As organisations transition to SAP S/4HANA, the need for robust security measures becomes critical amid rising threats.
Going into 2025, the landscape for SAP teams is set to become increasingly complex, with a myriad of new security threats emerging alongside existing liabilities. As organisations transition to SAP S/4HANA, prioritising the security of these new environments will be critical. The challenge lies significantly in safeguarding cloud-based applications from various security threats, as highlighted by trends in the industry.
Many businesses currently rely on SAP Access Control to fulfil their governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) needs. However, limitations persist within this framework, especially concerning third-party applications such as Ariba, Salesforce, and Concur, which operate outside the core SAP ERP environment. Consequently, companies face a risk concerning access control that is not cohesively managed across all applications, leaving gaps that can potentially expose vulnerabilities.
In response to the pressing need for improved access management, many companies are gravitating towards solutions like Pathlock Cloud. This tool is designed to seamlessly integrate with SAP as well as widely-used applications, offering firms a unified solution to enforce their GRC policies across the entire organisation. The Pathlock Cloud solution enables businesses to manage user access systematically, providing a comprehensive oversight that ensures relevant concerns are addressed.
Pathlock Cloud enhances operational efficiency for GRC teams by allowing them to track the user lifecycle—ranging from onboarding to offboarding. By linking user access levels to human resources systems, companies can effectively prevent excessive access and privileges from being granted, thereby reducing the potential for security risks.
The 2025 projections dictate a shift in philosophy towards a proactive approach within GRC teams. Organisations that remain reactive may find themselves at a disadvantage against malicious actors. Leading enterprises are adopting proactive measures, conducting constant system checks for vulnerabilities and employing tools that can provide real-time governance alongside risk evaluations. Pathlock Cloud is instrumental in this regard, monitoring both internal and external threats, ensuring that potential security issues are identified and managed before they escalate.
For businesses engaged with SAP, the ability to integrate access management tools across various applications is crucial. An effective GRC strategy cannot thrive without a consistent application of security measures across the entire tech stack. As the number of applications within SAP landscapes continues to grow, the demand for a centralised solution that addresses access management and risk mitigation will become increasingly important.
Staying ahead of security threats is vital, and leading organisations are taking steps to ensure that their GRC strategies are robust. By utilising tools like Pathlock Cloud, companies are better positioned to monitor user privileges and critical access points within their SAP deployments, securing themselves against both internal and external threats as they navigate the complexities of the modern digital landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://securitybridge.com/blog/2025-sap-security-predictions-by-securitybridge-product-management/ – This article supports the prediction of increased complexity in SAP security in 2025, including the need for robust governance, risk management, and compliance programs, as well as the integration of AI and UEBA for enhanced security.
- https://schneiderdowns.com/our-thoughts-on/sap-s4hana-security-and-project-challenges/ – This source highlights the security challenges associated with transitioning to SAP S/4HANA, including updating SAP GRC controls and managing segregation-of-duties conflicts, which aligns with the need for improved access management.
- https://sapinsider.org/blogs/5-cybersecurity-trends-that-will-shape-2025-for-sap-users/ – This article discusses the importance of proactive GRC strategies, AI-driven threat detection, and enhanced data encryption techniques, all of which are critical for managing security threats in SAP environments in 2025.
- https://securityboulevard.com/2024/01/top-5-access-security-challenges-in-sap/ – This source outlines the access security challenges in SAP, including the complexity of authorization models, user lifecycle management, and integration with identity management systems, which are key concerns for GRC teams.
- https://securitybridge.com/blog/2025-sap-security-predictions-by-securitybridge-product-management/ – This article emphasizes the need for centralized solutions to manage access and mitigate risks across hybrid SAP environments, aligning with the importance of tools like Pathlock Cloud for unified access management.
- https://sapinsider.org/blogs/5-cybersecurity-trends-that-will-shape-2025-for-sap-users/ – This source highlights the trend towards zero-trust architecture and enhanced cybersecurity training, which are part of the proactive measures GRC teams are adopting to stay ahead of security threats.
- https://securityboulevard.com/2024/01/top-5-access-security-challenges-in-sap/ – This article discusses the challenge of integrating SAP access controls with broader identity and access management systems, a key aspect of ensuring consistent access policies across all applications.
- https://securitybridge.com/blog/2025-sap-security-predictions-by-securitybridge-product-management/ – This source explains the role of AI in both attacking and defending SAP systems, which supports the need for proactive and advanced security measures to manage these threats.
- https://schneiderdowns.com/our-thoughts-on/sap-s4hana-security-and-project-challenges/ – This article details the importance of updating SAP GRC controls and managing vendor maintenance authorizations during the transition to SAP S/4HANA, highlighting specific security and compliance challenges.
- https://sapinsider.org/blogs/5-cybersecurity-trends-that-will-shape-2025-for-sap-users/ – This source emphasizes the critical role of compliance and governance in SAP security, including the need for regular audits and adherence to best practices, which aligns with the proactive approach recommended for GRC teams.
- https://securityboulevard.com/2024/01/top-5-access-security-challenges-in-sap/ – This article discusses the challenge of ensuring compliance and conducting robust auditing in SAP systems, which is essential for maintaining a robust GRC strategy.
