Troubleshooting the “No Rules Were Selected” Error in SAP GRC

SAP Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is a powerful tool for businesses to manage their compliance and reduce operational risk. Risk analysis is a key component of GRC, and when you run a risk analysis and receive the “No rules were selected” message, it can be a source of frustration. This error indicates that the system wasn’t able to find or utilize the rules necessary to evaluate risk properly.

In this blog, we’ll examine the common causes of this error and provide solutions for getting your risk analysis functioning correctly.

Common Causes and Solutions

1. Missing Rule Sets:

• • Explanation: The most common reason for this error is that the necessary rule sets are missing or not uploaded to your SAP GRC system. Rule sets define the specific combinations of permissions or actions that would create a risk violation.
  • Solution: Download the appropriate rule sets from SAP and upload them into your GRC system using the Rule Upload function. Ensure you upload the correct rule sets matching your backend system connectors.

1. Rule Set Not Assigned to Connectors:

• • Explanation: Even if you’ve uploaded the rule sets, they must be assigned to the specific system connectors (e.g., SAP ECC, SAP S/4HANA) you’re analyzing.
• Solution:
  • • Go to Access Control > Rule Setup > Maintain Connector Settings.
    • Select the relevant connector.
  • Under the “Rule Sets” tab, assign the appropriate rule sets to that connector.

1. Incorrect Rule Generation:

• • Explanation: After a system refresh (e.g., copying a production GRC environment into a development system), existing rule sets might be invalidated. Also, changes in backend systems might need to be reflected in your GRC rule sets.
• Solution:
  • • Go to Access Control > Rule Setup > Maintain Rules.
  • Regenerate the affected connectors’ rules to ensure they align with the current backend system landscape and configurations.

1. Customizing Issues:

• • Explanation: Sometimes, errors in customization settings can prevent the risk analysis from identifying rules.
• Solution:
  • • Review your risk analysis configuration. Pay close attention to any recent customization changes related to rulesets.
  • Consult an experienced SAP GRC consultant if you suspect a deeper configuration problem.

1. System Errors:

• • Explanation: In rare instances, system errors within the GRC environment can lead to rule misidentification.
• Solution:
  • • Check for recent error messages or system alerts within your GRC system logs.
  • If you identify system-level issues, reach out to SAP support for guidance.

Additional Tips

• Rule Set Naming: SAP delivers standard Rule Sets. Do not use custom Rule Sets with the same names as standard ones, as this can cause conflicts.
• Start Simple: If you’re new to risk analysis, begin with a basic, out-of-the-box rule set for testing to isolate potential issues.
• Consult SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for documented solutions to this error. SAP frequently releases notes addressing known bugs or providing specific troubleshooting instructions.