Secure Network Communications (SNC) is a software layer in the SAP system architecture that enables the use of stronger authentication, encryption

Encryption

In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...

 and single sign-on

Single sign-on

Single sign-on is a property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them...

 mechanism. SAP provides SNC for server to server communications only. Third party vendors provide SNC technology for client access, however.

SAP systems include basic security measures, which include the SAP authorization concept and user authentication based on passwords. With SNC, SAP customers can extend SAP system security beyond these basic measures to include the additional protection offered by stronger authentication methods, by encryption

Encryption

In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...

 and by single sign-on

Single sign-on

Single sign-on is a property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them...

. This tool is available for Windows and *UX Operating Systems & very useful for remote connections with SAP servers.

Advantages of SNC

• SNC provides application-level, end-to-end security
• SNC secures all communications between two SNC-protected components (e.g., SAPGUI and an SAP application server)
• You can implement additional security features that the SAP system does not directly provide (e.g., single sign-on
  Single sign-on
  Single sign-on is a property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them...
  
   or the use of strong authentication measures)
• Can use Pluggable Authentication Service
  Pluggable Authentication Service
  Pluggable Authentication Services allows SAP user to be authenticated outside of SAP. When the user is authenticate by an external service, the PAS will issue an SAP Logon Ticket or x.509 Certificate which will be used for future authentication into SAP systems...
  
   to enable SNC functionality

See also

• encryption
  Encryption
  In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
  
  
• SAP NetWeaver
• single sign-on
  Single sign-on
  Single sign-on is a property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them...
  
  
• SAPgui
  SAPgui
  SAPGUI is the GUI client in SAP R/3's 3-tier architecture of database, application server and client. It is software that runs on a Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh or Unix desktop, and allows a user to access SAP functionality in SAP applications such as SAP ERP and SAP Business Information...
  
  
• Pluggable Authentication Service
  Pluggable Authentication Service
  Pluggable Authentication Services allows SAP user to be authenticated outside of SAP. When the user is authenticate by an external service, the PAS will issue an SAP Logon Ticket or x.509 Certificate which will be used for future authentication into SAP systems...