All ABAP application servers including the message server represent the application layer of the multitier architecture of an ABAP-based SAP system.
These application servers execute ABAP applications and communicate with the presentation components, the database, and also with each other, using the message server.
The architecture of SAP Web Application Server can be separated into 5 areas: The SAP NetWeaver AS can accept multiple forms of authentication: The SAP NetWeaver Application Server's connectivity layer supports HTTPS which is required for encrypted communications via Secure Sockets Layer.
It is possible to enable SSL using the SAP Cryptographic Library.
[2] If a company is running with traditional SAP systems that only uses RFC and DIAG protocols, Secure Network Communications is required for encrypted communications as well[3]