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Global enterprises face growing challenges in complying with export regulations such as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and BAFA. While physical shipments are well-controlled, technical data including designs, specifications, and sensitive project information, moves digitally across SAP systems, portals, and collaborative environments, creating new compliance risks.Â
The Technical Data Export Compliance solution addresses this by embedding data-centric security controls directly into SAP workflows, ensuring that sensitive technical information is handled, shared, and accessed in line with global regulations.Â
Managing Technical Data Risk
Technical data can be exposed through SAP business objects, documents, and external systems like email systems or file repositories. Without active controls, organizations risk unauthorized access, sharing, or deemed exports, which can lead to regulatory violations, financial penalties, and reputational damage. Â
To mitigate these risks, the solution provides:
- Centralize classification: Identify technical data using SAP GTS material classifications or custom data categories Â
- Policy-driven access control: Attribute-based policies determine who can access specific technical data based on user roles, attributes, and regulatory context Â
- End-to-end protection: Controls travel with data across SAP GUI, SAP Portal, mobile applications, and connected systems Â
- Automated user guidance: Policies enforce compliance in real time, with built-in training prompts for usersÂ
By integrating these controls, the solution ensures that technical data is always handled in line with export regulations, regardless of where it resides or who accesses it.Â
Seamless Integration with SAP GTS
The NextLabs Technical Data Export Compliance solution is an SAP-endorsed business solution and integrates with SAP GTS to provide a comprehensive compliance workflow:
- Leverages SAP GTS services for USML product classification, license requirement checks, and license type determination. Â
- Applies policy-based controls to SAP business objects, including Materials, BOMs, Routings, Change Masters, and documents, through the SAP GUI, SAP Portal, easyDMS, cFolders and mobile applications. Â
- Supports external applications like Outlook and Windows File Server to maintain consistent policy enforcement.Â
- Enables centralized logging and auditing, linking technical data access to licenses and regulatory obligations.Â
This integration ensures that technical data export compliance is enforced consistently across SAP and connected systems, supporting regulatory reporting and audit readiness.
Enabling Secure Collaboration
Enterprises rely on distributed teams, global partners, and mobile workforces. While technical data must be protected, collaboration cannot be slowed down. By embedding data-centric security controls, the solution ensures that compliance enforcement and collaboration happen simultaneously:Â
- Controlled access: Only authorized users can view or modify sensitive technical data Â
- Automated compliance enforcement: Policies apply in real time, reducing the need for manual approvals Â
- Audit-ready tracking: Every access, modification, or export is logged for regulatory reporting Â
- Safe collaboration: Teams and partners can work efficiently across SAP and connected systems without risking unauthorized data exposureÂ
This approach makes compliance a seamless part of daily workflows, protecting technical data without sacrificing operational agility.
Conclusion
For SAP-centric organizations, securing technical data is critical to meet export regulations and prevent inadvertent disclosures. The Technical Data Export Compliance solution combines data-centric security controls with SAP GTS integration, enabling organizations to protect sensitive technical information while maintaining operational efficiency.Â
Read the full solution brief to learn how this end-to-end approach can secure an organization’s technical data exports and simplify compliance.Â
