SAP Single Sign-on Solution Future Roadmap

SAP Single Sign-on (SSO) allows users to access SAP and non-SAP applications with a single set of login credentials. SAP SSO simplifies the authentication process and reduces the risk of password-related security breaches by eliminating the need to remember and enter different usernames and passwords for each application.

Many SAP customers are facing the following challenges:

• Single Sign-on & encryption have become a top security item for enterprise applications such as SAP. Default password logon does not meet security requirements, especially in a hybrid cloud environment.
• IT infrastructures are moving to cloud native. Traditional Active Directory is being gradually replaced by cloud native directory services such as Azure Entra
• SAP NetWeaver Java application server, which is the platform for SAP Secure Login Server, is retiring.
• • New SAP cloud services such as SuccessFactors, BTP, S/4 Public Cloud are using SAP Identity Authentication Service, which requires central access management integration with other SAP on-premise applications.

SAP Identity Authentication Service (IAS) and Secure Login Service (SLS) are cloud-based solutions designed to provide secure authentication and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities for SAP and non-SAP applications. It enhances security and user experience by integrating strong authentication methods and centralizing access management. They become the nature successor of the existing on-premise SAP SSO solutions and offer the following key benefits:

• Lower costs: Simple software roll-out. Short time-to-value without any additional on-premise server components
• Fast deployment: Rely on a lean cloud service and can reuse existing authentication infrastructure in the cloud or on-premise
• More secure: Offer two-factor and risk-based authentication for critical systems in a zero-trust setup
• Various integration options: Support any existing corporate identity provider via SAML/OIDC such as Microsoft Azure Active Directory and Okta, leveraging their authentication capabilities

Here is the reference architecture:

Modernizing SAP applications Single Sign-on solution is part of overall digital transformation journey, which delivers a variety of client/server capabilities in a hybrid cloud environment.

SAP BTP IAS/SLS is a powerful solution for organizations looking to enhance their security posture while improving user productivity and reducing operational costs.