2027: The S/4 countdown begins

The deadline for migration to S/4 is approaching and companies need to review their deployment options. An SAPinsider survey emphasizes the need for an efficient transition with minimal risk. With multiple migration paths, a clear understanding of responsibilities and technology options is critical.

S/4 deployment options

Companies planning their SAP S/4 Hana migration have various deployment options that offer different degrees of control and flexibility: One option is the classic on-premises model, where operations are carried out by the company itself or a managed service provider. In this case, customers retain complete control over the entire technology stack. Another option is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - a public cloud model in which the infrastructure is provided by a provider while the customer continues to manage their software stack themselves. SAP also offers tailored solutions for different customer segments with its Rise with SAP and Grow with SAP programs: Grow with SAP is aimed specifically at new midmarket customers, while Rise with SAP makes it easier for existing SAP customers to migrate to the cloud. In addition, a software-as-a-service model (SaaS) is available with the S/4 Cloud Public Edition and a platform-as-a-service model (PaaS) with the S/4 Cloud Private Edition.

SAP Rise Private Edition, which includes high availability and system operation, is a structured option within the SAP ecosystem. Suse plays a central role in this setup as it is the only Linux vendor supported in the Rise Private Edition alongside Microsoft Windows Server.

Rise follows a shared responsibility model. Tasks such as system sizing, database support and security hardening are shared between SAP, partners and customers. Suse ensures high availability with the Suse Cluster. Suse offers a range of proven solutions for the protection and optimization of SAP environments. These include SLES for SAP Applications, a specially developed operating system that is optimized for high-performance SAP workloads. The offering is complemented by the high availability solutions HanaSR and HanaSR-ScaleOut, which enable reliable system replication. In the future, Suse will offer a further development of these solutions with HanaSR-angi. This includes an improved system replication agent, which both simplifies maintenance and increases functionality.

A standardized code base also contributes to more efficient maintenance and overall improved system performance.
As organizations continue to expand their cloud strategies, the SAP Edge Integration Cell provides an effective solution to key challenges such as security, latency and performance by enabling the integration of on-premises solutions.

It is a cloud-native integration suite that supports hybrid deployment models and is built on a Kubernetes-based architecture, making a cloud-native environment a prerequisite. Direct ground-to-ground data integration within the corporate intranet ensures a smooth and secure data flow. The solution enables seamless operation between on-premises and cloud environments while meeting high security and compliance requirements.

Conclusion: The migration to S/4 brings both challenges and opportunities for companies. By choosing the right deployment model, leveraging Suse's high availability solutions and integrating BTP, companies can ensure a smooth transition and optimize their operations. With 2027 fast approaching, early planning and collaboration with technology partners like Suse are critical to a successful migration.

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