SAST SOLUTIONS, your Hamburg-based specialist for SAP Security and Access Governance, is now part of the new Pathlock Group, a one-of-a-kind alliance of international providers of access governance and application security solutions. The alliance’s objective is to lift the understanding and scope of end-to-end security to a new level. Our CEO Bodo Kahl and CTO Ralf Kempf talk about the perspectives that will be opening up to SAST SOLUTIONS and its customers.
Vulnerability Assessment
SAP patch day: How an identified vulnerability paves the way for a patch
Every month, SAP publishes a collection of new and updated SAP Notes involving vulnerabilities in the SAP software on patch day. It’s a key date in the calendar for everyone concerned about security and the subsequent system patching is often very work-intensive and time-consuming. But where do the reports come from and how does SAP find out about them? Does the software vendor intentionally search for vulnerabilities to correct?
Security dashboards – Just a buzzword or a true help with the daily security routine?
Companies that use SAP software, as well as the German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG), are demanding security dashboards to provide for greater transparency and indicate necessary activities. The most critical risks, however, are those that arise as a combination of other events, which are not critical in and of themselves. After all, even the best dashboards aren’t able to display this kind of unidentified security incident.
Takeda trusts in the SAST SUITE to reduce SoD conflicts in their heterogeneous SAP landscape
Takeda, Japan’s largest pharmaceuticals company, manages its business processes in a global, heterogeneous IT landscape. From SAP ERP to SAP Cloud applications, employees work at a variety of levels, depending on their involvement in processes, and therefore need access to a number of systems. As a result, the company has to constantly review conflicting authorizations to meet strict compliance requirements, such as segregation of duties (SoD). Most standard software solutions on the market only monitor SoD conflicts and risks in a single system, however, which led the company to search for an end-to-end solution.
Monitoring SAP system settings centrally – how LINDE keeps an eye on all its SAP systems simultaneously
Incorrect parameter settings in the SAP system, operating system, or database often result in serious security deficiencies. Numerous companies using a central auditing policy developed as a document are up against the same challenges. Typically, parameter values are compared manually with the target requirements, which of course is time consuming. This a lot of effort even just for one single system. As you might imagine, making the comparisons on system-landscape level is that much more complicated. By centralizing monitoring with an automated solution, you can use resources more efficiently while boosting your IT security.
Interview with Ralf Kempf: Secure transformation to SAP S/4HANA
Ralf Kempf, CTO SAST SOLUTIONS, and his team have already guided many enterprises through their migration to SAP S/4HANA. He talked about his recipes for success in an interview with Ulrich Parthier, publisher of it management magazine.
Excerpts from the interview are provided below.
Hacker attack on Düsseldorf University Hospital – cyber criminals got in through the VPN interface
In September 2020, the attack made headlines:
- Hackers responsible for IT disruption at Düsseldorf University Hospital.
- Hackers under investigation: Woman dead after attack on University Hospital.
- Hacker attack on Düsseldorf University Hospital: Investigation into involuntary homicide opened.
A hacker attack can be fatal. Data, goods and assets aren’t the only things to consider: Human lives are at stake where public spaces, in particular public health, is concerned.
Vulnerability Scan, Audit, or Penetration Test: Find the right method for identifying vulnerabilities.
There are many methods for assessing the risk potential of SAP landscapes and identifying potential vulnerabilities, so it isn’t always easy to keep track of all the alternatives. Options range from vulnerability scans to audits and penetration tests. But which approach is the right one for identifying vulnerabilities depends entirely on your individual requirements.
SAP security through virus protection: practical significance for the operation of SAP systems
It is well known that SAP systems present an attractive target for hackers and manipulators. After all, SAP systems gather all the sensitive company data in one place, making it all the more important to protect them against unauthorized access. In addition to conventional measures for improving SAP security and compliance, this includes extensive anti-virus protection adapted specifically to the requirements of SAP systems.
SAP Security Audit Log – recommendations for optimal monitoring
The Security Audit Log allows users with extensive authorizations to be monitored. This is particularly useful for ensuring compliance with both internal security policies and external legal requirements. The SAP standard tool gives an overview of critical activities relevant to security and logs them.