SAP Web Dispatcher is a front-end component that receives HTTP and HTTPS traffic and forwards it to SAP backend systems. It often acts like a reverse proxy or load balancer, sitting close to the network edge so it can control how requests reach application servers. Because it is exposed to external or semi-external traffic, it becomes a high-value entry point in an SAP landscape.
In cybersecurity, the Web Dispatcher matters because flaws or misconfigurations here can affect many systems at once. Attackers may target it to reach internal SAP services, abuse request routing, or trigger weaknesses in the request-processing path. Defenders use it to centralize TLS termination, enforce routing rules, restrict access, and observe traffic patterns. Patching, hardening, and reviewing forwarding rules are important because a compromise or outage at this layer can disrupt multiple SAP applications, not just one service.