What is message digest in SAP (BC-SEC - Security)?

SAP Term: message digest

• Component: BC-SEC

• Component Name: Security

• Description: The representation of a text in the form of a single string of digits, created using a one-way hash function. The algorithm used creates a string of digits that is unique to the message. It is highly unlikely that another text will produce the same message digest. When sent with a message, the recipient can verify that the message has not been altered by repeating the one-way hash function, which creates the message digest for the received text. By comparing this message digest with the message digest that was sent, the recipient can verify that the message has not been altered. An altered message would produce a different message digest.

Smart SAP Assistant

• Key Concepts: 
  A message digest is a cryptographic hash function used to verify the integrity of a message or data. It is a one-way function that takes an input of any length and produces a fixed-length output. In SAP, message digests are used in the BC-SEC Security component to ensure that data is not tampered with during transmission. 
  
  How to use it: 
  Message digests are used in SAP to ensure the integrity of data during transmission. When a message is sent, the sender will generate a message digest for the message and send it along with the message. The receiver will then generate their own message digest for the received message and compare it to the one sent by the sender. If they match, then the data has not been tampered with and can be trusted. 
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  When using message digests in SAP, it is important to remember that they are only effective if the algorithm used to generate them is secure. It is also important to remember that message digests are not encrypted, so they should not be used to protect sensitive data. 
  
  Related Information: 
  Message digests are similar to digital signatures in that they are used to verify the integrity of data. However, digital signatures are more secure than message digests as they use encryption and can also be used to authenticate the sender of a message.