In this SAP SAC Series Part 10, you’ll learn about common SAP SAC interview questions and answers that can your interviewer can ask. No matter if you are preparing for your first interview or just need a refresher, this guide will help you feel prepared and ready to succeed.
1. What is the Difference Between Live Data Connection and Import Data Connection?
There is a significant difference between the ‘Live Data Connection’ & ‘Import Data Connection’ options.
- In a live data connection, the data remains in the source system and is not replicated in the SAC platform. In an import data connection, the data is replicated into the SAC platform and stored within it. Data Models are executed in real-time in a live data connection, whereas the data is copied into the data models when we import the data connection.
- Data refresh is different for both scenarios. The data refresh is very up-to-date when we use the live data connection as it is real-time. But the data refresh when we import the data connections is not up to date & we only get the data updated till the time the data is imported.
- In import data connection, the data is copied & stored in the system itself, so the query performance is faster & easier. There is no need to communicate repeatedly with the source system, so reporting &and querying are easier.
During live data connection, the performance of the system depends upon the connections & the source system connections. If they are slow, then obviously the performance will be slow as well. - Live data connections usually support SAP databases which include SAP HANA, S/4HANA, SAP BW, and various SAP data sources. In importing data connections, we can use a wide range of data sources which can include both SAP & Non SAP Systems.
Import data connections are suitable for scenarios where a real-time time data source is not required. Good for trend analysis, historical analysis & scenarios where less frequent data sources are required. Live data connection is good where the data volume is not very highly required. Good for operational reporting & real-time data reporting.
2. What Options Are There to Update the Charts if You Are Using SAP Analytics Cloud?
In SAC, there are various options to update the charts to reflect the most current information.
Various data refresh options available are:
- Manual Data Refresh: Refresh button to manually update the charts with the latest data. Also, the entire data model can be refreshed using the model refresh option.
- Scheduled Data Refresh: We can specify the frequency & time for data import to occur. This helps when manual intervention is not required but regular updation is required.
- Live Data Connection: Real-time updates are being done and this helps whenever users are required to interact with the charts or the page needs to be loaded on time.
- By choosing data exploration mode which updates the charts by drilling down the data hierarchies.
- Linked Analysis can be used to create the interactions between the charts, which helps in updating other related charts by selecting a data point in another chart.
- Global filters or story filters can be applied to all charts, within the story to update them on time.
- Charts can also be refreshed based on various version management items, such as actuals versus forecasts.
These are the few data refresh options which can be used.
3. Is SAP Analytics Cloud Public or Private?
SAP Analytics Cloud is basically the public cloud, which can be accessed all over the internet & Is mainly hosted in SAP Cloud environment itself. Though SAC Cloud can also be deployed on a private level but public cloud has more benefits, than the private level cloud.
Benefits such as multi-tenancy, and anywhere access, managed by SAP are a few of the main benefits offered by SAP SAC when deployed on a public level.
4. How to Manage Security & Access in SAP Analytics Cloud?
Handling the security action and access management is very important for protecting the dataset and ensuring the compliance to protect the system. We have user roles & permissions, to control all the action items users can do in SAC & to control all that users can see in SAC.
We have the concept of DAC – Data Access Control, which will help in restricting access to a specific data set. We can also control who all users can edit, view, or share the stories we have created as the user.
Authentication & SSO Single Sign On functionality is being provided, to ensure secure access and seamless login experience. Various data encryption techniques are being provided to ensure the protection of sensitive data which in transit or at rest.
Complete compliance with the security policies is being provided. Proper group management is being taken care of, separate accesses are being provided for groups to ensure the users use the dashboards efficiently. Hence, these are a few ways we use to provide security to the SAC System.
5. How Can We Use Alerts and Notifications in SAP SAC?
Alerts & Notifications are very critical for business users as they help users be informed about various data changes, critical updates, and a lot more happening.
Whenever any data change occurs, the alerts could be set up for the same. If someone has made any changes to the stories or dashboards, or any report they are monitoring & any change to it happened, then users are notified about those via alerts & notifications.
If any system update, any kind of maintenance or issue happens in the dashboard, then it can be informed via alerts 7 notifications.
When certain KPIs or metrics exceed the defined threshold or fall below the threshold, then alerts can be used.
For any kind of email notifications, suppose if you are not logged in to the SAC dashboard, then also it can be used.
If you have performed any collaborations, then about all the comments, discussions and mentions, users can be informed about them via alerts and notifications.
So, if you ensure to use this feature effectively, it will help you get informed about the right step at the right time to perform the right decision-making.
Explore our other parts of this SAP SAC Interview Series to prepare for your next interview