Business Objects is connected to sensitive data and is used to publish such data. As a result, it needs to be secured. Focus will be made on the W's: Who, What, When, Why & Where/ Backup and Disaster recovery/ Data quality

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Business​ ​Objects​ ​Security
In the past few years as VP of GB&Smith 360Suite, I have been working with hundreds of
customers using 360Suite tools for Business Objects. A common issue with most deployments is
how Business Objects Security, with a capital “S”, is perceived whether it is by IT, QA, CISO or
any person in an organization. Typically models are extremely complex, they lack common
sense and implementers have a poor understanding of regulations. Security needs to have
answers​ ​to​ ​the​ ​“W”​ ​questions:​ ​​Who,​ ​When,​ ​What,​ ​Why​ ​&​ ​Where.
Security in an organization is more than ‘Who has access to what’. Security in SAP Business
Objects​ ​can​ ​be​ ​related​ ​to:
Who​ ​has​ ​access​ ​to​ ​What
Who​ ​had​ ​access​ ​to​ ​What
….
Who​ ​has​ ​access​ ​to​ ​what?​ ​Or​ ​account​ ​certification
Who​ ​has​ ​access​ ​to​ ​What?​ ​Easy​ ​to​ ​ask,​ ​tough​ ​to​ ​answer!
I had the chance to work with banks, federal entities and fortune 500 companies. An honest
answer​ ​to​ ​this​ ​simple​ ​question​ ​is,​ ​“I​ ​do​ ​not​ ​know”.
Security models need to be as simple as possible working from a Role or Group and avoid
individual user security. Most of the time, security rights are poorly implemented without
understanding the needs or of the security’s life cycle management. Over time, organizations
forget​ ​what​ ​was​ ​exactly​ ​granted​ ​to​ ​specific​ ​users​ ​and​ ​the​ ​impacts​ ​on​ ​the​ ​environments.
The ​best way to secure a deployment is at the ​database level​, using row-level security.
Additional​ ​security​ ​can​ ​be​ ​applied​ ​at​ ​the​ ​reporting​ ​level.
For legacy environments, where it is difficult to accurately map out security, 360Suite can export
security​ ​via​ ​excel​ ​and​ ​import​ ​it​ ​back​ ​with​ ​modifications.
Current State in Business Objects​: It is only easy to find explicit rights. The issue is, when you assign
security, it impacts the entire environment like a domino effect. Each time you make a change,
it​ ​can​ ​have​ ​downstream​ ​effects.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​it​ ​all,​ ​it​ ​has​ ​turned​ ​into​ ​a​ ​maze.
The most common way to keep track of such changes for the best deployments is to make
changes on an excel file, with the X axis being resources to be secured and the Y axis being
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users and ​groups to be secured. This is pretty easy to do in a company of 10 users but when you
start to reach deployments of 100 or more users it is very tricky to keep track of since there are
so many changes, people who change security come and go throughout the life of any
organization.
Ask​ ​an​ ​admin​ ​What​ ​User​ ​Bob​ ​has​ ​access​ ​to​ ​in​ ​detail,​ ​the​ ​honest​ ​answer​ ​is​ ​“I​ ​don’t​ ​know”.
Ask the CIO who has access to “Finance folders” with all detailed security, the honest answer is
“I​ ​don’t​ ​know”​ ​or​ ​“let​ ​me​ ​refer​ ​to​ ​an​ ​old​ ​Excel​ ​file”.
360Suite Solutions​: 360Suite provides a ​real-time view of security​, and offers the possibility to
document it via an Excel export. Not possible in Business Objects. You also have the possibility to
make changes to security and see all the impacted rights (inheritance and double
inheritance).
Our​ ​tools​ ​offer​ ​the​ ​possibility​ ​to​ ​use​ ​a​ ​​user​ ​centric​​ ​and​ ​​resource​ ​centric​​ ​view​ ​to​ ​audit​ ​security.
Use case​: Edward Snowden Case. Gaining a clear view of security with 360View. It would have
been very simple to recognize that Snowden had admin rights on most resources, such as
viewing​ ​inheritance​ ​and​ ​rights​ ​to​ ​modify​ ​security.
Account​ ​Recertification
Are accounts still needed and accurate? Large organizations and federal organizations need
to perform such recertification on a regular basis depending on their regulatory requirements.
Some organizations do an annual account recertification and then perform quarterly
recertification​ ​based​ ​on​ ​a​ ​predefined​ ​%​ ​of​ ​accounts.
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Current​ ​State​ ​in​ ​Business​ ​Objects​:​ ​At​ ​present,​ ​this​ ​not​ ​something​ ​that​ ​is​ ​being​ ​handled.
360Suite​ ​Solutions​:​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​multiple​ ​step​ ​process​ ​involving​ ​Users/Resources/Security.
First, you need to determine whether user access is still needed, this is based on an
organization’s policy. Next, you need to have access and document security at the deepest
level. Then compare it to the policy in place. 360 allows to modify directly in XLS and push back
security. In certain cases, you might want to use a work flow with comments associated to each
change.
Other steps based on activity or non-activity level, 360Suite is able to capture, report and fine
tune​ ​recertification​ ​and​ ​trigger​ ​whether​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​user​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​be​ ​recertified​ ​or​ ​not.
Unlinked​ ​users​​ ​and​ ​unlinked​ ​groups.​ ​360​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​find​ ​and​ ​cleanup​ ​such​ ​unlinked​ ​actors.
Use case​: I had the chance to work with multiple organizations including federal ones. I can say
that ​in 90% of the cases their account recertification was either false or inaccurate​. Typically,
the main reasons are a mix of a poor understanding of account recertification rules, poor
training of people implementing recertification, poor understanding of IT architecture from
policy​ ​makers​ ​and​ ​an​ ​overall​ ​inability​ ​to​ ​have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​detailed​ ​information.
Who​ ​had​ ​access​ ​to​ ​what?
Who had access to What? A common answer to that is “I don’t know” and “do not know what
the​ ​security​ ​changes​ ​were”.
Last year while working with a large East Coast Hospital, they had an urgent need to show who
had access to a specific folder six months earlier regulated by HIPAA. The answer is they could
only​ ​guess​ ​and​ ​furthermore​ ​had​ ​no​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​any​ ​security​ ​changes.
Current State in Business Objects​: Currently, the only answer to this question is to rollback to a
previous backup. Once this is done, determine the explicit rights. No information is available re
the life cycle management of the security changes for that specific resource.
https://360suite.io/2017/03/10/rollback-security-business-objects/
360Suite Solutions​: 360Suite is able to take daily snapshots of security and compare changes
over time like a time machine. Workflows to cover the security life cycle management can be
handled,​ ​auditing​ ​any​ ​changes​ ​in​ ​the​ ​security.
Segregation​ ​Of​ ​Duties
SOD​​ ​rules​ ​are​ ​typically​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​determine,​ ​a​ ​little​ ​tougher​ ​to​ ​implement​ ​and​ ​tough​ ​to​ ​control.
Current State in Business Objects​: It is possible to implement SOD rules in Business Objects but
virtually​ ​impossible​ ​to​ ​track​ ​and​ ​check​ ​them.
360Suite Solutions​: SOD is managed very easily due to a 360Suite Patent allowing admins to
display and manage security. For a specific segregation, a Matrix appears with users selected
on X axis and resources on Y axis. As a result, you can check all the security for the zone and if
there​ ​are​ ​any​ ​issues,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​modify​ ​it​ ​and​ ​see​ ​all​ ​the​ ​impacted​ ​rights.
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Use case​: 2 years ago we were doing a POC for a prospect specializing in manufacturing. The
Customer initially was interested in our ​BI on BI solutions​. While exchanging conversations with
the customer he mentioned the complexity of his security model and was curious to check his
SOD in the Accounting Dept. Funny enough, he found out that the person handling payments
could also handle PO’s, never a good idea and a typical SOD breach. The customer
investigated and discovered the reason for the breach, it was because the person changed
roles within the organization and was removed from the previous role at an explicit level but not
the​ ​inheritance​ ​level.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​the​ ​POC​ ​lasted​ ​10​ ​days​ ​and​ ​we​ ​received​ ​a​ ​PO​ ​shortly​ ​after.
Life​ ​Cycle​ ​Management​ ​of​ ​users​ ​leaving​ ​and​ ​changing​ ​roles
How do you know if a user who left the organization still has rights? Or a user who moved to a
new​ ​department​ ​does​ ​not​ ​have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​his​ ​old​ ​resources?
Current State in Business Objects​: Explicit permissions can be found and administrators need to
go fishing (and be lucky enough) to determine what the inherited and double inherited
permissions are. By default, if a user is deleted and they own documents or instances, they are
reassigned​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Administrator.
360Suite solutions​: When a user leaves an organization, or changes roles, 360Suite offers the
“Swap” feature. You enter the name of the old user and the new user and the object
ownership​ ​is​ ​transferred​ ​from​ ​one​ ​to​ ​the​ ​other​ ​within​ ​3​ ​clicks!​ ​
When a user leaves an organization, he/she is typically disconnected from the organization
directory and the link between the organization directory and Business Objects is lost. However,
the user (if an Enterprise alias has been created which is a best practice) is still in Business
Objects, typically without access granted. 360Suite finds all these unlinked users and provides
the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​remove​ ​them.
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360Suite also offers the opportunity to provide a report verifying that the user who left the
company no longer has access to anything and is not unlinked. For users who moved in the
organization,​ ​a​ ​security​ ​report​ ​can​ ​be​ ​issued​ ​comparing​ ​old​ ​and​ ​new​ ​security.
Use case​: The most famous and expensive banking scandal was caused by a trader who
changed roles within the financial organization. Since the user changed roles within the
organization, he kept access to a few older resources. Moral of the story, the user used old
credentials​ ​and​ ​caused​ ​the​ ​bank​ ​to​ ​lose​ ​billions.
Backup​ ​Disaster​ ​and​ ​Recovery
In the past few years, when asking clients if they have fully stressed their Business Objects
Backup / Disaster / Recovery… answer is > 80% of cases “we have not”. By experience, I know
this​ ​is​ ​true​ ​in​ ​>​ ​95%​ ​of​ ​cases.
Current state in Business Objects​: It is possible to do full backup, prepare for disaster and
recovery with BOBJ out of the box. This task is very challenging and most people fail while
tackling it and take laborious hours and days to finish the job. Reason is you need to have a full
backup of the filestore (FRSinput/FRSoutput) and backup of repository database schema. All of
these need to be in sync. Once you have that, you need to have a server ready with BOE
installed, and a proper DB Schema. For more details read:
https://360suite.io/2017/07/11/business-objects-disaster-recovery-strategy/
VMs are the most common way to prepare for DR, the issue you have is if you have a corrupted
object, universe, version, etc. it is of no help. Last year I had an aerospace organization who
learned​ ​that​ ​the​ ​hard​ ​way.
360Suite Solution​: In Business Objects when you generate a backup, it takes a very large
amount of objects and treats it as 1 mega BIAR, making it hard to promote and impossible to
disassociate. 360Plus is able to manage 1 backup per object, universe, report, user, etc., as a
result​ ​it​ ​is​ ​very​ ​flexible​ ​to​ ​promote​ ​and​ ​each​ ​individual​ ​object​ ​can​ ​be​ ​selectively​ ​restored.
If you have a corrupted VM you just roll back to the uncorrupted object(s) and restore. In case
of a DR, you just ask the tool to restore Full content or content from date X to date Y and you
are​ ​up​ ​and​ ​running.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​as​ ​simple​ ​to​ ​use​ ​as​ ​the​ ​time​ ​machine​ ​I​ ​use​ ​with​ ​my​ ​MacBook​ ​Pro.
Use Case​: Recently, over a weekend, a hospital did an upgrade to the latest version of SAP
BusinessObjects. On the following Monday morning, I received a phone call from the
customer… “Bruno we upgraded to latest BOBJ version but have serious issues. We need to
rollback​ ​ASAP.”​ ​Within​ ​1-2​ ​hours,​ ​the​ ​customer​ ​was​ ​running​ ​on​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​version.
I have witnessed a more challenging cases with federal customers who upgraded to the latest
BOBJ version after 2 months of preparation (at the time of this issue they were considering
buying our tools but had not yet, still a POC). In the process of this migration, the customer
installed the new version of Business Objects, on top of the previous version (I never recommend
that). After a few days, the customer realized that certain applications, despite initial
preparations and testing, had major issues. The problem in this scenario, they could not rollback
to​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​version.
I have seen so many stories like the ones above; a fire in a server room, person physically
removing​ ​and​ ​damaging​ ​a​ ​SAN,​ ​administrator​ ​doing​ ​false​ ​manipulation,​ ​etc.
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Version​ ​management
In most organizations, you have multiple report developers working on the same report. Cases
like when you work on a Microsoft Word document, exchange it with co-workers who does the
modifications, and at the end you have so many versions you have no idea what the proper
version​ ​is,​ ​the​ ​visibility​ ​of​ ​who​ ​changed​ ​what,​ ​and​ ​what​ ​was​ ​changed.
Current state in Business Objects​: Limited version management is possible out of the box but
does not comply with most regulations such as FISMA, SOX, HIPAA, etc. Read the article on
version​ ​control​ ​​https://360suite.io/2017/06/15/360suite-business-objects-version-control/
360Suite Solution​: 360Suite offers the possibility to Check in & Check out. While a report is
checked out, only developer who checked it out. (The Administrator can unlock if necessary).
When reports are checked in, version # is assigned and comments can be added. As a result,
you have full report traceability of changes and the ability to compare, promote and restore
versions​ ​as​ ​well.
Use case​: All regulated industries for GRC need to be able to answer: Who changed What?
When? In which report? With the ability to see changes. Certain organizations can be more
demanding than others. Last year, the US Treasury asked us to deliver a feature in version
control that includes workflows. Before reports or universes are promoted between
environments, they need to be approved by specific users. The Use Case for Version
management​ ​is​ ​complete​ ​report​ ​traceability.
Wrong​ ​report​ ​bursted​ ​into​ ​inboxes!
This is a common problem despite internal procedures, what can you do when the wrong
report has been bursted into BOBJ inboxes. Send a message to the recipients “do not open!” (I
have seen that) you can bet recipients will open! Or you can wish you could delete that action,
what​ ​if​ ​I​ ​told​ ​you…Yes​ ​you​ ​can!
Current state in Business Objects​: There is nothing you can do about this issue without manually
going​ ​into​ ​each​ ​users’​ ​BOBJ​ ​inbox.
360Suite Solution​: 360Suite offers the ability to selectively choose to burst a specific report, on a
specific date. For Bursting, 360Suite offers the ability to manage bursting dynamically or
semi-dynamically. As a result, you get all your bursting via excel and you can simply modify the
destination, filter values, prompt values, format, etc., with the possibility to manage password for
recipients.
Use case​: One of the customers who requested that feature, blasted sensitive HR information to
wrong recipients. This created a huge problem. With the bursting feature, the problem could
have​ ​been​ ​solved​ ​or​ ​limited​ ​depending​ ​on​ ​how​ ​fast​ ​actions​ ​could​ ​have​ ​been​ ​taken.
Secure​ ​your​ ​bursted​ ​reports
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It​ ​is​ ​always​ ​better​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​bursted​ ​reports​ ​with​ ​passwords!​ ​(If​ ​you​ ​remember​ ​your​ ​password)
Current state in Business Objects​: You cannot secure your scheduled/bursted report with a
password.
360Suite Solutions​: Don’t fret, 360Suite offers the ability to secure your bursted reports with
passwords!
Use case​: We specifically developed that feature for a customer who bursted sales information
to​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​customers​ ​(incidentally,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​the​ ​customer’s​ ​competitor).
Regression​ ​testing
Showing inaccurate data can be a serious security and compliance problem. Whether you do
an upgrade, a migration, implement a service pack or make a change on DB side regressions…
it​ ​does​ ​happen.​ ​The​ ​only​ ​question​ ​is​ ​where​ ​it​ ​is?
Current​ ​state​ ​in​ ​Business​ ​Objects​:​ ​Regression​ ​testing​ ​is​ ​not​ ​available​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​box.
360Suite Solutions​: 360suite offers the ability to automate all your regression testing with the
possibility to check data and pixels inside the reports. Processes can be automated and results
can be e-mailed to reports’ recipients. 360Suite also manages security so that only the recipient
can​ ​see​ ​the​ ​data,​ ​and​ ​regression​ ​testing​ ​results​ ​are​ ​not​ ​shared​ ​to​ ​inappropriate​ ​people.
Once regressions are found, 360Suite can perform impact analysis across the entire
environment and check if such regression is affecting other reports. If the issue is with report
variable,​ ​360Suite​ ​is​ ​then​ ​able​ ​to​ ​update​ ​all​ ​affected​ ​reports​ ​in​ ​bulk.
Use case​: We have seen so many cases dealing with regressions, typically not good stories for
customers. We have stories about customers publishing false financial data, central banks
freezing​ ​service​ ​packs,​ ​utility​ ​organization​ ​sending​ ​false​ ​bills,​ ​etc.
Let’s take a pure ROI use case. One of our customers is a Motorcycle Manufacturer, and in the
past they had 14 consultants searching for their regressions due to their regulatory needs, now
with​ ​360​ ​they​ ​only​ ​need​ ​2​ ​consultants.
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360Suite​ ​application​ ​security
By default, 360Suite has the same security as Business Objects by default, it is also possible to
apply​ ​more​ ​restrictive​ ​security.
Use case​: A healthcare organization needed to provide admin access to multiple users in order
to kill sessions (very bad practice) as their security model was not allowing them to do granular
rights. With 360Suite, they were able to limit access rights of non IT Admins so that they could use
admin​ ​credentials​ ​only​ ​to​ ​kill​ ​sessions.
Improper​ ​Universe​ ​Object​ ​Description
Over time, deployments grow and grow and go through different developers, eventually
organizations​ ​perform​ ​acquisitions​ ​and​ ​object​ ​descriptions​ ​become​ ​less​ ​and​ ​less​ ​streamlined.
How does that affect security? Without proper nomenclature of Universe content, it is very
difficult​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​track​ ​of​ ​why​ ​such​ ​Objects​ ​exists​ ​and​ ​what​ ​sensitive​ ​information​ ​it​ ​relates​ ​to.
Current state in Business Objects​: You can manually update 1 by 1 and it is extremely
time-consuming​ ​and​ ​error​ ​prone.
360Suite Solutions​: You have the possibility to export and document all Universe content Classes,
objects names, objects descriptions, field types, object select, etc. Make any necessary
updates,​ ​deletes,​ ​inserts​ ​in​ ​excel,​ ​and​ ​import​ ​the​ ​excel​ ​file​ ​to​ ​update​ ​in​ ​bulk.
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Use case​: I remember back in 1999, there was the concern of the Y2K bug (for the most part it
was a big scam, and a good way for consulting companies to sell services). For certain
organizations it was a big security issue. Problem was people who coded software rarely left
notes around fields relating to dates. Back in those days, I use to go to Japan frequently and I
saw it was not a serious problem. One of the reasons (outside of low employee turnover) was
that they kept excellent Object descriptions. More recently I have seen organizations with a
need​ ​to​ ​have​ ​unified​ ​nomenclatures​ ​around​ ​objects​ ​relating​ ​to​ ​SSN​ ​or​ ​country​ ​of​ ​residence.
Regulatory​ ​needs
Most regulations have similar needs whether it is HIPAA, SOX, FISMA, GDPR
(​https://360suite.io/2017/09/06/gdpr-360suite-tools-sap-businessobjects/ and
https://360suite.io/2017/10/19/business-objects-regulations/​)
All​ ​these​ ​regulations​ ​need​ ​to​ ​answer​ ​the​ ​W​ ​questions:​ ​Who,​ ​What,​ ​When,​ ​Where​ ​&​ ​Why.
You may think it is pretty common sense… Well it is! However, I worked with 5 big consulting firms
and​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​time​ ​they​ ​could​ ​not​ ​simply​ ​explain​ ​the​ ​W’s​ ​and​ ​how​ ​to​ ​retrieve​ ​that​ ​info.
A great example is organizations that need to be SOX compliant often have their data SOX but
never think that Business Objects publishes such info. Mind you, Business Objects needs to be
SOX​ ​compliant​ ​as​ ​well.
Current state in Business Objects​: There are inherent limitations, therefore answering all W’s as all
sourced​ ​can’t​ ​be​ ​queried​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​box.
Answering all the W’s in Business Objects is impossible due to the lack of access of all metadata,
capture​ ​of​ ​all​ ​historical​ ​changes/updates,​ ​etc.
360Suite Solutions​: 360Suite allows to capture all the Metadata, historical changes, updates,
etc.
Use Case​: With our customers, the organizations that are the most careful about Regulatory
needs are Banks. Well yes, like all banks in the US and Europe, but I am speaking of banks
particularly​ ​in​ ​Switzerland!
Security is very complex in Business Objects as typically, BOBJ is used as a reporting tool
capturing data from multiple sources and users within organizations. With common sense, basic
knowledge and proper tools, it is very easy to a have secured deployment and answer to the
W’s: Who, When, What, Where & Why. As a last note, I have seen many organizations going
from OBIEE, Cognos to SAP Business Objects. The reason being is, it is far safer to use and less
flexible​ ​which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​good​ ​thing​ ​for​ ​security.
Request​ ​a​ ​Trial​ ​today​ ​from​ ​​https://360suite.io/
How​ ​our​ ​customers used​ ​and​ ​conquered​ ​with​ ​360Suite
https://360suite.io/sap-business-objects/use-cases/
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