IBM Cloud for SAP

Written By:

TJ Baafi -  GTM Product Manager, SAP, IBM Cloud
Michael Wind, WW Technical Lead - SAP, IBM Global Sales

Introduction: When organizations migrate their SAP systems to IBM Cloud, having access to the right tools and resources is essential for ensuring a smooth and successful migration process. In this blog post, we'll explore the array of tools and resources available on IBM Cloud specifically tailored for SAP migration projects, empowering organizations to streamline their migration efforts and maximize success.

The IBM Cloud® console is an excellent browser-accessible resource to plan and provision the cloud resources needed to establish your new environment. IBM Cloud Console is the user interface that you use to manage all your IBM Cloud resources. You can create a free account, log in, access documentation, access the Cloud Catalog, view pricing information, get support, or check the status of IBM Cloud components. Extremely useful migration products, services, and service providers can be found within the IBM Cloud Catalog using the integrated search capability.intuitive design, easy catalog search, quick estimates, and easy navigation help visualize desired content supported by required documentation as needed. It helps customers research IBM Cloud offerings to quickly make informed decisions.

Flexible compute options between IBM Cloud Virtual Private Cloud and Power Virtual Server, help in consuming hybrid options, allowing customer applications to stay where they are most needed. These options offer cost and performance optimizations, addressing complex SAP migrations and the ecosystem around SAP operations all in one place—IBM Cloud.

In the following sections, we will discuss what IBM Cloud can offer as accelerators in migrating businesses faster:

Aspera: Utilize Cloud Object Storage data transfer for non-DB, static files, and integration files offers speeds 10 times faster compared to TCP-based data transfer where possible.

State-of-the-art storage options with high read/write speeds can help write migrated storage with up to 25 IOPS per GB speed, moving data at high speed over secure interconnectivity between customer enterprises and IBM Cloud.

Certified T-Shirt sizes for SAP HANA can scale customer workloads from 256 GB HANA size up to 30 TB Scale-up on a single node. Larger capacities in scale-out OLAP, OLTP offerings, along with expert sizing for SAP where large capacities are required. IBM Cloud supports up to 40G network speed—though the recommended maximum direct link speed is 10G.

Infrastructure as a Code: Deployable architectures built on IBM proprietary Schematics design support customers in leveraging SAP builds using automation. You can bring your own Terraform, Ansible code or use IBM’s pre-configured repository to build environments to the desired state. Quick builds require no additional skills for deploying infrastructure builds using Terraform or Ansible code, as Schematics covers the runtime—a huge benefit in building complex SAP environments.

IBM Cloud Migration Tools: IBM Cloud offers various migration tools and services designed to simplify and accelerate the migration of SAP workloads. Examples include:

SNP CrystalBridge / IBM RapidMove: Available through IBM Consulting and IBM Cloud, SNP CrystalBridge provides a suite of tools to evaluate a potential systems migration, transformation, or consolidation to S/4 HANA on IBM Cloud. For qualifying opportunities, IBM can execute a free scan of a customer’s current ERP system to determine the complexity and effort required to achieve the customer’s objectives on IBM Cloud. This process, called Rapid Discovery, helps customers understand the tasks required for migrating, modernizing, and optimizing their workloads. Data migrations are complex projects that require timely and high-quality execution to meet business needs. Thorough preparation is key to ensuring the success of a transformation project. The CrystalBridge® Analysis tool can help achieve this by offering several benefits:

• Actual Usage Insights: Gain a clear understanding of how your SAP landscape is currently being utilized.
• Data Improvement Potential: Identify areas where data quality can be enhanced.
• Transformation Scenario Simulation: Simulate various transformation scenarios and pinpoint conflicts between multiple SAP systems.
• Dependency and Resource Analysis: Understand dependencies and resource requirements through simulation results.
• Informed Decision-Making: Make better planning decisions for upcoming projects or transformation programs without needing direct access to the SAP system.

 Learn more about the SNP and IBM partnership.

IBM Cloud Migration Accelerators: Browser-accessible published documentation helps consultants, partners, and customers classify solution requirements and identify best-fit solution architectures and components to design an SAP on IBM Cloud solution for Power Virtual Server, Virtual Private Cloud, and VMware. To learn more about what migration acceleration programs on IBM Cloud we offer, please read our blog.

• IBM Cloud Object Storage: Flexible storage ideal for staging software and data for solution deployments and exchanging data between software solutions. It is also effective for collecting, classifying, and sorting data prior to import into your ERP solution.

IBM Cloud Catalog Tools and Services: Developed by IBM, system integrators, software, and service partners, the IBM Cloud Catalog offers many tools and services to support migrations and new solution deployments. Contents are readily searchable. Exclusive to IBM Cloud are a rapidly increasing number of Deployable Architectures, automated deployment routines that accelerate time-to-value when test driving or deploying permanent solutions for SAP and other workloads.

SAP-Certified Infrastructure: IBM Cloud provides SAP-certified infrastructure options, including virtual machines, bare metal servers, and storage solutions optimized for SAP workloads. These infrastructure options are certified by SAP to deliver high performance, reliability, and security for SAP applications and databases. Flexible and scalable Power Virtual Server and Virtual Private Cloud IaaS solutions are certified for SAP RISE deployments.View our deployable architectures here in our catalog.

Documentation and Support: IBM Cloud offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and support resources tailored specifically for SAP migration projects. Organizations can access comprehensive guides, best practices, and troubleshooting tips to navigate the migration process effectively. Additionally, IBM Cloud provides dedicated support channels staffed by experts with deep knowledge of SAP and IBM Cloud technologies. Learn More

Partner Ecosystem: IBM Cloud boasts a robust partner ecosystem comprising technology partners, system integrators, and independent software vendors with expertise in SAP migration and implementation. Organizations can leverage these partnerships to access additional tools, services, and expertise to augment their migration efforts and address specific requirements. To learn more about IBM Cloud Partners, visit this website.

Conclusion: Ensuring a smooth SAP migration on IBM Cloud requires access to the right tools, resources, and expertise. By leveraging IBM Cloud's migration tools, SAP-certified infrastructure, documentation and support, and partner ecosystem, organizations can streamline their migration efforts, mitigate risks, and maximize the success of their SAP migration projects.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blogs, where we'll continue to explore best practices, tips, and insights to help organizations unlock the full potential your SAP migration to IBM Cloud.

To learn more about SAP on IBM Cloud solutions, please visit our website.