(DTERP-2208) Security

Outboard integration - Security concept for centralized deployment

Outboard’s security concept distinguishes two borders of data flow:

1. Archiving client to Outboard,
2. Outboard to External Storage

Security concept of communication – Archiving client to Outboard

To prevent unauthorized access, SNP OutBoard™ ERP Archiving is built to comply with the SAP authorization concepts where each connection carries out an authorization check.

Authorization object being validated when operating with the Outboard is:

• /DVD/CRP – permitted activities:
  • 03 – Display
  • 16 – Execute
  • 23 – Maintain

However, access is gained via an open HTTP or HTTPS interface. URLs are secured with the signature allowing only authorized access to the stored content and, correspondingly, so that forged requests are rejected.

SNP OutBoard™ ERP Archiving decodes the signature and compares it with the received URL. The service only executes the request if the URL and the signature are matching.

Level of security at this border is generally lower than at the outbound border towards the external storage because it's typically within an internal corporate network.

Security concept of communication – Outboard to External Storage

Outbound communication with external storage MUST be secured. This can be achieved by using of secured protocol that is a storage platform-specific and therefore depends on API utilized by corresponding Storage Management connector implementation (e.g. HTTPS, Secured NFS, etc.). Additionally, authorized access is controlled by using platform-specific authentication/authorization concepts, e.g. using Kerberos, Active Directory, and others, together with user permission management.

Authorizations and the Division of duties

The Outboard Service requires two users:

• Maintenance: Archiving administrator dialog user
• Data operations: System service user – used in the Outboard HTTP service definition