SAP GRC: A Journey Through Version History

SAP GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) is a robust software suite designed to help organizations efficiently manage risk, ensure compliance with regulations, and streamline internal controls. GRC has undergone significant evolution over the years as a core component of the SAP ecosystem. In this blog, we’ll trace the significant versions and milestones of SAP GRC.

The Early Years

• SAP Virsa Acquisition (2006): SAP’s journey into the GRC space began with acquiring Virsa Systems, a company specializing in compliance software for SAP systems. Virsa offered tools for Segregation of Duties (SoD) analysis and compliance management.
• SAP GRC Access Control (5.2 and 5.3): The initial versions of SAP GRC were numbered 5.2 and 5.3, aligning with existing SAP ERP releases. These versions focused mainly on access risk management, SoD controls, and user provisioning.

Major Advancements

• SAP GRC 10.0 and 10.1: A significant leap came with versions 10.0 and 10.1. These introduced these core components:
  • Access Control: This is for managing user access risks.
  • Process Control: This is used to automate business process controls.
  • Risk Management: To consolidate and manage risks holistically.

These versions expanded SAP GRC into a comprehensive suite, with marked improvements to the user interface and integration capabilities.

SAP GRC 12.0: A Modernization

• Fiori-Inspired Interface: GRC 12.0 brought a major revamp with a modern, Fiori-like interface, vastly improving user experience.
• Enhanced Features: New and improved features arrived, covering areas such as:
  • Risk analysis for Fiori Apps
  • Integration with cloud platforms (Ariba, Concur, SuccessFactors)
  • Improved mobile accessibility

The Road Ahead

SAP GRC continues to evolve, incorporating technological advancements and addressing the changing risk and compliance landscape. Some notable trends and potential future developments include:

• Tighter S/4HANA Integration: We expect even deeper integration within the S/4HANA suite, streamlining GRC processes within core SAP landscapes.
• Predictive Analytics and AI: Artificial intelligence and machine learning could enhance GRC’s capabilities in predictive risk assessment and automated control monitoring.
• Focus on Cloud Solutions: SAP is committed to cloud-based GRC solutions and expects increasing functionality and cloud deployment options.

Important Considerations

As you assess SAP GRC’s history, remember that different modules (Access Control, Process Control, Risk Management) often maintain their versioning independently. Understanding release compatibility across the modules is critical when planning upgrades or implementations.

Staying Informed

To stay up-to-date on the latest in SAP GRC, here are some valuable resources:

• SAP Community: 
• SAP Help Portal: [[invalid URL removed]]
• GRC Partner Websites: Many SAP partners specialize in GRC and offer insightful blogs and resources.