SAP GRC 2026: Key Features, AI Strategy & Migration Insights

What’s Coming in SAP GRC 2026?

SAP GRC 2026 is shaping up to be a significant modernization of the Governance, Risk, and Compliance suite. Designed natively for SAP HANA and aligned with S/4HANA architecture, it consolidates legacy modules into a unified platform with a consistent UX and embedded intelligence.

Key upgrades include:

Unified architecture: Merging Access Control, Process Control, Risk Management, and Audit Management into a single, coherent platform.
Modern Fiori UX: A complete move to Fiori-based, role-based interfaces across all modules.
Real-time analytics: In-memory reporting and dashboards powered by SAP HANA.
AI assistance: Smart suggestions, anomaly detection, and predictive controls, powered by SAP Joule and machine learning.

AI & Automation in the GRC Stack

The 2026 release adds intelligent features to reduce manual effort and enhance proactive risk management:

AI-driven access review recommendations
Conversational assistance with SAP Joule
Predictive control suggestions
Anomaly detection across user behavior, roles, and process deviations

Note: Many of these features are expected to evolve gradually over the 2026+ lifecycle. Early adopters should prepare for tuning and governance reviews.

On-Prem, Private Cloud & Hybrid Deployment Options

SAP is preserving flexibility:

GRC 2026 will be available for on-prem, private cloud, and embedded deployment models
It is HANA-native, meaning older non-HANA platforms must migrate
Integration with SAP BTP and non-SAP systems is being streamlined

Migration Strategy & Tools

SAP promises a „no customer left behind” migration model, with tools and support planned for:

Bulk role assignments and cutover utilities
Resolution of role/authorization mismatches
Transition from legacy UI to Fiori-based workflows
Consolidation of multi-module GRC landscapes

Important: Support for legacy GRC modules (e.g. Access Control 12.0) ends in 2027, so planning should start now.

Final Thoughts

GRC 2026 is not just an upgrade—it’s a platform overhaul. The payoff? Better performance, smarter compliance tooling, and longer lifecycle support. The price? Time, migration effort, and adaptation to new tools.

Ready to prepare your business for GRC 2026? Contact EBPC to get a tailored migration roadmap and readiness assessment.

Posted in: SAP Technology, GRC Roadmap, HANA Migration