SAP GRC/Security on S/4HANA does not exist in isolation; it is deeply integrated with various components of the SAP S/4HANA architecture. These components work together to ensure compliance, manage risks, and enforce secure access controls across the enterprise landscape. Key elements include:

SAP GRC Modules: SAP Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) includes modules such as Access Control, Process Control, Risk Management, and Audit Management. These modules help in automating access provisioning, enforcing SoD (Segregation of Duties) policies, and tracking risk exposure across business processes.

Authorization Concept (PFCG Roles): SAP Security in S/4HANA relies on the role-based access control model. The Profile Generator (PFCG) is used to create, manage, and assign roles that control user access to various transactions, applications, and data.

Fiori and UI5 Security: In the S/4HANA environment, user interfaces are largely Fiori-based. Security extends to front-end layers, involving catalog and group assignments, OData service authorizations, and secure access through the SAP Fiori Launchpad.

Audit Logs and Monitoring Tools: SAP provides tools like Security Audit Logs, SAP GRC Firefighter logs, and SAP EarlyWatch Alert for monitoring and auditing user activity. These help identify unusual behavior and enforce compliance policies.

In summary, SAP GRC/Security on S/4HANA plays a critical role in maintaining enterprise integrity. It integrates deeply with access management tools, compliance modules, and audit frameworks. Unlike traditional security models, it focuses on dynamic access control, real-time risk mitigation, and seamless integration with S/4HANA’s role-based and Fiori-driven architecture.

• Act as the technical expert in SAP GRC and Security on S/4HANA, ensuring rapid identification and resolution of security-related issues to minimize business disruption.

• Understand security and compliance requirements from provided functional designs and translate them into robust technical security designs.

• Develop detailed implementation plans and provide accurate effort estimates for the design, build, testing, and deployment phases of SAP GRC and Security solutions.

• Transform business risk and control requirements into technical specifications to configure, test, and deploy GRC Access Control (ARA, EAM, BRM, ARM) and S/4HANA security roles.

• Design and build custom roles, authorizations, and security profiles; conduct unit testing, system testing, integration, and user acceptance testing with appropriate documentation.

• Perform performance tuning and optimization across security roles and GRC workflows to ensure compliance without compromising system performance.

• Collaborate with cross-functional and technical teams to ensure secure design and implementation of end-to-end SAP S/4HANA security solutions.

• Maintain effective communication with functional teams and end-users, fostering strong relationships and understanding of security impacts on business processes.

• Oversee integration activities involving security, ensuring all components align with technical architecture standards—especially in areas of scalability, high availability, and audit logging.

• Provide operational support including change management, periodic access review, audit support, and on-call support as required.

• Perform regular performance tuning and remediation for SAP GRC and security components, ensuring alignment with audit and compliance requirements.

• SAP Security Consultants looking to upgrade their skills to S/4HANA and integrate GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance).

• System Administrators / SAP BASIS Consultants who manage user roles, authorizations, and want to gain expertise in security and compliance.

• SAP Functional Consultants (especially in FICO, MM, SD) who want a strong understanding of security architecture and access controls in their modules.

• IT Audit / Risk Professionals interested in SAP risk management, access control, and compliance automation.

• Freshers / Graduates in IT or Computer Science aiming for a career in SAP Security and GRC, with basic SAP or ERP understanding.

• Project Managers / SAP Team Leads who want to oversee role design, SoD management, and security governance in SAP environments.

SAP Security on S/4HANA

1. User Administration

   • Create/modify/delete users (SU01, PFCG)

   • Central User Administration (CUA)

2. Role Management

   • Single/composite roles

   • Derived roles

   • Role transport and testing

3. Authorization Concepts

   • Authorization objects and fields

   • Authorization checks and analysis (SU53, ST01)

4. SAP Fiori Security

   • Fiori Catalogs, Groups, and OData services

   • Launchpad access control

5. HANA Database Security (optional but recommended)

   • Privileges in HANA: analytic, package, system

   • Role modeling in HANA Studio or Web IDE

SAP GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance)

1. GRC Access Control

   • ARA (Access Risk Analysis)

   • ARM (Access Request Management)

   • BRM (Business Role Management)

   • EAM (Emergency Access Management)

2. Risk Analysis & Mitigation

   • Segregation of Duties (SoD)

   • Mitigation controls and risk remediation

3. Workflow Configuration

   • MSMP (Multi-Step Multi-Process)

   • BRF+ (Business Rule Framework)

4. Connector & Integration Setup

   • Integration with target SAP systems (backend)

   • Plug-ins and real-time risk analysis

5. Reporting & Audit

   • GRC dashboards

   • Audit and compliance reporting

Basic Prerequisites:

1. Basic Knowledge of SAP Architecture

• Understanding how SAP systems (especially S/4HANA) are structured: client, user roles, transactions, etc.

• Awareness of Fiori launchpad and SAP GUI navigation.

2. General IT Concepts

• Understanding of:

  • Operating systems (especially Windows/Linux)

  • Networking basics (IPs, ports, firewalls)

  • Basic database concepts (as S/4HANA runs on SAP HANA DB)

3. Access to an S/4HANA System

• Hands-on experience is crucial. You’ll need access to an S/4HANA sandbox system to practice:

  • Role creation

  • Authorization object assignments

  • GRC configuration and workflows

Recommended Skills Before Starting:

For SAP Security:

• Basic knowledge of SAP User Administration

• Familiarity with PFCG role design

• Understanding of authorization concepts

  • Authorization objects, profiles, SU01, SUIM, SU24, SU53

• Knowledge of SAP Transport System and client concepts

For SAP GRC:

• Understanding of compliance and audit requirements

• Familiarity with Access Control components:

  • ARA (Access Risk Analysis)

  • EAM (Emergency Access Management)

  • ARM (Access Request Management)

  • BRM (Business Role Management)

• Basic project understanding of SoD (Segregation of Duties) rules

• Awareness of integration with SAP Security and other modules (like HR, Basis)

•  SOD Concept Explanation
• Difference between GRC12.0 to Other GRC Versions
• Installation Requirements of GRC 12.0
• Configuration of Each GRC 12.0 AC Components

• SOX Compliance
• SoD Management Process Phases
• SoD Implementation Methodology
• SoD Matrix
• How Risk Analysis & Remediation/CC compatible to SoD’s

• Why GRC?
• SAP GRC Components
• Product architecture
• SAP GRC Access Control 12.0 suite features
• Prerequisites
• Installation
• System Landscape
• SAP GRC Access Control Authorizations

• Risk Analysis On Different Levels
• Rule Set Designing
• Background Jobs Scheduling
• RAR Rule Architect – SoD
• Rule Building Process
• Rule Library
• Management View- Risk Violations
• Risk Analysis Adhoc Reports
• Risk Analysis
• Risk Remediation
• Mitigation
• Organizational Rules and Organizational Level Reporting
• Continuous Compliance
• Operational guide
• Exercise

• Overview
• Super user Privilege Management functionality and uses
• SPM configuration
• SPM Reports
• Exercises

•  Overview
• Verification of Installation
• Compliant User Provisioning Functionality
• Integration with RAR &BRM
• Workflow-based Reviews
• Request creation and approval flow
• Types of workflows
• Configuration of MSMP workflows
• Generating BRF+ objects
• Exercises

• Basic Configuration of BRM
• Generating roles using BRM
• Role creation workflow
• Reports
• Exercise

• Security Introduction
• SAP Project Lifecycle
• Default user-id’s and clients
• Creating user-id’s
• Overview of SAP Security (Roles and Profiles)
• Authorization concepts, transactions, Authorization objects
• Introduction to Profile Generator
• Introduction to Composite and derived roles
• Practical exercise building roles, composite and derived
• Adding Missing Authorization Objects
• System Trace and SU53
• Inactivating Authorization objects
• Creating and assigning users to roles
• use of PFCG_TIME_DEPENDENCY
• use of User Groups in Security
• How SU25,SU24 and PFCG are linked
• Use of se16 and S_TABU_DIS
• Use of SM30 and SM31
• Continue review of Useful tables for security
• Use of Compare
• Use of SUIM reports
• System security settings SCC4,SCC1,SE03,SE06
• Use of SE11,SE54,and security table groups
• Use of SAP supplied roles
• Use of SUPC
• Audit requirements
• Transporting roles
• Use of SAP_ALL and SAP_NEW
• How to delete Roles
• Use of SAP* and DDIC
• USR*,AGR*,USH* Tables
• Evaluation Reports RSUSR002,RSUSR040,RSUSR003.

• Overview of SAP-HR Security
• Pre-requisites to implement HR Security
• Indirect assignment of standard HR Roles to Organizational Objects
• Creating structural profiles and assigning to users
• Executing report in SA38 for comparing users in structural profiles

1. Importance of SAP GRC/Security in Projects

• Ensures secure access management and compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Central to risk mitigation, audit compliance, and controlling access across the S/4HANA system.

• Plays a vital role in preventing unauthorized access and data breaches.

2. Types of SAP Projects

• Implementation Projects

• Support Projects

• Upgrade & Migration Projects

• Rollout Projects

• GRC Compliance and Audit Readiness Projects

3. Role of a SAP Security/GRC Consultant in Each Type of Project

• Implementation: Designing role matrix, setting up security architecture, and configuring GRC modules.

• Support: Handling access issues, risk analysis, firefighting, and incident management.

• Upgrade: Adjusting roles according to S/4HANA changes, validating SoD rules.

• Rollout: Copying and customizing existing role concepts for new geographies/business units.

• Audit/Compliance: Ensuring the system adheres to SoD, compliance policies, and audit requirements.

4. Naming Standards in Security Projects

• Consistent naming conventions for:

  • Roles (e.g., ZFI_AP_DISPLAY)

  • User Groups

  • Composite Roles

  • Profiles

  • GRC Access Request Workflows

5. Role and Access Design Standards

• Principle of Least Privilege

• Role-based access control (RBAC)

• Segregation of Duties (SoD)

• Critical authorizations review

• Derived vs Composite Roles usage

6. List of Key Project Documents

• Role Matrix (Master Role List)

• FS – Functional Specification for Role Design

• TS – Technical Specification for Role Development

• Risk Analysis & Mitigation Reports

• Audit Compliance Checklists

• Change Request (CR) Forms

• Access Request Logs

7. Security Document Preparation

• FS/TDD: Detailed specs for custom roles and workflows

• Risk/SoD Matrix: Created in collaboration with GRC Team

• UTP: Unit Test Plan for role testing and access validation

• Issue Logs: Logs for access rejections, SoD conflicts, and ticket resolutions

8. SAP GRC Tools & Validation

• Code Inspector for Role Scripting

• GRC Access Risk Analysis (ARA)

• Emergency Access Management (EAM)

• Business Role Management (BRM)

• Access Request Management (ARM)

9. Advanced Concepts in SAP Security/GRC

• SUIM Reports for audit & analysis

• Firefighter ID Configuration

• Workflow Setup for Access Requests

• Role Derivation from Templates

• S/4HANA Fiori Tile Catalog & Group Authorization

• Authorization Object Analysis (SU24, SU53, ST01)

10. S/4HANA Specific Security Topics

• Fiori Authorization Mapping

• S/4HANA Simplification Impact on Roles

• Authorization Cockpit

• Embedded Analytics Security

11. Ticket/Token Resolution in Support Projects

• Role unlocks

• Password resets

• Missing authorizations

• Firefighter access

• Risk mitigation

• Audit query handling

12. Resume Preparation & Career Guidance

• • How to position Security/GRC experience in your resume

  • Common interview questions

  • Key tools and certifications (e.g., SAP GRC AC, C_GRCAC_13, S/4HANA Security)

  • Domain-specific knowledge tips (e.g., SOX compliance, GDPR, ITGC controls)