Essential authorizations and parameters in the SAP® environment
Service User
For an authorization concept, a clear goal must first be defined that is to be achieved with the help of the concept. This should list which regulatory requirements the respective SAP system must fulfill and the associated authorization concept must take into account. In this way, the legal framework conditions are defined. In addition, uniform naming conventions should be used because, on the one hand, many things cannot be changed after the initial naming and, on the other hand, this ensures searchability in the SAP system. Clearly defined responsibilities ensure the effectiveness of a concept. Specific persons must be named or at least roles defined in a separate section. A chapter should be dedicated to the process for user management. Here, it must be described how users obtain existing SAP authorizations, how new users are integrated into the SAP system, and who is responsible for approving authorizations. The chapter on the process for authorization management defines who is allowed to create and edit which roles and who is responsible for the development of various related processes. The chapter on special authorizations describes processes and special features in the area of non-dialog operations. These include job management and interface convention. Other administrative authorizations can also be described. The chapter on role concept explains how business requirements are transferred to a technical role. The role concept takes on a special significance, since it describes the actual mapping of business roles to the technical roles and thus to the authorizations in SAP.
You have an organizational structure that includes 4 hierarchical levels - authority, department, unit, functional area). The authorization concept in your organization states that access (processing) to Records Management objects should be allowed for an employee only within his/her own organizational unit. However, the authorization check should only take place on three levels. So if a unit is subdivided into further functional areas, all employees of the unit and the functional areas should have the same authorizations. Since department 2 and department 3 work very closely together, employees of department 2 should be able to read all files, transactions and documents of department 3 and vice versa.
Solution approaches for efficient authorizations
Access to personal data in a company is a sensitive issue. It is essential to manage this access securely and to be able to provide information at any time about who has access to the data, when and in what way - and not just for the sake of the auditor. For this reason, the topic of SAP authorizations is a very important one, especially for the HR department.
During go-live, the assignment of necessary authorizations is particularly time-critical. The "Shortcut for SAP systems" application provides functions for this purpose, so that the go-live does not get bogged down because of missing authorizations.
The website "www.sap-corner.de" offers a lot of useful information about SAP authorizations.
The SAP HANA Studio application is available for maintaining and assigning HANA permissions to users.