SAP Identity Access Governance (IAG) offers a comprehensive framework that enables companies in any industry to efficiently manage user identities, streamline access requests, maintain compliance, and enforce more advanced security measures across the entire organization.
By combining intuitive, cutting-edge technology with robust data governance capabilities, the SAP IAG solution equips organizations with the tools needed to optimize their identity and access management processes and keep their employee data safe and secure, no matter what.
This article will discuss the key capabilities and advantages of the SAP Cloud Identity Access Governance solution and help you understand IAG’s connection with SAP Access Control and Cloud Bridge solutions, as well as where our team of SAP consultants can come in to help.
Read on to learn more!
What is SAP IAG?
SAP Cloud Identity Access Governance (IAG) is a cloud-based identity and access management solution designed to help users create self-service requests for applications in both on-premise and cloud-based systems. The solution does not replicate or replace SAP Access Control (GRC) in the SAP ecosystem.
SAP IAG is built on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and SAP’s proprietary HANA database, and it leverages SAP NetWeaver APIs to view and manage data, create user access requests, design and assign roles, and analyze access risks across the board.
And, by connecting to the IAG solution, users are enabled to leverage out-of-the-box authorizations and access risk analysis capabilities to analyze SAP Fieldglass requests and initiate requests for target applications.
Key Features Included in the SAP IAG Solution
Let’s take a look at the main features included in SAP Cloud Identity Access Governance:
1) Role Design Service
The Role Design service allows users to leverage machine learning algorithms to access, define, and refine roles within their organization. This allows companies to optimize role definition processes, streamline access governance, and maintain compliant business roles over time.
And, with risk metrics and usage trends across specific roles, companies can evaluate the impact of role-based access on business users and identify areas of improvement for the future.
2) Access Request Service
With the Access Request service, business users are enabled to utilize self-servreice access request forms to manage user and role provisioning processes and leverage compliant provisioning to control user access to both on-premise and cloud-based SAP applications.
This way, companies can integrate SAP Cloud IAG functions with additional SAP Cloud Platform services to use business logic, provisioning, and access management functions more efficiently and effectively.
3) Access Analysis Service
The Access Analysis service makes it easier for security administrators and compliance teams to analyze access risks, refine and remediate access according to audits and requirements, and maintain segregation of duties (SoD) across the entire organization.
Users are also enabled to leverage a dashboard-based user interface to review access risks across their SAP landscape, display defined access-based business processes based on level and similarity, and leverage real-time access insights to support and maintain access compliance management across the board.
4) Access Certification Service
The Access Certification service allows users to review access controls, roles, and risks for on-premise and cloud-based applications, making it easier to review and remediate authorizations if (and when) an employee’s job role changes.
With this service, companies are enabled to certify access across roles and user groups, conduct regular audits for assigned roles, and manage access spread across multiple cloud solutions in the SAP ecosystem.
5) Privileged Access Management Service
By leveraging the Privileged Access Management service, users can manage, monitor, report, audit, and control access in any critical environment across your SAP system, offering better insight into how users with elevated authorization capabilities interact with company data. This service provides similar functions to the Emergency Access Management (EAM) module of the SAP Access Control (GRC) solution.
And, with machine learning capabilities and intuitive tools, this service helps users identify suspicious or fraudulent user access activity to ensure data stays safe and secure and reviewers can audit and assess logged files accurately and efficiently across the entire organization.
Understanding the SAP IAG Bridge
The SAP Cloud IAG Bridge tool makes it easier for companies to connect their SAP Cloud applications and extend on-premise SAP Access Control capabilities to connect system landscapes and business applications and achieve better compliance with regulations and requirements.
With the SAP IAG Bridge, companies are enabled to:
- Connect IAG functions to other cloud applications across the SAP landscape
- Leverage access refinement processes to remediate access governance issues
- Use the Role Designer tool to create user roles based on current assignments
- Conduct cross-application risk analysis using the access analysis service in SAP Cloud IAG
SAP Cloud Platform Integrations for Hybrid Landscapes
The SAP Cloud Platform, a comprehensive platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering, enables seamless cloud deployment and integration between on-premises and cloud environments.
By leveraging these integrations, organizations can unlock the full potential of their hybrid infrastructures, achieving greater flexibility, scalability, and agility in their business operations. Let’s take a look at each integration:
- SAP Cloud Identity Access Governance (IAG): Analyze access risks and resolve issues with segregation of duties (SoD) across teams and departments
- SAP Cloud Identity Authentication Service (IAS): Authenticate users within SAP cloud applications and conduct continuous access analysis for users
- SAP Cloud Identity Provisioning Service (IPS): Provision users to the SAP Cloud Platform and manage cloud environments more effectively
Main Advantages of SAP Cloud Identity Access Governance
Here are a few key advantages of the SAP IAG solution for users across industries…
1) Streamlined Identity Lifecycle Management
SAP IAG provides a centralized platform for managing the entire identity lifecycle, from user provisioning to access requests, deprovisioning, and more.
This streamlines identity lifecycle management, reduces manual effort required by individual users, and ensures that users have the appropriate access rights, no matter what.
2) Enhanced Access Governance
With SAP IAG, organizations can enforce strong access controls and governance policies by leveraging automated access certification processes, segregation of duties (SoD) analysis, and risk assessment capabilities.
This enables businesses to identify and remediate access risks, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and prevent unauthorized access to keep employee data safe and secure.
3) Self-Service Capabilities
The SAP IAG solution empowers users through self-service access request capabilities, allowing them to request access to systems and applications based on predefined roles or through a user-friendly interface. This reduces dependency on IT teams, improves efficiency, and enhances user satisfaction across the board.
4) Improved Security and Risk Management
By implementing SAP IAG, companies can strengthen their security posture and mitigate potential risks for individual users and the organization as a whole.
The solution provides real-time monitoring and alerts for suspicious activities, unauthorized access attempts, and policy violations and enables proactive risk mitigation to ensure sensitive data and systems remain protected.
5) Integration with SAP and Non-SAP Systems
SAP IAG seamlessly integrates with various SAP and non-SAP systems, allowing organizations to manage access across similar landscapes.
It also supports a wide range of applications, databases, directories, and platforms, providing a more unified approach to identity and access management.
6) Simplified Auditing and Reporting
SAP IAG simplifies auditing and reporting processes by offering comprehensive visibility into user access, role assignments, and compliance activities.
The solution generates detailed reports, audit trails, and dashboards, enabling organizations to maintain compliance, fulfill regulatory requirements, and facilitate internal and external audits.
How Can We Help?
Whether you need help implementing new SAP Identity and Access Management solutions, an extra hand creating a plan to deploy SAP Access Control and IAG functionality across platforms like SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud and Google Cloud, or additional support navigating integrated access governance capabilities and identity management functions across your organization, Surety Systems is here to help.
Our team of senior-level SAP consultants has the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to lead you to success, regardless of the complexity of your organizational structure or the nature of your project needs.
Getting Started with Us
Interested in learning more about SAP Cloud Identity services or our expert SAP consultants?
Contact us today to get started with our team!
