Change has never happened so quickly, and it will never be this slow again.
SAP recognizes this urgency and stands ready to assist. SAP has a long history of implementing simpler and more efficient workflows into its products. This commitment is evident in features like the simplification lists accompanying each SAP S/4HANA release, emphasizing the concept of a unified financial truth as a foundation for accountants and controllers during reporting. The RISE with SAP initiative channels a similar inspiration, encapsulating its essence in a collection of "ones," characterized by:
- One offer: A cohesive package of products bundled together for a single, transparent price.
- One contract: The capability to oversee Service Level Agreements (SLA), operations, and issue management without the need for separate contracts for each aspect.
Moving SAP to cloud is another crucial step on the way to seeking innovation, enhancing agility, and achieving cost efficiencies. Imagine cloud adoptions not just as tech evolution but a strategic narrative. RISE with SAP opens a spectrum of choices—public for scalability, private for precision, hybrid for adaptability, and multi-cloud stealing the spotlight for fortifying business resilience. In this blog, we will explore some technical aspects of deploying RISE with SAP on public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments, where S/4HANA fits in this mix, RISE with SAP vs S4HANA and much more. Let us dive in!
What is RISE with SAP?
SAP is a BTaaS (Business Transformation as a Service) offering. Three essential elements are intended to be integrated: PaaS (Platform as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). To put it simply, RISE with SAP assists companies in migrating and modernizing their current (outdated) SAP ERP systems and features to the cloud. It seeks to do so by allowing firms to retain and work with an infrastructure provider of their choice (Azure, GCP, or AWS) (On Private Cloud Edition) and achieving much more on top.
With RISE with SAP, SAP realized that giving businesses a single, unified, and comprehensive transformational set of tools, products, and software that can help them with digital transformation is essential. The ‘One Offer, One Contract' policy means you pay a single subscription fee for multiple products that are all included under a single RISE with SAP umbrella.
New to the concept of RISE with SAP? Have questions like:
What RISE with SAP? Is it the right step for my organization?
RISE with SAP on Different Cloud Environments
Let's delve into how RISE with SAP Public and Private Cloud editions, and Hybrid and Multi-Cloud editions work:
| Point of Difference | RISE with SAP on Public Cloud | RISE with SAP on Private Cloud |
| Infrastructure Ownership | Makes use of third-party cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). A shared, multi-tenant environment with dynamic resource allocation. For eg: Read more on how APAC Multi-brand leader achieves cost Effective zero-friction SAP transformation on AWS cloud. | Customer owns and manages their infrastructure, either on-premises or through a private cloud provider. More control over hardware, network configurations, and security policies. |
| Scalability | Easily scalable based on the cloud provider's capabilities, allowing dynamic adjustment of resources to handle varying workloads. Auto-scaling features enable automatic provisioning and de-provisioning of resources. | Scalability depends on the capacity and scalability features of the private cloud infrastructure chosen by the customer. Involve manual intervention and could have limitations based on the infrastructure's capacity. |
| Customization | Limited customization options due to the standardized nature of public cloud services. While there are configuration options, deep customization may be restricted to maintain the cloud provider's service standards. | Greater flexibility in customizing infrastructure and configurations according to specific business requirements. This includes the ability to tailor hardware specifications, network setups, and security protocols. |
| Security and Compliance | Relies on the security measures provided by the public cloud provider. Cloud providers implement robust security measures, including data encryption, identity and access management, and compliance certifications. | Customers have more control over security measures and compliance. Can implement customized security protocols and ensure compliance with industry-specific or regional regulations. However, this also means the responsibility of managing security falls more on the customer. |
| Cost Model | Typically follows a pay-as-you-go or subscription-based model, allowing for cost optimization based on usage. Public clouds offer cost transparency and flexibility, with the ability to scale costs based on actual resource consumption. | Cost structure may include upfront investments in infrastructure and ongoing operational costs. While this provides more predictability, it may lack the cost efficiency seen in pay-as-you-go models, especially during periods of variable workloads. |
| Implementation Time | Generally quicker implementation due to pre-configured cloud services. Public cloud platforms provide ready-to-use solutions, reducing the time needed for infrastructure setup. | Implementation time may vary depending on the complexity of the private cloud setup and the need for infrastructure deployment. |
| Integration with On-Premises Systems | May require additional considerations for integration with on-premises systems, depending on the chosen public cloud provider. Integration tools and APIs are available, but compatibility issues may arise. | Easier integration with existing on-premises systems, as the customer has more control over the entire infrastructure stack. This facilitates seamless integration with legacy systems and on-premises databases. |
Source: Arvato
Choosing between the two depends on your organization’s unique requirements, priorities, and constraints. Now, how does functioning differ if the cloud environments are a Hybrid or a Multi-cloud setup?
| Point of Difference | RISE with SAP on Hybrid Cloud | RISE with SAP on Multi-Cloud |
| Architecture Integration | Seamless integration between on-premise SAP solutions and SAP Business Technology Platform on the cloud. | Adaptable architecture to integrate with multiple cloud platforms concurrently. |
| Deployment Flexibility | Allows deploying SAP solutions on-premise, in SAP data centers, or on public cloud platforms. | Enables deployment across different cloud providers like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and private cloud, etc. |
| SAP Cloud Services Inclusion | Incorporates SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Business Technology Platform, and other SAP cloud services. May or may not include cloud-native services. | Utilizes various cloud services from different providers in conjunction with SAP offerings mentioned left. |
| Scalability | Offers scalability by leveraging cloud resources while maintaining on-premise systems. | Provides scalability by distributing workloads across multiple cloud providers based on demand. |
| Vendor Lock-in Mitigation | Reduces dependence on a single cloud provider, minimizing vendor lock-in. | Aims to avoid vendor lock-in by distributing workloads across multiple cloud providers. |
| Data Residency and Compliance | Provides control over data residency and compliance with options for on-premise and specific cloud locations. | Supports compliance with regional data residency requirements by strategically choosing cloud providers. |
| Integration and Interoperability | Facilitates integration with on-premise systems and existing infrastructure seamlessly. | Ensures interoperability by connecting SAP services with various cloud platforms and third-party services. |
| Management Complexity and Orchestration | May introduce complexity in managing a hybrid infrastructure and requires effective orchestration. | Involves effective orchestration tools and governance strategies to manage resources across diverse cloud platforms. |
| Security Measures | Offers control over sensitive data on-premise and implements SAP's robust security measures. | Requires stringent security measures across multiple cloud providers, potentially involving a shared responsibility model. |
| Disaster Recovery Strategies | Enables disaster recovery solutions for on-premise and cloud-hosted SAP solutions. | Involves implementing redundancy and disaster recovery strategies across different cloud providers. |
How does RISE with SAP really affect the business with different Cloud models? Let us understand with some common use cases and examples:
RISE with SAP Public Cloud Edition
RISE with SAP public cloud is a comprehensive business transformation offering that combines SAP's solutions with infrastructure and services from major public cloud providers. RISE with SAP public edition is a highly flexible and tailored offering that gives customers a complete solution using cloud services from SAP, targeting the mid-market customers. Public clouds offer efficiency and affordability, and are often multi-tenant, meaning the provider runs your service in a shared environment. The best bit about using the public cloud is that it has been shown to demonstrate the highest ROIs and the lowest TCOs. With fewer customization options, the public cloud can be a good option for businesses looking to find out whether new business processes are likely to succeed.
Here are some common use cases for: RISE with SAP Public Cloud:
Startups and emerging businesses interested in learning more about ERP systems' future:
An ERP system that is scalable and adaptable enough to grow with a new business is typically necessary. For these companies, RISE with SAP public cloud provides an economical and effective option, enabling them to leverage SAP's cutting-edge capabilities and technologies without having to make large upfront investments or worry about infrastructure upkeep.
Companies extending their on-premises ERP system with cloud-based solutions:
Organizations that have already invested in an on-premises ERP system may wish to reap the benefits of cloud-based solutions without having to rebuild or migrate their entire process. RISE with SAP public cloud facilitates seamless integration with existing ERP systems. Through methods like APIs, middleware, or connectors, it ensures smooth data exchange and interoperability. This also allows businesses to augment their current ERP system with cloud-based services like SAP S/4HANA Cloud, ensuring a technically sound and unified integration process.
Businesses looking to boost productivity and streamline processes:
RISE with SAP public cloud provides a variety of tools and capabilities to assist enterprises in automating operations, increasing productivity, and gaining real-time insights. Companies can, for example, leverage SAP's intelligence automation and execution solutions to streamline processes and make data-driven choices.
Examples:
A multi-brand leader, operating globally, faced SAP infrastructure challenges, prompting a shift to RISE with SAP public cloud. Partnering with Cloud4C and AWS, the seamless transition enhanced agility, scalability, and security. The result: a 30% TCO reduction, 99.5% uptime, and comprehensive success in achieving resilient, efficient SAP architecture on AWS Cloud.
RISE with SAP Private Cloud Edition
Private edition is a single-tenant environment where the provider runs services in a dedicated cloud environment. Typically, organizations switch to SAP S/4HANA, a next-generation ERP suite, and host it on a private cloud infrastructure for dedicated resource allocation. Integration with the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) then broadens possibilities by enabling seamless data flow and the incorporation of modern technologies such as AI and analytics. SAP HEC is another option for private cloud hosting, providing a secure and scalable environment for SAP applications.
Identity management, encryption, and adherence to industry rules are all critical security and compliance considerations in the private cloud. The SAP Fiori user experience is prioritized, and solid backup, disaster recovery, and performance optimization measures are put in place. Continuous monitoring, network connectivity, data migration, and customization through SAP BTP's Extension Suite contribute to a comprehensive technical framework. The technical implementation requires careful consideration of data migration, customization, network connectivity, and adherence to SAP's evolving best practices for maintaining a secure, efficient, and up-to-date SAP landscape.
Here are some common use cases for: RISE with SAP Private Cloud:
Existing SAP ERP customers wanting to migrate to the cloud without major process redesign and their present ERP system investment:
These customers have already invested in an on-premises SAP ERP system and wish to migrate to the cloud without redesigning their operations. They also wish to keep their current ERP system investment. RISE with SAP private cloud enables them to accomplish this by delivering a customized cloud environment tailored to their individual requirements. This implies they can migrate to the cloud without affecting their present processes or losing their investment in their ERP system.
New customers wanting an extensive and modern cloud ERP that automates processes and provides a personalized experience:
These customers are new to SAP ERP and are looking for a modern cloud-based solution that automates procedures and provides a tailored user experience. RISE with SAP private cloud offers a full cloud ERP solution, including SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition. This solution is designed to automate processes and provide a personalized experience for users, making it an ideal choice for new customers who want a modern cloud ERP.
Customers who require specific functionality, broader extensions, and deeper configuration capabilities in a dedicated cloud environment:
These customers have specific requirements that cannot be met by a standard cloud ERP solution. They require specific functionality, broader extensions, and deeper configuration capabilities in a dedicated cloud environment. RISE with SAP private cloud provides a dedicated cloud environment that can be tailored to meet their specific needs. This means they can get the functionality, extensions, and configuration capabilities they need in a cloud environment that is designed specifically for them.
For example:
A Global energy leader's SAP ecosystem was elevated by transitioning to a dedicated private cloud-architecture under the best-in-class RISE with SAP model. Ensuring 99.9% availability, advanced cybersecurity, and seamless management, the solution unified the complex ecosystem with a cost-effective SLA. This helped in overcoming the clients' on-prem challenges for enhanced cybersecurity and operational efficiency.
RISE with SAP Hybrid Cloud Edition
SAP has a hybrid cloud solution for RISE with SAP, where you can run SAP S/4HANA as a cloud service from your data center; while accessing SAP BTP and SAP Signavio, and all the other innovative RISE components from the public cloud - aka a mixture of internal and external cloud services. RISE with SAP hybrid cloud is a flexible and powerful solution designed to cater to the diverse needs of businesses in their digital transformation journey.
RISE with SAP is a strategic "hybrid" service that is intended to:
- Protect the SAP cloud platform and infrastructure in a client data center that is supported, maintained, and ensured to function by SAP through an SAP Service Level Agreement (SLA).
- Offer clients the tools they need to run on-premises in their data centers and follow SAP's cloud innovation agenda, which includes LLMS (large language models), ML/AI (machine learning / artificial intelligence), etc.
- Meet the demands of complex industry regulatory compliance topics that can prohibit SAP from operating in a shared public hyperscaler.
- Attend to customers', governments', and industry participants' demands for data sovereignty so they can retain their payload data domestically, under domestic law.
- Provide a strong and innovative solution to the need to adopt a cloud-based OpEx model, all the while enjoying the advantages of a low-latency, high-performance dedicated system.
Read more on: Choosing the Right Hybrid Cloud Model for Your SAP Environment
Here are some common use cases of: RISE with SAP Hybrid Cloud:
Companies looking for a secure and high-performance cloud infra within their own data center:
RISE with SAP hybrid cloud allows organizations to deploy secure, high-performance, and reliable cloud services from SAP in their own data center. This enables businesses to maintain control over their data and applications while benefiting from SAP's expertise and support.
Companies looking for a gradual cloud adoption strategy:
RISE with SAP Hybrid Cloud caters to organizations adopting a phased approach to cloud migration. This enables a gradual transition, allowing businesses to keep essential workloads on-premises while selectively moving other components to the cloud. This approach aligns with a company's specific pace of digital transformation, providing flexibility and minimizing disruption to existing operations.
Enterprises seeking mergers and acquisitions:
During mergers or acquisitions, RISE with SAP Hybrid Cloud offers a pragmatic solution. Organizations can integrate disparate IT environments, allowing them to harmonize operations gradually. This use case ensures a smooth transition, enabling businesses to unify processes while maintaining operational continuity.
For example:
To modernize its data center, a retail firm embraces RISE with SAP hybrid cloud, strategically placing customer POS systems on the public cloud for flexibility and cost-effectiveness, while retaining core ERP in its on-premises data center for crucial control over essential systems.
RISE with SAP Multi-Cloud Edition
RISE with SAP Multi-cloud is a versatile and powerful solution designed to meet the many needs of businesses as they embark on their digital transformation journey. It allows businesses to select the optimum combination of cloud to match their individual requirements. RISE with SAP Multi-cloud enables businesses to supplement their existing ERP system with cloud-based services such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud, an essential edition, without affecting the integrity of their existing ERP system.
Here are some common use cases of: RISE with SAP Multi-Cloud:
Global Expansion with Local Compliance:
As multinational companies expand globally, adherence to regional data regulations becomes critical. RISE with SAP Multi-Cloud enables enterprises to deploy SAP applications on cloud providers that meet regional compliance criteria. This allows the organization to maintain a global presence while conforming to a variety of data protection and privacy rules, improving both operational efficiency and legal compliance.
Seasonal Demand Dynamic Scaling:
Businesses that experience seasonal fluctuations in demand require a flexible infrastructure that can dynamically scale in response to workload fluctuations. During peak seasons, RISE with SAP Multi-Cloud enables businesses to extend SAP workloads across several cloud providers. This dynamic scaling ensures that the company can handle rising workloads efficiently, ensuring optimal performance to satisfy client needs without overprovisioning resources during off-peak periods.
Cloud-Native Core:
RISE with SAP Multi Cloud enables businesses to leverage the best cloud infrastructure to achieve the lowest possible total cost of ownership (TCO) and drive process efficiency and scale. This means that businesses can take advantage of the latest cloud technologies and innovations to optimize their operations and processes.
For example:
A large manufacturing giant embraces RISE with SAP Multi-Cloud to fine-tune its SAP S/4HANA deployment. Imagine streamlining supply chain intricacies by harnessing the computational prowess of a cloud provider. Simultaneously, SAP manages crucial regional compliance data on a cloud platform strategically positioned in specific regions.
What is the difference between S4HANA and RISE with SAP?
SAP's announcement that they would end maintenance on Business Suite 7 by 2027 had all SAP users — even those lagging on modernization plans — thinking about what their next steps would be once the traditional ERP system phased out. Since then, two SAP offerings have taken center stage: RISE with SAP and S/4HANA Cloud.
For many current and potential SAP customers, however, questions exist around exactly what each solution offers, how they're different, and which one they should consider.
In reality, RISE with SAP and S/4HANA don't present an either/or scenario — companies can and do have both. So, how do they differ? Here's how:
| RISE with SAP | S/4HANA |
| Launched in 2021 as a business-transformation-as-a-service solution | S/4HANA is one of the six bundled solutions offered through RISE. |
| SAP RISE is a comprehensive offering. It includes S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Business Technology Platform and SAP Business Network. | It is an ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution. It offers a suite of tools and features to manage various aspects of a business. These include finance, procurement, sales, inventory and more |
| Designed for flexibility and modularity, enabling businesses to choose and seamlessly integrate the components most relevant to their needs. | A readily deployable and manageable cloud solution with standardized processes, easily customizable to fit specific business needs. |
| Both brownfield and greenfield approaches are suitable as a conversion strategy. | Greenfield approach is most suitable as a conversion strategy. |
| Integration with SAP's Business Technology Platform (BTP). | Can be integrated with other SAP products and services. |
| Supports compliance with regional data residency requirements. | Data Residency and compliance managed based on on-premise or chosen cloud provider. |
These are just some of the key differences between SAP RISE and SAP S/4HANA Cloud. Although the goals of both solutions are to assist companies in modernizing and transforming their operations, their scopes, degrees of flexibility, and support options differ.
RISE with SAP: Get Started with Cloud4C
RISE with SAP can level-up how your organization does business. However, given the extensive nature of this endeavor spanning various business areas, obstacles may arise. For CIOs and IT leaders contemplating the feasibility of digital transformation initiatives, partnering with an experienced SAP managed service provider becomes paramount. This is where Cloud4C's services come into play!
Cloud4C is a prominent SAP strategic partner offering expert assistance to organizations looking to migrate to SAP S/4HANA on any cloud of choice. As one of the rare few end-to-end RISE with SAP services partners and one of the globe's largest delivering SAP HEC, S/4HANA, and SAP RISE, Cloud4C has expertise in handling SAP workloads and S/4HANA Transformations. We function as a one-stop shop for all SAP services provided at the app login layer with a single SLA. We come in with proven expertise in handling mission-critical, sophisticated, and vast SAP environments for more than 700 customers worldwide.
Answer to - Why Cloud4C?
| Dedicated SAP RISE Centre of Excellence | Intelligent Managed Services powered by AIOps | Industry specific compliance services Like GxP, PCI-DSS, GDPR, MESA, FedRAMP etc. |
| Optimized architectures like MCOS, MCOD, and MDC, among others | Available in 26 countries with our own private cloud offering | Empowering 60 out of Fortune 500 in their SAP transformation |
Let us help you modernize, optimize processes, and drive digital transformation in your business.
