SAP GRC 12.0 Plugin Compatibility: What You Need to Know

SAP Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) solutions are essential for businesses to manage the risk landscape, ensure regulation adherence, and streamline compliance processes. When upgrading to SAP GRC 12.0, ensuring plugin compatibility is crucial for seamless operations and to avoid disruptions.

Understanding Your Plugin Landscape

Before discussing compatibility, thoroughly understand the existing plugins you use within your SAP GRC environment:

• SAP GRC Plugins include standard plugins like GRCPINW (NetWeaver) and GRCPIERP (ERP).
• Custom Plugins: Plugins are developed specifically for your organization’s unique needs.
• Third-Party Plugins: Plugins obtained from external vendors to extend the functionality of your GRC suite.

Document this list, including the plugin versions.

Compatibility Verification

Now, let’s dive into how to ensure compatibility for each plugin type:

• SAP GRC Plugins:
  • Refer to the SAP Product Availability Matrix (PAM) at. This lets you check official compatibility statements for SAP plugins with SAP GRC 12.0.
  • Check SAP Support Notes for any specific compatibility details or known issues. Search with keywords like “GRC 12.0 Plugin Compatibility.”
• Custom Plugins:
  • Since these are unique to your organization, your development team will likely be responsible for testing and ensuring compatibility.
  • Be prepared to update or adapt your custom code to work seamlessly with SAP GRC 12.0.
• Third-Party Plugins:
  • Contact the plugin vendors directly to verify their plugins are compatible with SAP GRC 12.0.
  • Inquire about any specific upgrade steps, new versions, or patches required to ensure functionality.

Key Considerations

• SAP NetWeaver Version: Ensure your SAP NetWeaver version is compatible with SAP GRC 12.0. SAP GRC solutions typically have minimum SAP NetWeaver version requirements.
• Upgrade Sequence: If upgrading the core GRC components and plugins, carefully plan the upgrade sequence. Often, upgrading GRC itself precedes plugin upgrades.
• HANA Compatibility: If you’re using or planning to use SAP HANA as the database, check your plugins’ HANA database compatibility with GRC 12.0.

Planning Your Upgrade

Successful migration to GRC 12.0 with smooth plugin integration requires meticulous planning:

1. Inventory and Assess: Document your plugins and review compatibility information from SAP and third-party vendors.
2. Upgrade Strategy: Develop an upgrade plan considering compatibility needs, dependencies, and potential sequencing of upgrades.
3. Testing: Conduct extensive testing in a development or testing environment to identify and address compatibility issues before the production upgrade.

Additional Resources

• SAP Support Portal: Access SAP Support Notes and Knowledge Base Articles (KBAs) about GRC 12.0 compatibility.
• SAP GRC User Community: Connect with other SAP GRC users and experts for valuable insights and discussions on compatibility.

Conclusion

Understanding and ensuring plugin compatibility is integral to a successful GRC 12.0 upgrade. By following the guidance provided, you can minimize potential disruptions and ensure your GRC solution continues to provide the risk management and compliance functionality needed for your business.