SAP updates BusinessObjects governance software

SAP has issued the latest version of its BusinessObjects governance, risk and compliance (GRC) software, pulling all of its analytics and business intelligence into one place and adding new features and easy-to-use management and monitoring dashboards.

SAP explained that the 10.0 release puts all of the firm's analytics and risk assessment tools in one place and has been three years in the making.

Although it pulls in a complex array of information, dashboards used for displaying system information are simple to use, the firm said, and now include a 'bow-tie builder' to link compliance and risk management to the business as a whole and let firms collaborate on risk assessment methodologies.

SAP added that the update will help enterprise users with little experience of compliance to be more risk aware and stay on top of their responsibilities.

Importantly, the update combines SAP's pool of compliance and risk software and presents it in one place, allowing administrators to stop reacting to problems and start working proactively to improve compliance efforts.

Also included are policy management and auditing tools as well as granular security controls, which means that different layers of protection can be applied to different areas of the enterprise.

A dashboard view means that all this is manageable and viewable in one place, according to SAP.

"Whenever a new risk or compliance issue hits the news, the question on the mind of every executive is: 'Can this happen to us?'" said Jim Dunham, group vice president for GRC solutions at SAP.

"SAP BusinessObjects GRC solutions provide the most comprehensive platform for compliance and risk professionals to answer these types of tough questions.

"The best run companies focus on GRC as an enabler of better business performance that can help them protect value and optimise organisational performance."