SAP’s recent announcement of the planned end of support for its SAP Identity Management solution in 2027, with an extended period until 2030. However, this puts an urgent need for companies to plan their migration to an alternative solution. Although it may seem that there is enough time. We definitely do not recommend being idle. Preparation and sufficient time are key to a successful migration. Go for it.
Challenges and limitations
SAP actively supports integration with other identity management tools that offer extensive capabilities. So it’s worth exploring where such extensions and connections might be useful. There are two crucial aspects to focus on. The first is to compare the range and depth of functionality required with those already provided by SAP’s standard offering. The second key factor is the level of integration with target systems. A simple rule applies: The greater the diversity of tools used outside the SAP ecosystem, the more complex their integration with existing legacy and local systems can be. As the complexity of the organization increases, the likelihood of needing such integration increases. In addition, there are several alternative identity and access management solutions that can cover the areas provided by SAP Cloud Identity Services and SAP Cloud IAG. Various options are available, some of which can provide robust and comprehensive support for SAP environments as well.
A simple rule applies: The greater the diversity of tools used outside the SAP ecosystem, the more complex their integration with existing legacy and local systems can be. As the complexity of the organization increases, the likelihood of needing such integration increases. In addition, there are several alternative identity and access management solutions that can cover the areas provided by SAP Cloud Identity Services and SAP Cloud IAG. Various options are available, some of which can provide robust and comprehensive support for SAP environments as well.
Proceed in a structured way
When evaluating a long-term management identity solution, it is necessary to proceed in a structured manner. And don’t try to skip a step just for the sake of simplifying the entire selection process. This is a decision that will influence your IT in the next 10-15 years.
Start with an overall IAM identity management strategy:
- What will the future identity architecture look like
- Analyze the existing situation and changes necessary due to end-of-life (e.g. SAP Identity Manager).
- Understand your needs.
- Access a detailed requirements analysis.
- Make a careful selection of tools to identify the right solution.
In any case: Don’t underestimate it. Take the time to plan and evaluate the available options to find the optimal solution for your business. Decisive factors include:
Current and future SAP environment versus multi-vendor strategy
Complexity of non-SAP environments and systems within identity management outside of SAP Identity Manager.
An identity management strategy towards a modern Identity Fabric system. (Identity fabric refers to a comprehensive approach to identity management across multiple platforms, applications, and devices. Identity fabric threads represent the various Identity & Access Management (IAM) tools and solutions that are intricately interconnected to form a converged identity management system.)
Organizational structure, especially in terms of responsibility for the SAP environment versus identity management.
One of the variants for migration is IdStory, which meets all requirements and at the same time has connectors for SAP systems. It is a modern and user-friendly platform that focuses on security and efficiency.
