As companies increasingly merge with the cloud and migrate critical SAP landscapes, a significant challenge emerges for IT executive teams: they need a clear understanding of the “Shared Responsibility Model.”
Shared Responsibility Model
The Shared Responsibility Model splits security obligations between cloud service providers and their customers. In 2024, roughly 40% of companies were actively in the process of transforming their SAP environments to the cloud, and 45% had plans to migrate in the future. However, this trend can unfortunately lead to finger-pointing when security incidents occur. And blame often occurs when the lines of responsibility are blurred. When roles are not clearly demarcated, critical activities can be missed, possibly leading to delays, increased costs, and breaches. Therefore, clearly defined responsibilities between the cloud provider and in-house IT are crucial to ensuring a hardened SAP system.
Without a clear understanding of security framework roles, when (not “if”) an issue occurs, it can take the in-house IT team hours to triage. This delay results in customers losing portal access and ultimately, new orders not being processed. On top of that, confidence in the IT group and, by extension, in the CIO is eroding.
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It is crucial to keep in mind that security is not solely about technology; it’s also about the human element. Effective risk management must encompass scenarios beyond bad actors performing a ransomware attack; it must include incidents such as an employee clicking a phishing link. To effectively enforce a Shared Responsibility Model, IT leadership must prioritize three key areas:
- Communication
- Automation
- Well-defined processes
1) Communication: Bridging the Responsibility Gap
Clear and consistent communication is key to making the Shared Responsibility Model run effectively. This means not only internal communication within the IT team but also clear dialogue with the cloud provider. Organizations must understand how tasks are divided, so that everyone knows who is responsible for specific security duties.
In addition, cloud users need to understand the nuances of the provider’s services, their security certifications, and their incident response protocols. Regular meetings and documented agreements help clarify steps and roles. Furthermore, employees need to be educated about their own roles in maintaining security, from recognizing phishing attempts to adhering to data-handling policies.
2) Automation
One of automation’s goals is to reduce human error while increasing efficiency. For SAP systems, this means automating routine security checks, patch management, and configuration for various compliance regulations. Tools can be set to automatically scan for vulnerabilities, enforce security policies, and respond to detected threats, all of which reduces the manual burden on your security teams.
Not only are valuable resources freed up by automation, but it also allows for quick detection of unusual activity within the SAP environment. This triggers alerts and initiates predefined responses, significantly reducing the “time to detect” and “time to respond” regarding security incidents. This proactive stance is imperative when it comes to mitigating the impact of both technological failures and human mistakes.
3) Well-Defined Processes
A well-defined process maps security resilience. Beyond communication and automation, having a well-defined process is necessary for operationalizing the Shared Responsibility Model. Clear, step-by-step guidance is required for various security scenarios, including incident response, disaster recovery, and change management. Staff must be well-trained on these security processes and understand exactly what actions to take, when to take them, and who to contact within the cloud provider’s support structure.
A well-defined process will include the necessary information to provide during an incident, the proper questions to ask, and the follow-up steps. When roles and responsibilities, communication channels, escalation procedures, and recovery steps are clearly defined and well understood, it will provide the stimulus for a swift and coordinated response to security events. Additionally, regularly scheduled tabletop exercises reinforce knowledge and roles while identifying areas for improvement as security dynamics change, creating a more resilient breach response for SAP applications running in the cloud.
CONCLUSION
Moving SAP to the cloud offers benefits such as cost savings, improved scalability, flexibility, and better accessibility. But it also introduces complexities in managing cybersecurity. By embracing a clear understanding of the “Shared Responsibility Model” and focusing on communication, automation, and defined processes, IT leadership can transform potential risks into opportunities for enhanced security and operational resiliency. This proactive approach ensures that both technology and people are aligned, safeguarding critical SAP systems and maintaining stakeholder confidence in the cloud era.
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