SAP Cloud: a topic that still generates many questions in Italian companies. Is it really worth moving SAP to the cloud? What advantages does it bring over on-premise management? And above all: what concretely changes for those who manage the systems and for those who use them every day? In this article we answer these questions with concrete data, without oversimplification.
What SAP Cloud Means
When we talk about the SAP Cloud, we mean several deployment models: the Public Cloud, in which SAP manages the infrastructure entirely on shared data centers; the Private Cloud (RISE with SAP), in which SAP manages the infrastructure on dedicated environments; and the hybrid model, in which some components remain on-premise while others are moved to the cloud.
There is no one-size-fits-all SAP cloud model: each option has different features, constraints, and costs. The choice depends on the level of customization of the current system, compliance and security needs, performance requirements, and the company’s propensity to delegate infrastructure management to SAP.
The concrete benefits of the SAP cloud
Continuous updates: the SAP cloud includes automatic and regular updates, eliminating the need to manage complex upgrades every few years. This ensures access to the latest SAP features without extraordinary interventions.
Predictable costs: the cloud’s subscription model transforms IT costs from CAPEX (infrastructure investments) to OPEX (predictable monthly fees). For many companies, this simplifies financial planning.
Scalability: computing and storage resources can be adapted to the needs of the business without having to plan hardware purchases in advance.
Continuity and disaster recovery: SAP cloud providers manage backup, replication and disaster recovery plans with enterprise standards that many companies would struggle to replicate on-premise with equivalent costs.
The constraints that many companies underestimate
The SAP Public Cloud requires strict adherence to the SAP standard, with very limited customizations. Companies with highly customized systems must redesign their processes to fit the SAP standard before they can migrate to the Public Cloud.
Dependence on Internet connectivity and SAP data center response times can be a problem for applications that require ultra-low latencies. And managing data security in the cloud requires careful evaluation, especially for companies operating in regulated industries or handling sensitive data.
SAP cloud and migration to S/4HANA
Migrating to SAP S/4HANA and moving to the cloud are two related but distinct decisions. It is possible to migrate to S/4HANA while remaining on-premise, just as it is possible to adopt SAP cloud on a system still in ECC. However, the two initiatives are often combined, as migration to S/4HANA is a natural point of discontinuity to evaluate the deployment model as well.
To learn more about specific deployment options for S/4HANA, read our article on migrating to SAP S/4HANA, which includes a discussion of available cloud options.
How to assess whether the SAP cloud is right for your business
The decision to move to SAP Cloud cannot be made based on infrastructure cost comparisons alone. It requires an analysis that considers the current level of customization, compliance requirements, dependencies with other systems, the IT team’s maturity in using cloud technologies, and the governance model you want to adopt.
Are you evaluating the SAP cloud and want to understand which option is best for your situation? Contact Technis Blu for a discussion with our experts. You can also start with an SAP Quick Assessment to get a clear picture of your current system.
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