SAP ramps up risk and compliance

SAP and Cisco announced a broad partnership today that integrates the SAP NetWeaver platform with Cisco’s services-enabled network architecture.

SAP will also launch three new applications that address governance, risk and compliance called the SAP GRC Repository, SAP GRC Process Control and SAP GRC Risk Management.

Two of the new applications are a result of SAP's recent acquisition of Virsa Systems Inc. The GRC repository centralizes company data including corporate policies, board of director minutes, regulations, compliance and control frameworks as well as key business processes. The repository will also enable customers to link to multiple control frameworks to address international regulations.

The SAP GRC Process Control application automatically aggregates business process risks for the entire enterprise, provides supporting evidence of compliance, and pinpoints control violations. The software will integrate automated control monitoring for SAP and non-SAP applications.

A new application developed by SAP called GRC Risk Management will act as an analysis tool for customers to analyze business risks across organizational entities, business processes and IT infrastructure. SAP has designed intuitive and collaborative processes to guide professional risk managers and business owners in identifying financial, legal and operational risks, analyzing business opportunities in light of these risks, and developing appropriate responses.

The joint marketing agreement in the United States and Canada addresses access and identity management between an SAP customer’s applications and its Cisco network architecture. Cisco embeds Web services in its networking software to address application Oriented Networking, unified Communications, security, mobility and identity services.

More to come including an interview with AMR Research's John Hagerty.

-Rob Westervelt