Authorization & IAM

Guide for implementing authorization checks and identity/access management in ABAP Cloud and on-premise systems.

Workflow

1. Determine the user's goal:
   • Implementing authorization checks in ABAP code
   • Creating CDS access controls (DCL)
   • Setting up IAM apps, business catalogs, and business roles (ABAP Cloud)
   • Managing PFCG roles (on-premise)
   • Defining custom authorization objects
   • Understanding restriction types
2. Identify the platform and clean core level:
   • ABAP Cloud (SAP Cloud ERP or SAP BTP ABAP Environment) → IAM apps + business catalogs + CL_ABAP_AUTHORIZATION (Level A)
   • Classic ABAP / SAP Cloud ERP Private → PFCG roles + AUTHORITY-CHECK (Level B)
   • Wrapper scenarios → SU22 data and variants for non-released authorization objects
3. Guide implementation with the appropriate authorization model

Authorization Models

ABAP Cloud — Level A

IAM App → Business Catalog → Business Role → Business User
                                    ↑
                            Restriction Type (field-level restrictions)

Uses CL_ABAP_AUTHORIZATION (a released API). Available on SAP Cloud ERP and SAP BTP ABAP Environment.

Classic ABAP — Level B

Authorization Object → PFCG Role → User Assignment
       ↑
Authorization Fields + Permitted Values

Uses AUTHORITY-CHECK. Required on SAP Cloud ERP Private, where the IAM/COM Fiori apps are not available and the classic transactions must be used instead (PFCG, SM59, SOAMANAGER, SU21, SU22).

SAP Cloud ERP Private note: unlike SAP Cloud ERP (public), there is no strict content separation between SAP and customer regarding users, roles and communications.

Authorizations for wrappers

When a wrapper exposes a classic API to ABAP Cloud code, the wrapped API often checks non-released authorization objects, which cannot be used in ABAP Cloud directly. Handling:

• PFCG roles can mix released and non-released authorization objects
• Provide SU22 data for the wrapper when releasing it for cloud development, so the required non-released authorization objects are transparent
• Create SU22 variants for each designated usage of the wrapper, for use in role maintenance

See the abap-cloud skill for the full wrapper pattern and its level classification.

Authorization Checks in Code

ABAP Cloud — CL_ABAP_AUTHORIZATION

"Check authorization using released API
DATA(lo_auth) = cl_abap_authorization=>check_authorization(
  EXPORTING
    authorization_object = 'Z_MY_AUTH'
    authorizations       = VALUE #(
      ( field = 'ACTVT' value = '03' )    "Display
      ( field = 'ZCARR' value = lv_carrier )
    ) ).

IF lo_auth->is_authorized( ) = abap_false.
  "User not authorized
  RAISE EXCEPTION TYPE zcx_not_authorized.
ENDIF.

On-Premise — AUTHORITY-CHECK

AUTHORITY-CHECK OBJECT 'Z_MY_AUTH'
  ID 'ACTVT' FIELD '03'
  ID 'ZCARR' FIELD lv_carrier.

IF sy-subrc <> 0.
  MESSAGE e001(z_msg) WITH lv_carrier.
  RETURN.
ENDIF.

Activity Values (ACTVT)

Authorization Objects

Creating a Custom Authorization Object

In ADT or SU21:

Authorization Object: Z_MY_AUTH
  Fields:
    ACTVT  — Activity (standard field, linked to domain ACTIV_AUTH)
    ZCARR  — Carrier (custom field, type S_CARR_ID)
    ZREGN  — Region (custom field, type CHAR4)

Structure

• Authorization Class: Groups related objects (e.g., Z_TRAVEL)
• Authorization Object: Contains 1–10 authorization fields
• Authorization Field: Links to a data element; defines the check dimension

CDS Access Control (DCL)

CDS access controls define row-level authorization for CDS view entities.

Basic DCL

@EndUserText.label: 'Access Control for Travel'
@MappingRole: true
define role ZI_Travel {
  grant select on ZI_Travel
    where ( carrier_id ) =
      aspect pfcg_auth ( Z_MY_AUTH, ZCARR, ACTVT = '03' );
}

Multiple Conditions

define role ZI_Travel {
  grant select on ZI_Travel
    where ( carrier_id ) =
      aspect pfcg_auth ( Z_MY_AUTH, ZCARR, ACTVT = '03' )
      and ( agency_id ) =
      aspect pfcg_auth ( Z_AGENCY_AUTH, ZAGENCY, ACTVT = '03' );
}

Unrestricted Access

define role ZI_Travel_Admin {
  grant select on ZI_Travel
    where _unrestrictedAccess;
}

Inherited Access Control

"Child entity inherits access control from parent
define role ZI_Booking {
  grant select on ZI_Booking
    where ( carrier_id ) =
      aspect pfcg_auth ( Z_MY_AUTH, ZCARR, ACTVT = '03' );
}

DCL and PRIVILEGED ACCESS

"Bypass DCL access control when needed (e.g., in background jobs)
SELECT FROM zi_travel
  FIELDS travel_id, description
  INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_all)
  PRIVILEGED ACCESS.

IAM in ABAP Cloud

IAM App

Created in ADT, links a service binding to the authorization model:

ADT: New → Other → IAM App
Name: Z_TRAVEL_IAM
Type: EXT - External App (for OData services)
Service Binding: ZUI_TRAVEL_O4

Assign authorization objects to the IAM App to define which checks apply.

Business Catalog

Groups IAM Apps into logical bundles:

ADT: New → Other → Business Catalog
Name: Z_BC_TRAVEL_MGMT
Description: Travel Management
IAM Apps: Z_TRAVEL_IAM, Z_BOOKING_IAM

Business Role

Created in Fiori app "Maintain Business Roles":

1. Create new business role (e.g., Z_BR_TRAVEL_MANAGER)
2. Add business catalogs
3. Configure restriction types (field-level access)
4. Assign business users

Restriction Types

Define field-level restrictions in business roles:

Example: A travel manager role might restrict ZCARR to only LH and AA.

On-Premise: PFCG Roles

Creating a PFCG Role

1. Open PFCG transaction
2. Enter role name (e.g., Z_TRAVEL_DISPLAY)
3. Menu tab: Add transaction codes, Fiori tiles, or apps
4. Authorizations tab: Maintain authorization values
   • Set authorization objects and field values
   • Generate the authorization profile
5. User tab: Assign users to the role

Composite Roles

Bundle multiple single roles:

Z_TRAVEL_COMPOSITE (Composite Role)
├── Z_TRAVEL_DISPLAY (Single Role — display only)
├── Z_TRAVEL_EDIT (Single Role — create/change)
└── Z_TRAVEL_ADMIN (Single Role — full access)

RAP Authorization

Instance Authorization in RAP

"In behavior definition:
define behavior for ZR_Travel alias Travel
  authorization master ( instance )
{
  ...
}

"In behavior implementation:
METHOD get_instance_authorizations.
  READ ENTITIES OF zr_travel IN LOCAL MODE
    ENTITY Travel
    FIELDS ( carrier_id )
    WITH CORRESPONDING #( keys )
    RESULT DATA(lt_travels).

  LOOP AT lt_travels INTO DATA(ls_travel).
    DATA(lo_auth) = cl_abap_authorization=>check_authorization(
      authorization_object = 'Z_MY_AUTH'
      authorizations       = VALUE #(
        ( field = 'ZCARR' value = ls_travel-carrier_id )
        ( field = 'ACTVT' value = COND #(
            WHEN requested_authorizations-%update = if_abap_behv=>mk-on
              THEN '02'
            WHEN requested_authorizations-%delete = if_abap_behv=>mk-on
              THEN '06'
            ELSE '03' ) )
      ) ).

    APPEND VALUE #(
      %tky = ls_travel-%tky
      %update = COND #( WHEN lo_auth->is_authorized( ) THEN if_abap_behv=>auth-allowed
                        ELSE if_abap_behv=>auth-unauthorized )
      %delete = COND #( WHEN lo_auth->is_authorized( ) THEN if_abap_behv=>auth-allowed
                        ELSE if_abap_behv=>auth-unauthorized )
    ) TO result.
  ENDLOOP.
ENDMETHOD.

Global Authorization in RAP

"In behavior definition:
define behavior for ZR_Travel alias Travel
  authorization master ( global )
{
  ...
}

METHOD get_global_authorizations.
  DATA(lo_auth) = cl_abap_authorization=>check_authorization(
    authorization_object = 'Z_MY_AUTH'
    authorizations       = VALUE #(
      ( field = 'ACTVT' value = '01' ) ) ).  "Create

  IF lo_auth->is_authorized( ).
    result-%create = if_abap_behv=>auth-allowed.
  ELSE.
    result-%create = if_abap_behv=>auth-unauthorized.
  ENDIF.
ENDMETHOD.

Output Format

When helping with authorization/IAM topics, structure responses as:

## Authorization Guidance

### Platform

- [ABAP Cloud / On-Premise]
- Approach: [CDS DCL / AUTHORITY-CHECK / CL_ABAP_AUTHORIZATION / IAM]

### Implementation

[Step-by-step with code examples]

### Role Configuration

[How to set up roles and assign access]

References

• ABAP Authorization Cheat Sheet: https://github.com/SAP-samples/abap-cheat-sheets
• CDS Access Control: https://help.sap.com/docs/abap-cloud/abap-development-tools-user-guide/access-controls
• IAM Guide: https://help.sap.com/docs/btp/sap-business-technology-platform/identity-and-access-management-iam

Related Skills

• abap-cloud: Use for clean core levels, the wrapper pattern, and S_ABPLNGVS developer governance
• cds-view-entities: Use for implementing CDS access control (DCL)
• rap: Use for RAP instance and global authorization implementation
• btp-abap-environment: Use for IAM app and business role setup
• abap-cloud-migration: Use for migrating AUTHORITY-CHECK to CL_ABAP_AUTHORIZATION