The Benefits of Moving SAP S4HANA Workloads to the Microsoft Azure Cloud

Enterprise-level companies leveraging SAP ERP systems are looking at the viability of moving those systems off on-premise servers into the cloud. The advantages available to those companies within a cloud environment range from increased flexibility to more robust interoperability. In this article, we will examine these benefits and more.

Companies across the world rely on SAP ERP solutions to streamline, standardize, and integrate departments across the full spectrum of their company.

• Finance
• Human Resources
• Procurement
• Logistics
• Distribution

And many, many more.

SAP On-premise or in the Cloud?

There was a time when the cloud was in its infancy and no CIO would consider moving their SAP from on-prem servers to the cloud.

But that day has passed. Today, firms of all sizes and across industry lines have embraced the cloud for its capacity and power and are moving ERP systems into robust virtual environments.

Now that you are seriously considering moving your SAP S/4HANA Workloads into the cloud, the questions that remain are:

• When should we do the migration?
• What migration process should be employed?
• What IT firm do we partner with to implement the migration?

Why Microsoft Azure for Your SAP S/4HANA Workloads?

All the way back in 2016, SAP CEO Bill McDermott announced a critical partnership between SAP and Microsoft. In that announcement, he said,

”We believe the IT industry will be shaped by breakthrough partnerships that unlock new productivity for customers beyond the boundaries of traditional platforms and applications. The certification of Microsoft Azure infrastructure services for SAP HANA along with the new integration between Microsoft Office 365 and cloud solutions from SAP are emblematic of this major paradigm shift for the enterprise.”

Since that important partnership announcement in 2016, SAP and Microsoft Azure have grown the functionality available and the benefit for enterprise business.

Top Benefits of Moving SAP S/4HANA Workloads to Microsoft Azure Cloud Infrastructure

• Scalability – Microsoft Azure provides the capacity your company needs to tackle its next phase of growth. With operations in more than 30 regions across the globe, it’s evident why the majority of Fortune 500 companies favor Microsoft Azure for their ERP hosting.
• Flexibility – Utilizing Azure’s block storage volumes, companies with ERP in Azure infrastructure have the room to maneuver as they adapt to market fluctuations.
• Expanded Capability – Azure offers a complete array of Platform-as-a-Service, Software-as-a-Service, and Infrastructure-as-a-service that extends the already robust SAP ERP.
• Productivity – By combining SAP with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Analytics, and Power BI, the company leveraging SAP within Azure can realize their process optimization goals and create avenues for greater productivity.
• Insight – Using information from SAP within Microsoft Azure Machine Learning gives companies real-time data and insight for decision making.
• Security – Microsoft is at the leading edge of cybersecurity. Because of the partnership forged between SAP and Microsoft, vulnerabilities that can exist with the use of SAP in other cloud platforms are eliminated in Azure.
• Compliance – Heavily regulated industries have always leaned on Microsoft products. Azure has been purpose-built to meet and exceed the most stringent legislative and industry compliance standards.
• Innovation – Azure allows the businesses utilizing SAP to bring innovative technologies such as machine learning, IoT, and artificial intelligence online as the business benefit of those technologies becomes apparent and proven.