Driftal’s Enterprise-Grade Security Architecture
Executive Summary
Enterprise software buyers today face increasing scrutiny around cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and data privacy. Regulatory regimes such as GDPR and ISO 27001 further mandate strict controls on data handling, access management, and system integrity.
Driftal’s application is engineered with a security-first philosophy. Fully built and hosted on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), Driftal inherits SAP’s enterprise-grade security framework while implementing additional architectural controls that eliminate data persistence risks, minimize attack surfaces, and ensure secure integration with SAP SuccessFactors.
This white paper analyzes the security challenges modern enterprises face when deploying cloud-based HR extensions and presents Driftal’s architecture as a robust, compliant, and scalable solution aligned with SAP’s best practices.
1. Introduction
Digital HR transformation has led organizations to extend core systems such as SAP SuccessFactors with custom applications and value-added tools. However, these extensions introduce critical security considerations:
- Where is sensitive data stored?
- How are credentials managed?
- Are APIs publicly exposed?
- Does the solution increase the enterprise attack surface?
This paper outlines Driftal’s commitment to secure enterprise-grade application design, detailing how its architecture mitigates risk through SAP-native services, zero data persistence, encrypted communication, and centralized authentication.
2. Problem Statement: Security Risks in Enterprise Cloud Extensions
While cloud platforms provide scalability and agility, poorly designed extensions can introduce substantial risk. The following challenges are common in custom enterprise applications:
2.1 Data Persistence and Privacy Exposure
Many third-party applications replicate or cache sensitive HR data locally. This creates:
- Expanded compliance scope
- Increased breach liability
- Duplication of sensitive records
- Complicated audit trails
For organizations subject to GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, data replication increases regulatory exposure and operational burden.
2.2 Credential Management Risks
Applications that embed secrets in code or store API credentials locally expose organizations to:
- Token leakage
- Unauthorized API access
- Privilege escalation attacks
Improper key management is one of the most common vulnerabilities in cloud-native applications.
2.3 API Exposure and Attack Surface Expansion
Direct exposure of backend APIs to the internet can lead to:
- Brute force attacks
- Injection vulnerabilities
- Denial-of-service attempts
- Unauthorized data extraction
Security frameworks consistently recommend minimizing public endpoints and delegating authentication to trusted identity providers.
2.4 Fragmented Authentication Models
Custom authentication implementations increase:
- Maintenance complexity
- Token mismanagement risks
- Inconsistent role enforcement
- Audit gaps
Enterprises require centralized identity governance integrated with their existing SAP ecosystem.
3. Driftal’s Secure-by-Design Solution
Driftal addresses these risks through a comprehensive architecture built entirely on SAP BTP, leveraging SAP-native security services.
3.1 SAP BTP-Aligned Security Architecture
Deployment on SAP Business Technology Platform enables Driftal to inherit:
- Encrypted HTTPS/TLS communications
- Secure network isolation
- Platform-level monitoring
- Enterprise-grade cloud controls
Authentication and authorization are handled via SAP Authorization and Trust Management service (XSUAA), eliminating the need for custom identity logic.
3.2 Zero Storage of Personal or Sensitive Data
A defining characteristic of Driftal’s security posture is strict adherence to data minimization and privacy-by-design principles.
Driftal:
- Does not store personal data
- Does not replicate SAP SuccessFactors data
- Does not persist user-sensitive information
Only minimal, non-personal metadata required for functionality is processed transiently. All runtime data handling occurs with encryption at rest, ensuring that even temporary processing adheres to enterprise security standards.
This dramatically reduces:
- Breach exposure
- Audit complexity
- Regulatory scope
3.3 Real-Time Secure Data Access from SAP SuccessFactors
Driftal dynamically retrieves business data from SAP SuccessFactors during authenticated user sessions.
Security characteristics include:
- Assertion-based authentication (e.g., SAML within OAuth 2.0 flows)
- Session-bound access controls
- No caching or local replication
- Data remains exclusively in SAP SuccessFactors
This architecture ensures:
- Single source of truth
- Elimination of synchronization risks
- Reduced compliance burden
3.4 Secure Integrations via SAP Destination Service
All connections to SAP SuccessFactors are routed through SAP BTP’s Destination service, providing:
- Centralized credential management
- Secure secret storage
- Configuration without hardcoded credentials
- Alignment with SAP-recommended integration patterns
By eliminating embedded credentials, Driftal removes a major attack vector found in many custom applications.
3.5 End-to-End Authentication and API Protection
Authentication, session management, and API protection are governed by:
- SAP Approuter
- XSUAA (Authorization & Trust Management)
This enables:
- OAuth token-based access control
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Secure login flows
- Protection against unauthorized API calls
No credentials or tokens are custom-handled by Driftal’s application logic—reducing operational risk and ensuring SAP-governed identity enforcement.
3.6 Reduced Attack Surface
By delegating security to SAP BTP services:
- Backend APIs are not directly internet-exposed
- Application-level credentials remain shielded
- Platform-native monitoring mitigates threats
This significantly reduces the enterprise attack surface while maintaining performance and scalability.
4. Security Governance and Compliance Alignment
Driftal embeds SAP-recommended best practices across the application lifecycle:
Secure Development
Secure coding standards, configuration hardening, and least-privilege access design.
Operational Security
Encrypted communications, role-based authorization, and continuous monitoring.
Regulatory Alignment
Driftal’s zero-persistence model simplifies compliance alignment with:
- GDPR data minimization requirements
- ISO 27001 access control standards
- Enterprise privacy frameworks
By not storing HR data, Driftal reduces regulatory scope and simplifies audits.
5. Comparative Security Model
| Security Dimension | Typical Extension App | Driftal Architecture |
|---|---|---|
| Data Storage | Often replicated locally | Zero persistence |
| Credential Handling | Stored in app or code | Managed by SAP Destination Service |
| Authentication | Custom logic | SAP XSUAA & Approuter |
| API Exposure | Direct endpoints possible | Shielded by SAP BTP |
| Compliance Scope | Expanded | Minimized |
This comparison highlights Driftal’s deliberate reduction of operational and compliance risk.
6. Strategic Business Value
Driftal’s architecture delivers measurable enterprise benefits:
- Risk Reduction:Minimizes breach exposure and regulatory penalties.
- Faster Security Reviews:SAP-aligned architecture accelerates internal InfoSec approvals.
- Simplified Audits:No sensitive data storage means fewer audit artifacts.
- Enterprise Trust:Alignment with SAP BTP standards builds stakeholder confidence.
7. Conclusion
Enterprise organizations require more than functional extensions—they require secure, compliant, and scalable solutions.
Driftal’s security strategy is built on four foundational principles:
- Full reliance on SAP Business Technology Platform security architecture
- Zero persistence of personal or SAP SuccessFactors data
- Encrypted, minimal, session-bound data handling
- SAP-managed authentication, routing, and API safeguards
By embedding security into every architectural layer, Driftal delivers a trustworthy enterprise-grade application that aligns with SAP’s security framework and modern regulatory expectations.
Call to Action
Security is not a feature—it is a foundational design commitment.
If your organization is evaluating SAP SuccessFactors extensions and prioritizes compliance, data minimization, and enterprise-grade security, Driftal offers a purpose-built solution aligned with SAP best practices.
Contact our team to discuss how Driftal’s architecture can align with your compliance requirements, including GDPR, ISO 27001, and enterprise security governance frameworks.
About Driftal
Driftal specializes in secure SAP-native enterprise applications designed for scalability, compliance, and long-term digital resilience.
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