Best practices
SAP best practices are the disciplines that keep implementations stable, performant, secure and upgradable, spanning configuration, performance, security, coding, transports and the clean-core principle. This hub summarises them; each page goes deeper.
SAP runs the business, and most problems (and upgrade pain) come from ignoring these disciplines: over-customisation, inefficient code, over-broad access, and undisciplined transports.
- Above all, keep the standard system clean: extend via approved frameworks (BTP side-by-side, released APIs, in-app extensibility)…
- Configuration: follow standard, document, use org structure wisely.
- Performance: efficient SQL/ABAP and proper sizing.
- Watch out: Over-customising the standard.
The pillars
- Configuration: follow standard, document, use org structure wisely.
- Performance: efficient SQL/ABAP and proper sizing.
- Security: least privilege, SoD, secure integration.
- Standards: naming and coding conventions.
- Transport strategy & clean core.
Why best practices matter
SAP runs the business, and most problems (and upgrade pain) come from ignoring these disciplines: over-customisation, inefficient code, over-broad access, and undisciplined transports. Following best practices is what separates a system that thrives from one that becomes a fragile liability.
The clean-core principle
Above all, keep the standard system clean: extend via approved frameworks (BTP side-by-side, released APIs, in-app extensibility) rather than modifying SAP standard. Clean core keeps upgrades smooth and is essential for cloud, it is the throughline of modern SAP best practice.
Common pitfalls
- Over-customising the standard.
- Ignoring performance/security discipline.
- Undisciplined transports.