The Do‘s and Don‘ts of SAP Security: Strategies for Team Selection, Ownership, and Role Creation, Joey Hirao, Jotech LLC
Since his first article on security a year ago, Basis Editor Joey Hirao has received a number of passionate questions from SAPtips readers on their various security hang-ups. So we asked Joey to elaborate on the challenges of planning and enacting a successful SAP security strategy. In this cover story, Joey builds on his first piece with an excellent look at the ―do's and don'ts‖ of SAP security. Drawing on his hands-on project experience, Joey covers the best approaches to selecting your security team and recommends how to handle crucial issues like data ownership strategy and change control.
SAP Security: A Framework For A Successful Implementation, Joey Hirao, Jotech LLC
In today‘s SAP environment, security is not about locking the door behind us. It‘s about developing and implementing an overall strategy that protects the system from misuse and provides the right level of access to the right users. To get us on the right track, Basis Editor Joey Hirao has developed a step-by- step guide to the proper implementation of SAP security. This article is a great outline for those who are mounting or revamping their SAP security strategy, but it will also be of interest to those readers who are already up and running and want to compare their own installation to Joey‘s ―best security practices.‖
SAP® Security Audits: How to Identify and Fill SAP Security Holes, Joey Hirao, Jotech LLC
For the typical SAP user, ―security‖ is not just a buzzword; it is a way of life. But managing the security of an enterprise software system like SAP is a major undertaking. There is always the potential that loopholes and issues will emerge over time. But how will you identify them? Through regular security audits. In this article, Basis Editor Joey Hirao outlines the approach he uses when performing a security audit as a ―deliverable‖ to his clients. Joey describes the different ways the SAP system can be ―breached,‖ and how your SAP system security can be optimized through regular reviews of your user master records, security roles, Basis configuration, and custom development projects.
SEM (Strategic Enterprise Management)
Making SEM-BPS Work for You (Part II): Using ―Retractors‖ to Integrate BPS & R/3, by Travis Bell, MSc SPI, LLC
In Part I, Travis gave us a view of using retractors and pre-processors, and the impact they have on ―retractor data‖, both into and out of SAP‘s Business Planning and Simulation (BPS) system. In Part II, Travis blends his SAP Business Information Warehouse (BW) expertise with a sprinkling of Strategic Enterprise Management (SEM) tips. Through these project-based tips, Travis gives a good sense of the benefits of BPS installations. Travis also touches on the use of SEM for business performance
management (actuals contrasted with simulations), operational planning cycles, and rolling forecasts.
Making SEM-BPS Work for You (Part I): Using ―Retractors‖ to Integrate BPS Data into R/3, Travis Bell, MSc, SPI, LLC
How does SEM fit into BW & other mySAP products? Where do you get started? How can you use it on your implementation? What about the technical integration issues? Making sense of SEM is a challenge that SAP Project Manager Travis Bell has tackled head on, & he‘s sharing his insights with SAPtips readers. Travis brings SEM into focus by honing in on the Business Planning and Simulation submodule. By the time you‘re done with this white paper, you‘ll have a better understanding of how SEM terms like ―data retraction‖ and ―pre-processors‖ can help your implementation.
Planning for Leadership, Part Two: Using SEM-BPS for Financial and Leadership Planning, Russ Hardy, Data2Info, Inc.
FI/CO Editor Russ Hardy began writing for SAPtips with articles on getting the most out of the CO module. Now, he's taking readers to the next level and showing them how to leverage the functionality in SEM-BPS and other SAP solutions to bring together operational and strategic planning. In this article, the second in Russ's ongoing series on ―leadership planning,‖ Russ uses a case study of a technical services firm to show how the different business planning levels in SEM can be used to support a company's operations through ―big picture‖ business planning approaches, such as Stock and Flow Forecasting and
Upset/Mitigation Planning. One of Russ' most important points is that we shouldn't always view SEM through the vantage point of BW. Even though SEM and BW are closely linked, as Russ points out in this article, sometimes it is best to approach SEM through the vantage point of key business planning issues, as opposed to simply starting with a standard BW data structure. Using screen shots from the SEM-BPS system, Russ gives us a cutting edge view of SAP business planning.
Cost and Revenue Planning in SEM-BPS, Russ Hardy, Data2Info Inc
In his previous SAPtips articles, Russ presented his methodology for "planning for profitability" using CO- PA. Now, in our first SAPtips article on SEM, Russ shows how to use SEM-BPS and BW to achieve a higher (and more integrated) level of profitability analysis. Russ starts this article by reviewing his overall approach to profitability analysis. Then he explains how to use SEM's simulation and planning capabilities as another way to hone in on crucial costing and planning issues.