Protecting systems from the worst-case scenario

Why is disaster recovery essential for SAP systems? The answer lies in robust SAP disaster recovery (DR). Disaster recovery is critical for SAP systems. 

It comprises strategies and technologies that enable the rapid recovery of IT infrastructures and data following catastrophic events. Special requirements apply to SAP environments due to their complexity and their central role in company processes.

Existence threatened

The risks of inadequate disaster recovery are considerable: data loss, business interruptions and financial losses can threaten a company's existence. Studies show that companies can suffer average losses in the millions per hour of downtime of their SAP systems. This underlines the need for an effective disaster recovery plan that addresses specific aspects such as minimizing the recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO), consistency between the application and database levels and taking into account complex dependencies in SAP landscapes.

In addition, many companies have to meet strict compliance requirements, which often include specific specifications for data backup and recovery. A comprehensive DR plan is therefore not just a technical necessity, but an essential part of any holistic IT strategy that ensures the continuity of critical business processes and protects against potentially life-threatening risks.

Disaster recovery automation 

An easy-to-use solution to these challenges is the Alpaca tool, an operating and automation platform specially developed for modern SAP landscapes.

Alpaca simplifies complex SAP processes, increases transparency and enables flexible, efficient management and scalability of SAP instances regardless of the infrastructure. The result: simpler processes, more transparency, optimal use of resources, better cost control and noticeable relief for IT staff.

Developed by the Public Cloud Group with over eighteen years of experience in SAP operations, Alpaca has established itself as a mature solution for more than thirty well-known customers such as Zeiss, Kostal and Stadtwerke München. With over 1000 integrated scripts and workflows, Alpaca relieves IT teams of routine tasks and allows them to focus on important strategic initiatives. 

In the context of SAP disaster recovery, the public cloud opens up new possibilities. It enables faster recovery times and minimizes potential data loss through advanced replication technologies. 

Invulnerable SAP systems? 

It also offers global redundancy and automated failover processes that significantly improve the reliability of critical SAP systems. In contrast to traditional on-premise solutions, high upfront investments and costly maintenance work are eliminated, while resources can be adapted as required.

Alpaca complements these cloud benefits with features developed specifically for SAP. With its seamless integration, comprehensive automation and multi-cloud capability, it further optimizes recovery times (RTO) and data loss tolerance (RPO). At the same time, it increases the flexibility and cost efficiency of the entire disaster recovery process. 

Microsoft Azure is one of the leading platforms for SAP workloads, especially in the area of security. The combination of Azure and SAP, optimized by Alpaca, provides companies with a particularly robust disaster recovery strategy. Azure offers comprehensive compliance, advanced encryption and integrated security features such as Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel to protect sensitive SAP data. In the technical implementation, Alpaca builds the bridge from application to cloud and uses the most suitable services in each case to keep downtimes as low as possible with an optimal cost/benefit ratio.

Minimize downtimes

Automated failover processes minimize downtimes, while flexible operating models such as Managed DR, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) or island operation meet the individual requirements of different companies. 

The entire DR process is automated, from configuration and continuous replication to failover and a subsequent switch-back. Alpaca's real-time monitoring and alerting capabilities play a critical role in proactively managing the DR environment. Continuous monitoring and immediate notifications of potential problems allow IT teams to react quickly and prevent potential failures before they become critical. Remarkably, a simple DR setup can be realized in less than ten days, enabling companies to achieve significant added value and protection for their SAP landscape with little investment.

One advantage of the Alpaca platform is its ability to replicate data across hyperscaler boundaries. This enables a flexible multi-cloud strategy in which companies can combine the strengths of different cloud providers. This flexibility is particularly valuable in scenarios where regulatory requirements or business strategies require distributed data storage. 

The combination of cloud technology, such as Microsoft Azure, with the specialized SAP operating platform Alpaca revolutionizes disaster recovery for SAP systems by combining advanced security, global redundancy and automated processes with tailored SAP expertise, resulting in optimized recovery times, minimized risk of data loss and increased cost efficiency - all with maximum flexibility through multi-cloud capabilities and on-demand resource customization.

The Public Cloud Group (PCG) contributes its extensive experience in the implementation of SAP solutions in Azure. With over 450 cloud experts, PCG has an in-depth understanding of the specific requirements of SAP environments in the cloud.

Alex Flade, Sales Lead for Azure and SAP at Microsoft, emphasizes the importance of this partnership: "Our clear recommendation to SAP customers when it comes to cloud transformation is to involve a partner. With their wealth of experience, they can ensure that all the benefits that Azure offers as the best and most secure platform for SAP are also transferred to the organization. PCG has implemented successful SAP-on-Azure projects with us and is one of our most important European partners."

Prepared for the worst case?

To help companies optimize their SAP disaster recovery strategies, the Public Cloud Group offers a special, time-limited introductory offer: the SAP DR Assessment Workshop. This workshop includes a rapid discovery of your current SAP landscape, a DR on Cloud Readiness Assessment, a detailed breakdown of the total cost of ownership (TCO report) for Azure-based DR and expert advice on best practices and optimization opportunities. This offer enables you to evaluate the potential of Alpaca and Azure for your SAP disaster recovery and create a sound basis for decision-making.

DR strategy 

In a world where data is at the heart of every organization, robust disaster recovery (DR) for SAP systems is essential. Effective SAP disaster recovery not only secures data, but also ensures the continuity of business-critical processes, protects against financial losses and maintains the trust of customers and partners. 

The future of SAP disaster recovery lies in flexible, scalable solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into modern cloud environments. At a time when disruptions to business continuity are more critical than ever, sophisticated SAP disaster recovery can mean the difference between a brief disruption and a crisis that threatens your very existence. It's time to view disaster recovery as a strategic competitive advantage.

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