SAP C_SEC_2601 FAQ: Complete Guide of Security Administrator & Exam Syllabus 2026

The C_SEC_2601 is the code for the SAP Certified - Security Administrator certification. It confirms the basic knowledge of SAP system security, authorization concepts and user access management. It covers SAP S/4HANA Public Edition, SAP S/4HANA Private Edition and tests if candidates can apply security knowledge as part of a project or security team.

C_SEC_2601 is a certification for those who are in security and access management. This includes SAP Security Administrators, SAP System Administrators, SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition Administrators and professionals working with authentication, provisioning and authorization. It is also relevant for SAP HANA Cloud Administrators and security professionals who want to validate their SAP security knowledge.

As an SAP Security Administrator you will be responsible for managing user access, roles and authorizations in SAP systems. You'll also build and maintain users, assign roles, check authorizations, and troubleshoot access problems.

C_SEC_2601 Certification helps professionals to test their knowledge on key SAP security and authorization concepts. It covers areas that are used when managing users, roles, access and authentication in SAP environments. The certification can also demonstrate that a candidate has a foundation in SAP security administration. 

The certification covers security and authorization concepts relevant to SAP S/4HANA Public Edition and SAP S/4HANA Private Edition. The learning content also includes SAP NetWeaver Application Server, SAP HANA and SAP HANA Cloud, SAP Cloud Identity Services and SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition user and role management. The exact application of these skills depends on the SAP environment being administered. 

C_SEC_2601 is offered as a system based assessment with one practical activity. Candidates receive certification tasks and work in a provided SAP system to complete them. This is different from the traditional multiple choice exam format used by some older SAP certifications.

Yes. C_SEC_2601 is a system based assessment. Candidates use the provided SAP environment to perform the certification tasks.

Currently C_SEC_2601 contains one assessment activity. This activity covers the practical certification tasks that candidates need to perform in the designated SAP environment.

The C_SEC_2601 assessment has a duration of 3 hours. The assessment is time bound and the timer starts when the assessment begins. Breaks do not pause the timer. So, candidates need to manage their time effectively and complete the assessment in one attempt.

The published cut score for C_SEC_2601 is 74%. To be able to pass the certification assessment candidates must achieve the minimum required score.

Yes. The C_SEC_2601 system based assessment is open book and non proctored. Where applicable candidates can refer to resources such as the SAP Help Portal, SAP Learning, SAP Community and SAP Joule for Consultants while working through the practical tasks.

Candidates are required to complete all certification tasks assigned to them and then select Confirm Completion on the assessment page. Once the completion is verified, the assessment is evaluated. Results are generally available in My Learnings → My Certifications in about 15 minutes. 

The C_SEC_2601 syllabus includes authorization and role maintenance, governance, compliance, cybersecurity and infrastructure security. It also covers authentication, public cloud user and role management, SAP Fiori authorizations and user administration. The learning content also covers SAP Cloud Identity Services and SAP HANA security.

Yes. Authorization and role maintenance are major parts of the certification. Candidates should understand authorization concepts, authorization objects, role maintenance and assigning roles and authorizations to users. The learning content also covers authorization traces and the transport of these authorizations.

It covers the basic principles of SAP authorization. It includes authorization objects and role maintenance. Thus candidates need to be aware of how roles and authorizations are created, maintained and assigned to users. It also addresses how to control user access based on the permissions needed.

Yes. User administration is an important subject in the C_SEC_2601 certification. This includes the creation and management of users, role assignment and managing user access. Candidates need to understand how user management helps to enable secure and controlled access to the SAP systems. 

Begin with the basics of SAP system security and then go over the details of authorizations. Then build your knowledge slowly beginning with security concepts. After that progress to users, roles, Fiori, cloud access, identity services and SAP HANA. 

The official six course C_SEC_2601 learning journey should be your main study resource. You can also use SAP Help Portal, SAP Learning, SAP Community and other permitted resources to clarify concepts and support practical learning.

Practise practical exercises regarding users, roles, authorizations and access management in an SAP environment. Don’t just follow the learning material steps, but understand what each configuration does.

You can start with the basics of the course. Then you can identify areas where you lack confidence. Spend your extra practice hours on areas like authorization and role maintenance, Fiori authorizations or cloud user management if they need more attention.

Get hands-on security exercises while gaining comfort in quickly navigating approved SAP resources for information. While practicing try to solve the task first and then check the documentation for clarification.

In the last weeks before the exam focus on the core topics and practice security administration activities regularly. Focus on applying your knowledge rather than trying to memorize large amounts of material. 

You can use The Exam Questions as an extra revision. It helps candidates to review key areas like authorization, user administration, Fiori security, identity management and SAP HANA security. It should be used as a supplemental resource in conjunction with SAP’s official learning content.

Practice questions help you check whether you understand the concepts behind SAP security tasks. They can also show which areas need another review before the assessment. After answering a question, try to connect it with the actual system process it describes.

Choose questions covering authorization concepts, role maintenance, user administration, Fiori authorizations, business roles, authentication, SAP Cloud Identity Services and SAP HANA privileges. Include practical questions where you need to decide what an administrator should do in a given situation. Avoid relying only on definition based questions.

Use sample questions to identify gaps. If you get a question about role maintenance wrong then return to that topic and perform the process yourself if you have access to an SAP system. This makes the revision more useful for a system based assessment.

No. The practice questions are good for revision but not enough on their own. C_SEC_2601 is a system based assessment so candidates should also understand how to perform practical security administration tasks in the provided environment.

Check more than whether your answer was correct. Identify the security concept behind the question and ask yourself how you would handle the same requirement in an SAP system. If you cannot explain the process clearly, revisit that topic before moving on. 

Create a valid SAP Universal ID and link at least two email addresses to it. You then need a valid certification exam attempt through an eligible SAP Learning Hub subscription. From the C_SEC_2601 certification page, select “Go to Certification Exam” and follow the instructions shown.

The number of attempts depends on how you access the certification. SAP offers exam attempt options such as one, two or six attempts. SAP Learning Hub provides four certification exam attempts. Check your specific subscription before scheduling so you know how many attempts are available.

Yes. A candidate can retake the C_SEC_2601 assessment if another attempt is available. SAP's current retake rules also provide a special option in which if a candidate does not pass but still has time remaining on the exam clock the assessment may be retaken immediately. The retake counts as one exam attempt.

Candidates need to wait 24 hours between exam attempts. Candidates should follow the instructions displayed in the assessment environment.

The same certification can be attempted up to four times within a 12 month period. If you are unsuccessful in all four attempts you must wait 12 months from the date of your last attempt before taking the certification exam again.

You can review your available attempts through the SAP Learning certification area. Before beginning the assessment the exam overview page also shows information such as the available time and remaining attempts.

Check your SAP Universal ID, linked email addresses, available exam attempts and assessment details. You should also review the system based format, the three hour time limit and the technical setup before starting. Since the assessment is open book it is also useful to know where you can find permitted SAP resources quickly. 

The C_SEC_2601 certification is valid for 12 months. You can check the current status of certification under the certification management section.

Use the Stay Certified assessment to keep your C_SEC_2601 certification current. On successful assessment, the validity of the certification is extended by 12 months. You can use this maintenance option through SAP Learning Hub.

The assessment is a non-proctored short quiz that can be taken multiple times during the applicable maintenance period. Candidates who successfully complete the assessment may renew their certification without having to retake the entire certification exam.

The Stay Certified assessment can be taken up to 90 days before the certification expires. Candidates should check their individual due date in SAP Learning because the available maintenance period is linked to their certification. On successful completion of the assessment the original expiry date is extended by 12 months.

Yes. An SAP Learning Hub subscription is required to access the Stay Certified assessment and its preparation materials. Candidates without the required Learning Hub access need to take the current certification exam again to maintain their certification.

No, not via the Stay Certified assessment. SAP requires Learning Hub access for the maintenance assessment and its preparation materials. If you do not have the required subscription, you will need to take the current C_SEC_2601 certification exam again when recertification is required.