In any large SAP landscape, achieving 100% compliance on every security check, on every system, always, is rarely realistic. Software version limitations, ongoing implementation projects, formally accepted risks, and vendor timelines all create situations where a system legitimately cannot meet a requirement within a given timeframe.
In many organisations, Security Officers may find themselves facing an uncomfortable trade-off, either living with compliance reports with “false failures” that erode trust in the data or removing systems from check scope entirely and losing visibility. Neither option is acceptable for serious security governance.
Exemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis (CSA) changes that equation.
What Are Exemptions?
Exemptions are a formal, auditable mechanism that allows Security Officers to override non-compliant check results for specific systems, services, or configuration item values within a defined time window.
This enables CSA to produce two independently query able views of your landscape:
Security Report -> The actual security posture – raw check results, no overrides
Compliance Report-> Process compliance – reflecting formally accepted deviations and grace periods
Both views coexist. You never lose sight of the real security state, while compliance reporting stays clean and meaningful.
When Do You Need an Exemption?
Some example real-world scenarios drive this feature:
Grace Period for a Newly Introduced Requirement: A new security note arrives, and IT teams need time to roll it out across dozens of systems. A centrally defined grace period applies, reporting systems as compliant during the transition window rather than immediately flagging everything as non-compliant.
Formally Accepted Risk: Some systems simply cannot satisfy a requirement due to a software version constraint, a third-party dependency, or implementation effort that outweighs the risk. After formal risk acceptance, Security Officers can overrule the check status for those specific systems with a time boundary that enforces the organization’s periodic review cadence.
Acceptable Deviations During Validation: During a validation review, certain configuration items deviate from the compliance rule but are deemed acceptable. For example, specific user IDs with special authorizations or known destinations used for a defined purpose. Security Officers can allow-list those specific values to keep compliance reports grounded in reality.
How Exemptions Work in Practice
CSA supports Exemptions for both SAP delivered checks and customer definable Custom Checks. Two types of Exemptions are supported.
Exempted Systems / Services
Removes specific systems or services from a check’s scope, identified by their SID. Ideal for the grace period and accepted-risk scenarios above.
Every entry carries a validity period, a behaviour (Overrule or Ignore), and an automatically derived status.
Exempted Configuration Items
For checks where specific configuration item values needs to be treated as acceptable rather than non-compliant.
When a compliance rule does not fully specify all key field values, individual values can be explicitly exempted and treated as compliant for a defined scope and period.
Key behaviour’s:
Overrule (Compliant)-> the system shows as green in results, with a visible “exempted” indicator
Ignore -> the system is hidden entirely and excluded from compliance calculation
This is the right tool when selected items are explicitly known-good and should not count against compliance.
A Clear Lifecycle
Every exemption moves through a predictable lifecycle – Pending -> Active -> Expired, based on the validity period set by the Security Officer. Status transitions happen automatically, and multiple exemptions can exist on the same check if their periods don’t overlap for the same scope.
Switching Between Views Instantly
The validation results view applies exemptions by default. A global Apply Exemptions toggle let’s any user switch instantly between:
With Exemptions (default): results reflect the overruled, process-compliant view
When a result is overruled as compliant, a dedicated column marks it as exempted, and the detail view shows a side-by-side comparison, so context is never lost.
Without Exemptions: results reflect the actual security posture
Summary
Exemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis give Security Officers the structured mechanism they need to maintain credible, useful compliance reports in the real world without sacrificing visibility into the actual security posture. Time-bound and role-governed, they bridge the gap between security policy and operational reality.
If you are a Security Officer managing compliance across a complex SAP landscape and have been working around the absence of a formal exemption mechanism, this feature is built for you.
Need help in creating a custom check yourself? Here you go Create Custom Checks.
For product questions or feedback on the Exemptions feature, reach out to us in the comments sections.
The Reality of Enterprise ComplianceIn any large SAP landscape, achieving 100% compliance on every security check, on every system, always, is rarely realistic. Software version limitations, ongoing implementation projects, formally accepted risks, and vendor timelines all create situations where a system legitimately cannot meet a requirement within a given timeframe. In many organisations, Security Officers may find themselves facing an uncomfortable trade-off, either living with compliance reports with “false failures” that erode trust in the data or removing systems from check scope entirely and losing visibility. Neither option is acceptable for serious security governance. Exemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis (CSA) changes that equation. What Are Exemptions?Exemptions are a formal, auditable mechanism that allows Security Officers to override non-compliant check results for specific systems, services, or configuration item values within a defined time window.This enables CSA to produce two independently query able views of your landscape:Security Report -> The actual security posture – raw check results, no overridesCompliance Report-> Process compliance – reflecting formally accepted deviations and grace periodsBoth views coexist. You never lose sight of the real security state, while compliance reporting stays clean and meaningful. When Do You Need an Exemption?Some example real-world scenarios drive this feature:Grace Period for a Newly Introduced Requirement: A new security note arrives, and IT teams need time to roll it out across dozens of systems. A centrally defined grace period applies, reporting systems as compliant during the transition window rather than immediately flagging everything as non-compliant.Formally Accepted Risk: Some systems simply cannot satisfy a requirement due to a software version constraint, a third-party dependency, or implementation effort that outweighs the risk. After formal risk acceptance, Security Officers can overrule the check status for those specific systems with a time boundary that enforces the organization’s periodic review cadence.Acceptable Deviations During Validation: During a validation review, certain configuration items deviate from the compliance rule but are deemed acceptable. For example, specific user IDs with special authorizations or known destinations used for a defined purpose. Security Officers can allow-list those specific values to keep compliance reports grounded in reality. How Exemptions Work in PracticeCSA supports Exemptions for both SAP delivered checks and customer definable Custom Checks. Two types of Exemptions are supported.Exempted Systems / ServicesRemoves specific systems or services from a check’s scope, identified by their SID. Ideal for the grace period and accepted-risk scenarios above.Every entry carries a validity period, a behaviour (Overrule or Ignore), and an automatically derived status.Exempted Configuration ItemsFor checks where specific configuration item values needs to be treated as acceptable rather than non-compliant.When a compliance rule does not fully specify all key field values, individual values can be explicitly exempted and treated as compliant for a defined scope and period. Key behaviour’s:Overrule (Compliant)-> the system shows as green in results, with a visible “exempted” indicatorIgnore -> the system is hidden entirely and excluded from compliance calculationThis is the right tool when selected items are explicitly known-good and should not count against compliance. A Clear LifecycleEvery exemption moves through a predictable lifecycle – Pending -> Active -> Expired, based on the validity period set by the Security Officer. Status transitions happen automatically, and multiple exemptions can exist on the same check if their periods don’t overlap for the same scope. Switching Between Views InstantlyThe validation results view applies exemptions by default. A global Apply Exemptions toggle let’s any user switch instantly between:With Exemptions (default): results reflect the overruled, process-compliant viewWhen a result is overruled as compliant, a dedicated column marks it as exempted, and the detail view shows a side-by-side comparison, so context is never lost.Without Exemptions: results reflect the actual security posture SummaryExemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis give Security Officers the structured mechanism they need to maintain credible, useful compliance reports in the real world without sacrificing visibility into the actual security posture. Time-bound and role-governed, they bridge the gap between security policy and operational reality.If you are a Security Officer managing compliance across a complex SAP landscape and have been working around the absence of a formal exemption mechanism, this feature is built for you.Need help in creating a custom check yourself? Here you go Create Custom Checks. For product questions or feedback on the Exemptions feature, reach out to us in the comments sections. Read More Technology Blog Posts by SAP articles
In any large SAP landscape, achieving 100% compliance on every security check, on every system, always, is rarely realistic. Software version limitations, ongoing implementation projects, formally accepted risks, and vendor timelines all create situations where a system legitimately cannot meet a requirement within a given timeframe.
In many organisations, Security Officers may find themselves facing an uncomfortable trade-off, either living with compliance reports with “false failures” that erode trust in the data or removing systems from check scope entirely and losing visibility. Neither option is acceptable for serious security governance.
Exemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis (CSA) changes that equation.
What Are Exemptions?
Exemptions are a formal, auditable mechanism that allows Security Officers to override non-compliant check results for specific systems, services, or configuration item values within a defined time window.
This enables CSA to produce two independently query able views of your landscape:
Security Report -> The actual security posture – raw check results, no overrides
Compliance Report-> Process compliance – reflecting formally accepted deviations and grace periods
Both views coexist. You never lose sight of the real security state, while compliance reporting stays clean and meaningful.
When Do You Need an Exemption?
Some example real-world scenarios drive this feature:
Grace Period for a Newly Introduced Requirement: A new security note arrives, and IT teams need time to roll it out across dozens of systems. A centrally defined grace period applies, reporting systems as compliant during the transition window rather than immediately flagging everything as non-compliant.
Formally Accepted Risk: Some systems simply cannot satisfy a requirement due to a software version constraint, a third-party dependency, or implementation effort that outweighs the risk. After formal risk acceptance, Security Officers can overrule the check status for those specific systems with a time boundary that enforces the organization’s periodic review cadence.
Acceptable Deviations During Validation: During a validation review, certain configuration items deviate from the compliance rule but are deemed acceptable. For example, specific user IDs with special authorizations or known destinations used for a defined purpose. Security Officers can allow-list those specific values to keep compliance reports grounded in reality.
How Exemptions Work in Practice
CSA supports Exemptions for both SAP delivered checks and customer definable Custom Checks. Two types of Exemptions are supported.
Exempted Systems / Services
Removes specific systems or services from a check’s scope, identified by their SID. Ideal for the grace period and accepted-risk scenarios above.
Every entry carries a validity period, a behaviour (Overrule or Ignore), and an automatically derived status.
Exempted Configuration Items
For checks where specific configuration item values needs to be treated as acceptable rather than non-compliant.
When a compliance rule does not fully specify all key field values, individual values can be explicitly exempted and treated as compliant for a defined scope and period.
Key behaviour’s:
Overrule (Compliant)-> the system shows as green in results, with a visible “exempted” indicator
Ignore -> the system is hidden entirely and excluded from compliance calculation
This is the right tool when selected items are explicitly known-good and should not count against compliance.
A Clear Lifecycle
Every exemption moves through a predictable lifecycle – Pending -> Active -> Expired, based on the validity period set by the Security Officer. Status transitions happen automatically, and multiple exemptions can exist on the same check if their periods don’t overlap for the same scope.
Switching Between Views Instantly
The validation results view applies exemptions by default. A global Apply Exemptions toggle let’s any user switch instantly between:
With Exemptions (default): results reflect the overruled, process-compliant view
When a result is overruled as compliant, a dedicated column marks it as exempted, and the detail view shows a side-by-side comparison, so context is never lost.
Without Exemptions: results reflect the actual security posture
Summary
Exemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis give Security Officers the structured mechanism they need to maintain credible, useful compliance reports in the real world without sacrificing visibility into the actual security posture. Time-bound and role-governed, they bridge the gap between security policy and operational reality.
If you are a Security Officer managing compliance across a complex SAP landscape and have been working around the absence of a formal exemption mechanism, this feature is built for you.
Need help in creating a custom check yourself? Here you go Create Custom Checks.
For product questions or feedback on the Exemptions feature, reach out to us in the comments sections.
The Reality of Enterprise ComplianceIn any large SAP landscape, achieving 100% compliance on every security check, on every system, always, is rarely realistic. Software version limitations, ongoing implementation projects, formally accepted risks, and vendor timelines all create situations where a system legitimately cannot meet a requirement within a given timeframe. In many organisations, Security Officers may find themselves facing an uncomfortable trade-off, either living with compliance reports with “false failures” that erode trust in the data or removing systems from check scope entirely and losing visibility. Neither option is acceptable for serious security governance. Exemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis (CSA) changes that equation. What Are Exemptions?Exemptions are a formal, auditable mechanism that allows Security Officers to override non-compliant check results for specific systems, services, or configuration item values within a defined time window.This enables CSA to produce two independently query able views of your landscape:Security Report -> The actual security posture – raw check results, no overridesCompliance Report-> Process compliance – reflecting formally accepted deviations and grace periodsBoth views coexist. You never lose sight of the real security state, while compliance reporting stays clean and meaningful. When Do You Need an Exemption?Some example real-world scenarios drive this feature:Grace Period for a Newly Introduced Requirement: A new security note arrives, and IT teams need time to roll it out across dozens of systems. A centrally defined grace period applies, reporting systems as compliant during the transition window rather than immediately flagging everything as non-compliant.Formally Accepted Risk: Some systems simply cannot satisfy a requirement due to a software version constraint, a third-party dependency, or implementation effort that outweighs the risk. After formal risk acceptance, Security Officers can overrule the check status for those specific systems with a time boundary that enforces the organization’s periodic review cadence.Acceptable Deviations During Validation: During a validation review, certain configuration items deviate from the compliance rule but are deemed acceptable. For example, specific user IDs with special authorizations or known destinations used for a defined purpose. Security Officers can allow-list those specific values to keep compliance reports grounded in reality. How Exemptions Work in PracticeCSA supports Exemptions for both SAP delivered checks and customer definable Custom Checks. Two types of Exemptions are supported.Exempted Systems / ServicesRemoves specific systems or services from a check’s scope, identified by their SID. Ideal for the grace period and accepted-risk scenarios above.Every entry carries a validity period, a behaviour (Overrule or Ignore), and an automatically derived status.Exempted Configuration ItemsFor checks where specific configuration item values needs to be treated as acceptable rather than non-compliant.When a compliance rule does not fully specify all key field values, individual values can be explicitly exempted and treated as compliant for a defined scope and period. Key behaviour’s:Overrule (Compliant)-> the system shows as green in results, with a visible “exempted” indicatorIgnore -> the system is hidden entirely and excluded from compliance calculationThis is the right tool when selected items are explicitly known-good and should not count against compliance. A Clear LifecycleEvery exemption moves through a predictable lifecycle – Pending -> Active -> Expired, based on the validity period set by the Security Officer. Status transitions happen automatically, and multiple exemptions can exist on the same check if their periods don’t overlap for the same scope. Switching Between Views InstantlyThe validation results view applies exemptions by default. A global Apply Exemptions toggle let’s any user switch instantly between:With Exemptions (default): results reflect the overruled, process-compliant viewWhen a result is overruled as compliant, a dedicated column marks it as exempted, and the detail view shows a side-by-side comparison, so context is never lost.Without Exemptions: results reflect the actual security posture SummaryExemptions in SAP Cloud ALM Configuration & Security Analysis give Security Officers the structured mechanism they need to maintain credible, useful compliance reports in the real world without sacrificing visibility into the actual security posture. Time-bound and role-governed, they bridge the gap between security policy and operational reality.If you are a Security Officer managing compliance across a complex SAP landscape and have been working around the absence of a formal exemption mechanism, this feature is built for you.Need help in creating a custom check yourself? Here you go Create Custom Checks. For product questions or feedback on the Exemptions feature, reach out to us in the comments sections. Read More Technology Blog Posts by SAP articles
