ERP systems like SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Fusion Cloud, Workday, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 sit at the core of enterprise operations. They manage finance, procurement, supply chain, and HR processes that keep organizations running.
But as these systems move to hybrid cloud architectures, where on-premise and SaaS environments coexist, the challenge of maintaining security controls and passing audits becomes more complex than ever.
Many organizations today face the same recurring issue: audit findings linked to weak ERP controls, especially in access management, segregation of duties (SoD), and configuration oversight.
In this blog, we’ll explore 10 actionable, proven strategies to reduce audit findings and strengthen ERP controls backed by field insights, automation trends, and compliance best practices.
ERP audit issues rarely stem from malicious intent; they’re symptoms of system complexity, decentralization, and manual processes. Common causes include:
The result? Audit findings that repeat year after year, creating compliance fatigue and eroding trust between auditors and management.
Hybrid cloud environments add another layer of risk: controls must span across multiple platforms, identities, and data flows. The key to solving this challenge is not more manual oversight but intelligent automation and governance by design.
Manual access recertifications are a major source of audit findings. In hybrid ERP landscapes, user lists are scattered across on-prem and cloud systems, making manual review nearly impossible.
Solution: Automate access reviews using Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) tools that integrate with both SAP, Oracle, and Active Directory.
Tip: Implement quarterly or event-driven recertifications rather than waiting for annual audits.
Auditors often find that controls exist, but they’re not being tested regularly. CCM eliminates this gap by automatically validating control effectiveness on a continuous basis.
Examples of CCM in action:
Tools like SAP CCM, Oracle Advanced Controls, or Saviynt CCM can provide dashboards that show control status, exceptions, and remediation progress, keeping you audit-ready 24x7.
One of the top ERP audit findings every year: conflicting roles. SoD violations occur when a user can both initiate and approve a financial transaction, creating opportunities for fraud.
To strengthen your ERP control framework:
Example: In SAP, restrict “Create Vendor” and “Process Payment” from existing in the same role.
Hybrid ERP landscapes often have fragmented role structures managed by different teams. This leads to role duplication, inconsistent naming, and uncontrolled access growth.
The solution: build a centralized role governance framework.
Real-world insight: One global enterprise reduced 40% of redundant SAP roles by standardizing role design through a single governance platform.
In hybrid ERP environments, integrations often bypass native access controls. APIs, middleware, and file transfers can expose sensitive data if not properly secured.
Best practices:
Pro tip: Integrate ERP logs with your enterprise SIEM to detect cross-system anomalies.
Inactive or orphaned accounts are one of the easiest audit findings to prevent and one of the most common.
Use automation to close this gap:
Example: An organization linked SAP and Workday via IGA integration, reducing orphaned accounts by 98% in one quarter.
Auditors frequently flag insecure ERP configurations, such as disabled password policies or outdated system parameters.
Combat this with secure configuration baselines aligned with frameworks like CIS Benchmarks or NIST 800-53.
Example: SAP’s Security Optimization Service can benchmark system parameters against SAP-recommended values.
In hybrid architectures, ERP applications should not exist in isolation. Integrating them with enterprise identity and access management (IAM) enables consistent enforcement of security policies.
Benefits include:
This alignment also supports compliance frameworks like SOX Section 404 and ISO 27001 Annex A.9, which require consistent access control across all systems.
One of the biggest audit challenges is gathering evidence: screenshots, reports, and approvals to prove control execution.
Modern GRC tools now automate this process:
By automating evidence collection, you can cut audit prep time by up to 70%.
ERP security is not a one-time project; it’s an ongoing discipline. A Controls CoE provides the organizational muscle to sustain control quality over time.
What a CoE does:
Case in point: A Fortune 500 firm built a GRC CoE to oversee its global Oracle Fusion rollout, cutting recurring audit issues by half in the first year.
As ERP ecosystems evolve, so will their control models. The future points toward AI-driven governance, predictive compliance, and automated audit intelligence.
Emerging trends include:
In essence, organizations are moving from reactive audit responses to proactive, data-driven assurance that transforms compliance from a checkbox to a competitive advantage.
At TechRisk Partners (TRPGLOBAL), we help enterprises design, implement, and operate ERP control frameworks built for the hybrid cloud era. Our RiskSuccess© methodology combines GRC automation, SoD analytics, and continuous assurance to eliminate recurring audit findings and strengthen control maturity.
Want to make your ERP systems audit-ready all year round? Contact us today for a consultation with our ERP risk specialists.
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