A guide to SAP S/4HANA Deployment

It is becoming extremely difficult and complex to decide on the S/4 HANA hardware deployment model and hosting options. Currently there are many options available in the market and each has its own benefit.

SAP S/4HANA is the digital core which empowers enterprise business to take benefits of all advances technologies like in memory platform, improved end user experience, simplified IT landscape, Internet of Things (IoT), real-time analytics, mobility, big data and many more next generation technologies. Currently SAP S/4HANA is available with two deployment options, cloud, and on premise. SAP offers the cloud version while the on premise version is available for either the customer to host in its data centre or on a partner cloud.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud - The below snapshot depicts the SAP roadmap for S/4HANA cloud, updated on a quarterly frequency. This option offers benefits around scalability, management, and security that businesses require to outpace competition in today’s fast-paced digital economy.

* Ref - SAP S/4HANA Cloud Road Map

SAP S/4 HANA on Premise - The figure below represents the SAP roadmap for its on premise version, with large annual updates, while regular FPS/SPS are released for minor changes.

* Ref - SAP S/4HANA, on premise edition Road Map

Hardware deployment for on premise model can be done through two options, i.e. Appliance & TDI (tailored Data Integration)

SAP HANA Appliance - SAP HANA appliance is an "all-in-one-box" option, where all the required components are pre-build together and delivered as a service from respective hardware vendor. Currently there are close to 13 hardware vendors who provide certified HANA appliance and customers can choose to go with any of them depending on their overall hardware and software requirements.
SAP HANA TDI Model - SAP HANA Tailored Data Integration option enables customer to utilize their existing hardware and infrastructure resources unlike appliance option. TDI model also delivers customers that additional flexibility and choices with hardware infrastructure. Customer can select their preferred infrastructure vendor and components from a set of certified SAP HANA hardware (Storage/ Compute/ Network). The overall Hardware cost can be significantly reduced by utilizing the existing available infrastructure elements, however infrastructure maintenance cost may increase as the overall responsibility of HANA infrastructure will be left with customer or the Infrastructure service provider (AMS vendor).

The on-premise S/4HANA application landscape can be deployed in an on-premise, public or private cloud hosting model.

On Premise Hosting Model (Appliance / TDI) - The HANA appliances will be hosted on customers/partners existing data centre alongside other SAP applications.
Private Cloud (Appliance / TDI) - HANA cloud infrastructure operated exclusively for a single organization, whether managed internally or by a third-party and hosted internally or externally. Customers can bring their own SAP S/4HANA license (BYOL) or request strategic partners to manage that with an overall commercial proposition (Partner Managed Cloud).
Public Cloud Microsoft (Like Azure/ AWS) - HANA cloud is called a 'Public cloud' when scalable and elastic IT-enabled capabilities are provided as a service to customers using internet technologies. Currently Microsoft Azure offers 4TB as the largest S/4HANA appliance (Available in US) & AWS offers 2TB as the largest appliance.

About the Author

Sachin Pokalwar is a Lead architect with over 15 years of experience in SAP technologies. As a member of our SAP Digital Innovation Group, Sachin is primarily responsible for Cloud, HANA, Transformation & Migration solutions. He can be reached at sachin.pokalwar@wipro.com

Service Offerings

Service Offerings

Client Themes

Client Themes

A guide to SAP

S/4HANA Deployment

About the Author

Service Offerings

Industries

Cloud

Cybersecurity

Digital

EngineeringNXT

Holmes

Contact Us

About Wipro

Careers

Location

Leadership

Investors

Innovation

News and Events

Insights

Analyst speak

Products & Platforms

Partner Ecosystem

Sustainability

Contact Wipro