SAP users are confused about the future of GRC. With so much change across the landscape and mixed messaging in the marketplace, we’re fielding more questions than ever before.
From our close tracking of the GRC 12.0 roadmap, it’s clear how your concerns and questions have emerged and how they have influenced migration expectations. But one thing remains clear: SAP GRC is not being retired.
For absolute clarity:
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You have time to make your decisions around your approach to GRC.
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You won’t be forced into cloud adoption or rushed migration timelines.
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GRC 2026 is a re-versioning and technical modernization of GRC 12.0, not a full replacement.
To give you the most informed and up-to-date picture, we’ve answered your more frequent and pressing high-level questions here — and will continue to update this blog throughout 2026 as new updates and technical details emerge.
Jump to GRC 2026 frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Foundations and strategic direction
Is SAP GRC being retired?
No. SAP GRC 2026 is a re-versioning of GRC 12.0, which means your existing investment will be protected long-term, with mainstream maintenance is guaranteed through 2040. Customer ramp-up for GRC 2026 should start in Q2 2026, with full general release by Q4.
What does GRC 2026 include?
GRC 2026 will form a single platform environment, with separate functional capabilities and a standardized technical architecture. Co-hosted capabilities will include Access Control, Process Control, Risk Management, Audit Management, Business Integrity Screening, UI Masking, and UI Logging, all consolidated to a single platform with improved functionality. This will be exclusive to HANA database.
Why is SAP introducing a next‑generation GRC platform now?
As SAP landscapes expand across cloud, on‑premise and hybrid environments, governance needs to be integrated, scalable and identity‑aware. GRC 2026 modernizes the architecture to support this shift.
What’s the difference between GRC 2026 and SAP IAG?
GRC 2026 is the newest version of GRC, re-versioned into a single, co-hosted environment. SAP IAG, on the other hand, is a tool for managing user access and maintaining compliance within SAP systems. IAG is used primarily for cloud applications, while GRC 2026 is used for SAP ABAP systems.
Will SAP publish a more detailed public roadmap for GRC 2026?
SAP has confirmed that more roadmap detail will be published progressively as GRC 2026 approaches general availability. While the initial documentation is intentionally high‑level, customers can expect iterative updates outlining functional expansions, planned feature packs, and the evolution of analytics, automation, and AI scenarios. We'll keep you updated with the latest updates here on our blog and via LinkedIn.
Scope and capabilities
How will the single platform environment and integrated capabilities benefit my organization?
SAP is standardizing GRC components onto a single HANA-based architecture with a common data model. This consolidates previously separate modules into one co‑hosted environment while retaining their functional boundaries. This allows governance processes to operate as a connected whole instead of isolated workflows. Anticipated benefits include clearer visibility of risk across systems, reduced duplication in evidence gathering and reporting, and faster governance decisions because access, controls, and monitoring data are aligned.
Does this mean we’ll have to migrate to the cloud?
Not if you don’t want to. On-premise solutions will remain fully supported, with options for a private cloud version, and a public cloud version in the form of multi-tenant SaaS. Existing customers with a HANA database can migrate as if it were a Support Pack Upgrade, while those without will need to migrate to HANA database at additional cost.
What new capabilities does SAP GRC 2026 introduce around analytics, automation, or AI?
GRC 2026 includes enhanced analytics, improved reporting performance on HANA, deeper automation for control monitoring and evidence collection, and early AI‑assisted features such as access review recommendations and anomaly detection. These will mature across the product lifecycle.
Does GRC 2026 support fraud detection or fraud management scenarios?
GRC 2026 includes enhanced analytics, improved reporting performance on HANA, deeper automation for control monitoring and evidence collection, and early AI‑assisted features such as access review recommendations and anomaly detection. These will mature across the product lifecycle.
Component changes and improvements
What changes should we expect for SAP Access Control?
SAP Access Control will receive significant upgrades centered on analytics, identity harmonization, streamlined role management, and AI-assisted governance. These changes collectively aim to reduce manual effort, improve visibility of access risk, and support more scalable identity processes across SAP and cloud environments. Key enhancements include:
- Smarter analytics and reporting: Introduction of Analytical List Pages (ALP) and Overview Pages (OVP) in Fiori for real‑time risk visibility, KPIs, drilldowns and dashboards.
- Streamlined Business Role Management: Mass‑assignment of roles, reconciliation tooling, discrepancy identification between Access Control and backend systems.
- Integration with SAP Task Center: Access requests, approvals, and workflow items appear in one unified inbox.
- Enhanced SuccessFactors risk analysis: Includes target population checks and improved rule sets.
- Cloud Identity Services and Microsoft Entra ID integration: Establishes a global user ID and better hybrid landscape support.
- AI-driven access reviews and augmented access requests: Joule-based recommendations for access decisions, helping approvers make consistent choices.
What changes should we expect for SAP Process Control?
SAP Process Control is positioned to become more scalable and intelligence-driven, with new Fiori applications, stronger integration to non‑SAP systems, and AI-enabled rule creation. Its tight relationship with Regulatory Insights helps organizations maintain continuous compliance as regulations evolve. Key enhancements include:
- Unified user experience with new Fiori apps (new My Compliance Tasks app, new Manual Control Performance app)
- Integration via SAP Integration Suite: New connectivity to SAP and non‑SAP systems, including cloud apps.
- AI-powered control design and data source generation: Joule generates data sources and rules, and supports scenario-based recommendations.
- Regulatory Insights integration: Suggests new controls, enhances existing controls, performs gap analysis and coverage checks.
What changes should we expect for SAP Risk Management?
Risk Management gains more flexible workflow, deeper content alignment (e.g., NIST), and AI-supported KRI design. Collectively, these enhancements modernize its risk-assessment model and move it closer to continuous risk monitoring. Key enhancements include:
- Improved UX through expanded Fiori apps
- Harmonized notifications: Unified notification framework across actions and workflows.
- Multi‑stage, multi‑path workflows: Enables more flexible assessment processes.
- NIST content support: Pre‑delivered content aligned to NIST risk framework.
- AI/Joule support for KRI generation: Suggests data sources and scripts for KRIs.
What changes should we expect for SAP Audit Management?
Audit Management is to be enhanced through Fiori modernization, workflow unification, and AI-generated summaries, enabling auditors to accelerate reporting and focus more on findings than formatting. Key enhancements include:
- New Fiori-based audit coverage overview page: Embedded analytics for cross-verifying data and plan coverage.
- Fiori app for Detection Runs: Migration from legacy UI to unified Fiori experience.
- Integration with SAP Workflow: New “My Audit Tasks” for centralized tracking.
- Enhanced survey capabilities: Supports more question types and scoring models.
- AI‑supported audit report summaries: Joule-generated summaries using working papers and findings.
What changes should we expect for Business Integrity Screening (BIS)?
BIS sees increased accuracy and stability by moving onto the unified HANA platform, enabling stronger anomaly detection and wider integration into risk and control workflows. Key enhancements include:
- Better anomaly detection through unified data model: BIS benefits from co-hosted architecture on HANA.
- Improved fraud-pattern analysis and screening
What changes should we expect for UI Masking?
UI Masking is set to become more scalable, flexible, and easier to deploy across SAP applications. Functionality such as pseudonymization and multilingual support strengthens data‑protection capabilities across the SAP stack. Key enhancements include:
- Enhanced UI Masking Policy Framework
- Masking support extended to OData V4 applications
- Automatic activation across all SAP Themes
- Extended blocking for WebDynpro scenarios
- Multilingual support
- Alerting when sensitive fields are accessed
- Pseudonymization of user IDs in UI logs
What changes should we expect for UI Logging?
UI Logging focuses on improved privacy controls and better alignment with UI Masking, benefiting from centralization in the unified GRC 2026 platform. Key enhancements include:
- Enhanced UI Masking Policy Framework
- Masking support extended to OData V4 applications
- Pseudonymization of user IDs
- Centralized configuration under new co-hosted model
- Improved alerting for sensitive data access
- Better integration with masking features
Architecture, integration, and technical requirements
Can I run GRC 2026 on-prem, private cloud, or hybrid?
Yes. GRC 2026 can run in any of these set-ups and can also run on-prem or private cloud with the option of additional public (IAG) for Cloud apps. Note that GRC 2026 and GRC 12.0 only have one cloud app integration scenario, which is SuccessFactors. All others would need IAG.
Can GRC 2026 govern non-SAP or custom applications?
Yes. GRC 2026 can govern non‑SAP applications through Integration Suite, APIs, and existing plug‑in frameworks. This reflects SAP’s broader strategy to support hybrid landscapes rather than forcing customers into all‑SAP architectures.
Will our existing customizations be preserved?
Yes — GRC 2026 remains an ABAP-based solution. Custom code, user exits, and enhancements built correctly in GRC 12.0 will remain compatible, assuming your system meets required HANA and foundation-level prerequisites.
How far back does GRC 2026 support connected systems and plug-ins?
GRC 2026 requires a minimum HANA-level foundation, but SAP has indicated that connected systems retain a long tail of backward compatibility. The exact boundaries depend on each plug‑in’s supported release levels.
How will third‑party tools integrate with GRC 2026?
Integration patterns do not fundamentally change. Hybrid landscapes remain supported, and third‑party tools can still complement SAP-native capabilities. The main shift is ensuring integrations align with the unified HANA architecture and avoid duplicated functionality.
Does GRC 2026 integrate with SAP Risk & Assurance Management (RAM)?
Not natively.
Migration, compatibility, and upgrade paths
Will the upgrade cause disruption to our operations?
Minimal — certainly not as much as you might think. Existing customers with GRC on HANA should migrate very smoothly, as long as they’re on HANA Foundation 2025 level, with existing processes protected and evolved. As an ABAP component, all correctly executed customizations will be available as normal post-upgrade.
What’s the migration timeline?
For existing GRC customers, mainstream maintenance on current implementations will run until the end of 2027. It’s also worth considering that the first release of GRC 2026 will likely contain only minimal enhancements, with more expected later. We’ll share more details of those improvements here as they emerge.
What are our choices for GRC post-modernization?
You can stay on-premise, move to private cloud, or adopt multi-tenant SaaS. When making this choice, don’t forget to consider hybrid approaches and third-party tool integration. These can reduce the complexity of the SAP ecosystem and avoid overlapping functionality and multiple tool versions.
How can my organization use this change as a springboard for improvements?
You can seize the opportunity to innovate and expand automation across more processes. Start by evaluating current processes and identifying potential wins. More widely, GRC modernization can be aligned with broader digital transformation. Just remember to assess your options holistically and avoid jumping into reactive decisions.
What should a GRC tool selection assessment include?
A robust GRC tool selection assessment should start with an objective baseline assessment of current GRC maturity, with options mapped against specific requirements and a strategic alignment review in the context of your broader business direction. This can help generate evidence-based recommendations grounded in data and analysis.
What are the key strategic considerations in the GRC decision-making process?
Start by understanding your current technology foundations and existing investments, and how GRC can align with your business strategy over the next five years. Then consider regulatory and compliance changes, and evaluate integration and automation requirements, to distinguish between short-term operational issues and long-term strategic goals. Turnkey can support you along the way with our GRC Modernization Assessment, tool selection, etc.
Do S/4HANA and RISE customers need to prepare differently?
Not materially. GRC 2026 supports on‑premise and private cloud in the same way, with IAG filling the gap for multi‑tenant SaaS applications. Your main consideration is ensuring the underlying HANA and connector prerequisites are met.
Why are third-party tools a good idea for SAP GRC?
Select external tools may serve some functions better than your core SAP-native investment, especially if you have key requirements that you want to align with your wider organizational strategy. However, you would be hard-pressed to find an integrated solution with the breadth of SAP GRC.
Can I ‘mix and match’ the best bits of my existing GRC solutions with GRC 2026 features?
Yes. When the official release is published, you’ll be able to choose which new features you’d like to incorporate into your existing GRC processes.
What happens if I don’t migrate by the end of 2027?
SAP has said that this migration deadline has already been extended beyond 2027, and in any case, the enhancements in the first release of GRC 2026 will be minimal. You have time and space to make strategic, informed decisions about your SAP GRC future, based on a thorough assessment of your current position and future needs. If necessary, you can always pay for extended maintenance beyond 2027 as a backstop.
Are there early-adopter insights we should be aware of?
The first release is intentionally conservative, focusing on platform consolidation rather than widespread functional change. Early adopters indicate stable migrations for customers already on HANA and minimal disruption to existing processes, with more enhancements expected in later service packs.
In summary: the choice is yours
The most important thing to remember from all of this is that you are in control of your GRC 2026 journey.
You don’t need to rush into any adoption decisions, and you can choose from on-prem, private cloud, public cloud (SaaS), hybrid, or complementary third-party tools. We encourage you to see GRC modernization as a golden opportunity to make real improvements across processes, controls, integration, automation, and overall governance maturity.
If you’re looking for more clarity on the best GRC options for your organization, then try the Turnkey SAP GRC Modernization Assessment for vendor-agnostic recommendations in line with your business reality and growth plans.
For more information on GRC 2026, contact the Turnkey Consulting team, and keep an eye on this blog for updates throughout the year.
