SAP GRC for HANA 2026: The Next Generation of Compliance

What is SAP GRC for HANA 2026?

SAP GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) is SAP’s suite for managing governance, risk, and compliance. The 2026 version for HANA represents the next step in the evolution of SAP’s GRC portfolio, built to run natively on the HANA database and fully align with SAP S/4HANA environments. This release has been announced as the successor to the traditional Access Control, Process Control, and Risk Management tools—now brought together into one unified solution.

Why the Change?

The classic SAP GRC versions (like 12.0) have started to fall short when it comes to new demands: tighter integration with S/4HANA, real-time performance, better usability, and less fragmentation across modules. SAP has announced that mainstream support for GRC 12.0 will end on December 31, 2027.

To meet those challenges, SAP is working closely with customers, partners, and analysts to shape the “next generation GRC edition for SAP HANA,” expected to roll out in Q1 of 2026.

Key Features

SAP GRC 2026 brings several major upgrades over the classic versions:

• Native HANA processing: Taps into the speed of in-memory data to deliver instant analysis and fast queries.

• Fiori 3-based UI: A more modern, consistent user experience across modules with a shorter learning curve.

• Unified GRC modules: Access Control, Process Control, and Risk Management are combined into a single platform, improving visibility and cutting down on the need to sync systems.

• Integration with SAP BTP and cloud services: Enables seamless connections with other SAP or third-party solutions, opening the door for hybrid setups and extensions.

• Initial AI capabilities: Helps spot anomalies and risk patterns automatically and supports decision-making in compliance processes.

• Scalable, modular architecture: Companies can adopt the components they need and scale as they grow.

The “unified” strategy doesn’t mean it’s a completely new product—it’s more about streamlining and reshaping existing features under a modern roadmap.

Benefits and Impact

Organizations moving to SAP GRC 2026 can expect:

• Lower operating costs by eliminating overlap between modules.

• Proactive risk and anomaly detection thanks to real-time analytics.

• Better access governance through simpler, centralized rules.

• Stronger regulatory compliance and complete audit traceability.

• Alignment with SAP’s broader tech strategy—especially for those already running on HANA and S/4HANA.

Highly regulated industries like banking, healthcare, energy, and telecom will likely benefit the most, given their rising compliance demands.

Migration Path and Considerations

SAP has confirmed that support for the classic GRC versions ends in December 2027. That means companies need to start planning their move to GRC on HANA ahead of time. Those not yet on HANA will first need to migrate their database, which brings both technical and financial implications.

Migration might be tricky for companies with legacy setups or heavy customizations. While consultants are excited about the improvements, they also warn that it won’t be a simple lift-and-shift in every case.

SAP has released official guides, webinars, and roadmaps to help customers navigate the transition.

SAP GRC 2026 as a Strategic Move

SAP GRC for HANA 2026 is a bold step toward smarter compliance—it unifies modules, harnesses HANA’s power, brings in AI, and delivers a modern user experience. For companies still using classic GRC, migration isn’t just recommended—it’s inevitable. Planning ahead will help them unlock the benefits and avoid unnecessary risks.