Data Loss Prevention solution can help. DLP is a combination of methods and technologies that categorize, identify, and safeguard sensitive data against unauthorized access, modification, sharing, and use. This article discusses the mechanism and consequences of data leakage in SAP applications, and how a DLP solution can help prevent these disastrous results.
The term data loss is often related to “data breach” and “data leak” but are not strictly interchangeable. The three terms describe unwanted exposure of sensitive data, but they incorporate different types of incidents and characteristics.
Let’s examine the definitions of these three terms:
A DLP solution speaks to all three categories, which cause unwanted exposure of sensitive data to unauthorized parties.
In SAP systems, the risks of data loss are inherent in the daily workflow of an organization. Unauthorized access and modification of databases, whether intentional or not, can easily lead to data loss. In the context of global partnerships, supply chains, and a diversified workforce, it is challenging to restrict data flow within a fixed perimeter. It is common to download and share relevant documents with external users – whether as attachments, document info records, or AO reports – potentially disclosing sensitive information inadvertently.
SAP applications entail various types of sensitive data, including intellectual property, trade secrets, financial data, sales forecasts, customer lists, and pricing information. Therefore, data loss within SAP systems can result in severe financial and legal costs for organizations. For example, mishandling an AO report might expose the company’s trade secrets to unauthorized parties, causing great financial loss, a trust crisis among customers, and potential legal consequences.
Another major concern regarding SAP data leakage is regulatory noncompliance. Companies use the SAP system to process large amounts of Personal Identifiable Information (PII), such as names, Social Security numbers, and addresses. If PII is leaked, companies risk violating regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Whether it involves customer lists, user records, or supply chain collaborators, a PII leak to unauthorized parties can result in enormous costs to restore the data, recover financial losses, and regain reputation.
To prevent financial losses and regulatory noncompliance from the unwanted exposure of sensitive data, it is crucial to implement a solution that safeguards data without compromising work efficiency. In today’s connected world, securing data solely within the perimeter of the SAP systems is insufficient. Global partnerships, a dispersed workforce, and the use of mobile devices require frequent file transfers outside the SAP repository. Therefore, a modern cybersecurity strategy should encompass security measures to safeguard data within the repository, protect data in transit, and track and monitor data access and usage.
A Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution ensures that sensitive information is not transferred outside the corporate SAP network, preventing data breaches, data leaks, and data loss. DLP for SAP allows enterprises to understand and organize their data, protecting the data both within SAP system, and after it leaves the system.
There are some key technologies for a DLP solution:
In adherence to Zero-Trust principles, NextLabs DLP for SAP prevents data loss in a two-fold approach that prevents unauthorized access to sensitive SAP data with Application Enforcer for SAP and offers file-agnostic digital rights protection with Digital Rights Management (DRM) solution.
Application Enforcer for SAP leverages SAP’s classifications and information about users, and utilizes attribute-based policies to enforce proper authorization at runtime. The policies are managed centrally making changing policies much easier with the ability to enforce consistently across a variety of applications.
Also integrated in the application layer, DRM automates protection of data when uploaded to or downloaded from the SAP application – whether on premise or in the cloud. The system classifies the data through a set of policies set and tracked in a central decision point. Implementing these policies, the system encrypts the content as it is being downloaded and saved as a local file (in any format) or as it is sent to the SAP inbox.
NextLabs Digital Rights Management (E–DRM) solution can be applied to the SAP ECC and S/4 HANA systems to protect different types of files, including Office, CAD, source code and rich media.
Watch this video to understand more about NextLabs Data Loss Protection solution for SAP.
Zero Trust Data Centric Security
NextLabs® patented dynamic authorization technology and industry leading attribute-based zero trust policy platform helps enterprises identify and protect sensitive data, monitor and control access to the data, and prevent regulatory violations – whether in the cloud or on premises
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