Cyber Security in SAP: Are you managing the risks you can’t see?
Cyber threats are evolving fast. So fast, in fact, that what you thought was a “known risk” last quarter could now be the weakest link in your digital landscape. And when SAP is the backbone of your operations, that’s not a risk you can afford to overlook. Explore how our SAP services ensure your systems are secure, resilient, and future-ready.
In light of high profile breaches, it’s become clear that no organisation, no matter how established or well resourced, is immune. The question is no longer if but when an attack will happen. And more importantly, how prepared are you when it does?
The obvious vs. the overlooked
Let’s face it, most businesses know the basics:
- Phishing attacks
- Malware and ransomware
- Weak or reused passwords
- Unpatched software vulnerabilities
But SAP landscapes introduce another layer of complexity. These are systems packed with sensitive financial data, HR records, supplier relationships and mission-critical processes. And it’s in this complexity that many threats stay hidden:
- Dormant user accounts with active roles
- Over provisioned authorisations violating segregation of duties
- Unsecured custom code or interfaces
- Gaps in logging and monitoring
- Poor identity and access governance
- Implementing new add on technologies
These aren’t just technical oversights, they’re risk accelerators. Often hidden deep within your systems, they can go unnoticed for months before triggering a major incident. By the time they surface, the damage may already be done.
More than passwords and firewalls
We often see organisations laser focused on the “obvious” cyber risks: hackers, phishing emails, ransomware. The usual suspects. These threats are real and rightly get attention. But the bigger danger might be the risk you haven’t thought about, the hidden vulnerability in your SAP configuration, the over provisioned user account or the forgotten policy gathering dust.
Let’s be honest. Most businesses have a long tail of overlooked risks. Not due to negligence but because enterprise security is complex. Teams are overwhelmed, resources are finite and it’s not always easy to know what’s high priority.
There’s also a tendency for businesses to treat cyber risk like a project: find an issue, fix it, job done. But in reality, cyber risk is a constantly evolving challenge and it’s not something you ever truly ‘finish’. It needs ongoing attention, not a one time fix.
Cyber risk in SAP: A two sided challenge
Effective SAP cyber risk management requires a dual focus:
- Technical risk – Misconfigured authorisations, outdated patches, technical debt, unmonitored user activity. Vulnerabilities like these live inside the system and are invisible to traditional IT scans.
- Organisational risk – Weak or unenforced policies, inconsistent control execution and poor identity governance, lax partner & supplier screening. These systemic gaps can turn minor issues into full blown crises.
An SAP security assessment should uncover both. Find out more here.
What happens after a cyber attack?
Let’s talk impact:
- Operational downtime stalls your supply chain
- Legal penalties stack up under GDPR, NIS2, DORA and SEC cybersecurity risk management and incident disclosure
- Ransom demands put pressure on decision makers
- Lawsuits emerge from partners, customers or shareholders
- Loss of trust hits brand value and sales
- Stock price drops are common for listed companies
And that’s before factoring in the cost of the clean up.
Proactive, not reactive
Good risk management isn’t just about defence, it’s about foresight. You need to know where you’re exposed before someone else finds it – and they are trying to 24×7. That’s why a cyber risk assessment grounded in SAP specific expertise matters. Learn more here.
This isn’t just a technical exercise. It’s a business continuity conversation. One that should involve your IT team, GRC leaders and executive stakeholders.
Beyond the audit
You don’t prepare for an audit just to tick boxes, you prepare to protect what matters. That means:
- Evaluating your attack surfaces and control environment
- Understanding how risks flow through your organisation
- Prioritising based on real world impact, not just compliance
- Making sure the “person in the corner” with critical insights is heard at board level
Whether it’s improving identity governance, introducing real time system monitoring or simply reviewing your password reset protocol, small actions can prevent big disasters.
Where to start?
The first step toward stronger cyber resilience is clarity. Our SAP Risk & Cyber Security Assessment helps you understand where vulnerabilities lie, both in your system setup and your broader governance processes.
It’s a practical, insight led way to prioritise what matters, align your teams and make informed improvements without unnecessary complexity.
It’s about helping you see the full picture. Because the real risk isn’t what you know, it’s what you don’t.
Interested in learning where your blind spots are? Contact us to book an SAP Risk & Cyber Assessment.
