OSS Configuring VPN
Introduction
SAP has embarked on a project to enable its customers to establish secure connections to SAP over the Internet for support purposes. Currently, SAP offers two alternative ways to connect to the Support Network over the Internet:
• SAProuter with Secure Network Communications (SNC) over the Internet • Internet Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Overview of Technical Setup
SAP has implemented a functional subset of the Remote Customer Support Network services in an Internet DMZ (demilitarized zone) in SAP AG, Walldorf. With this infrastructure in place, the suite of Remote Customer Support Network service offerings is accessible over the Internet.
SAProuter/SNC via Internet Internet VPN • SNC secured SAProuter – SAProuter
connections are established between SAP and the customer’s SAProuter to provide data confidentiality and integrity services. These SNC connections complement the leased lines in the current SAPNet R/3
Frontend environment. State-of-the-art encryption, authentication, and access control technology will be employed. No additional hardware compared to a leased-line setup is required at either end of the connection. (See diagram below).
• Customers are required to install a SAProuter with an official, static IP address (DHCP Addresses will not work) running SNC inbound and outbound connection to SAP at their end of the connection in a
Demilitarized Zone. This SAProuter must be accessible from the Internet. All service connections between SAP and the customer must be made over the respective SAProuters.
• Certificates needed are available on the SAP Service Marketplace.
• LAN-to-LAN IPSec VPNs are established between SAP and the customer’s network to provide data confidentiality and integrity services. These VPNs complement the leased lines in the current Remote Customer Support Network environment. State-of-the-art encryption, authentication, and access control technology will be employed. VPN equipment is required at both ends of the connection. The VPN switch at customer’s side must be reachable from the Internet. (See diagram below). • Besides the VPN equipment (also called
VPN switch or VPN gateway),
customers are also required to install a SAProuter with an official IP address at their end of the connection. All service connections between SAP and the customer must be made over the respective SAProuters.
• For the pilot project, access control and authentication at the VPN gateways will be regulated using static keys. SAP will generate these keys and provide them to the customer. In future, certificate-based authentication is likely to be utilized.
• VPN access can also be achieved through a telecommuncations provider. The provider will then be connected to SAP’s VPN switch, and the provider can offer connections to customers over the Internet. SAP will make a list of VPN-enabled providers. This option is not covered in this document. For more information, contact SAP.
Diagrams and Infrastructure
Figure 2 - Internet VPN
Comparison of the Two Options
Property SAProuter / SNC via Internet Internet VPN Hardware
requirements
Firewall + SAProuter host in DMZ VPN switch + firewall + SAProuter host (VPN and firewall may be the same box)
Software SAProuter starting from NI version 35 SAPSECULIB can be obtained from the Service Marketplace
N.A. Network addresses (besides address of Internet router, firewall, …)
1 official static IP address for SAProuter
1 official static IP address for VPN switch + 1 official static IP address for SAProuter host
Configuration issues
Careful setup of saprouttab necessary for security. Saprouttab influences security strongly as access is
controlled via saprouttab and firewall.
Careful setup of routing configuration in VPN switch necessary for security. Saprouttab influences security less strongly as access is controlled via VPN switch, SAProuter software and firewall
Encryption By software By hardware
Encrypted data TCP packets
Only the data stream between
IPsec (IP packets)
SAProuters is encrypted
Encryption is handled on Application layer (OSI network layer 7)
(OSI network layer 3)
Minimum required free bandwidth
64 kbit/s but may work also with 32 kbit/s
64 kbit/s
Supported services on SAP side
All except FTP (files download) All including FTP (files download)
Key managementDigital certificates being requested via Service Marketplace Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
Pre-shared keys provided by SAP, later Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
Key storage In file system In VPN switch Operating systemSAProuter resides on a computer
therefore it is necessary to harden the security at the operating system level (for example, C2 level OS) to
minimize the risk of the machine being hacked from the Internet
VPN switch has a very small and limited operating system, thus no additional security hardening is required. The SAProuter machine is not reachable from the Internet, thus the risk of hacking is much less. However, security hardening measures at the SAProuter operating system level are also recommended Additional
expertise SAProuter knowledge usually available, SNC configuration requires additional knowledge
VPN hardware requires special knowledge, higher technical expertise Standards Based on SNC, SAP proprietary
standard Based on IPSec, well established industry standard Contributing to
costs •
Firewall hardware and software
• Firewall administration costs • No additional license fee for
security library based on SECUDE
• Firewall hardware and software • Firewall administration costs • Costs for VPN hardware and
setup
Why VPN over SNC
In this project Internet VPN was selected over SNC for the following reason VPN using IPsec is industry standard and have better encryption FTP is not possible with SNC.
• Internet connection: recommended minimum bandwidth = 64 kbps • SAProuter machine
• Official IP address (static) for the SAProuter host. • SAProuter installation package
• SAP SNC libraries and executables.
These may be downloaded from the SAP Service Marketplace.
• A Demilitarized Zone at the customer site with a minimal setup as described in the networking section of the SAP Security Guide, Parts 1-3 available in the Service Marketplace at:
http://service.sap.com/SYSTEMMANAGEMENT Choose: Security > Technical Track > SAP Security Guide.
More information on SNC connections is also available in the SAP Service Marketplace. • Since the host running the SAProuter software is a full computer with operating system, the
security at the operating system level must be hardened in order to minimise the risk of the machine being hacked from the Internet. One recommendation will be for example to run a C2 security level compliant operating system. SAP takes no liability if the security of the
company’s network is compromised.
• Other networking equipment (routers and hubs) needed to form the network at the customer’s premises (see Figure 1).
