SAP System Copies: Guide to Secure & Efficient Copies
Plan system copies: homogeneous/heterogeneous copies and post-copy automation.
Read more →The SAP system landscape is the backbone of IT infrastructure for many organisations. From the classic three-system landscape (development, quality, production) to complex multi-track architectures with cloud integration – well-thought-out landscape management is decisive for stability, efficiency and cost optimisation.
Landscape Architectures Overview
The most common architectures:
- 3-system landscape (DEV/QAS/PRD): The standard for most organisations. Easy to manage, clear transport routes.
- 4-system landscape (DEV/QAS/PRE-PRD/PRD): Additional pre-production system for final acceptance tests and cutover rehearsals.
- Multi-track: Separate transport routes for maintenance and projects. Required for parallel project development and ongoing operations.
- Sandbox: Isolated systems for explorative development, prototyping and training without impact on the main landscape.
Sandbox Strategy
Sandbox systems are indispensable for innovation without risk. Best practices: refresh sandboxes regularly from the production system (including data masking), define clear usage rules (sandboxes are not development systems), transfer sandbox results to the main landscape in a structured manner and keep costs in view (sandboxes are cost drivers when left unmaintained).
Planning S/4HANA Migration Landscapes
For S/4HANA migrations, the landscape is temporarily expanded: an additional migration system for the conversion process, a parallel system for validation tests and optionally a custom code analysis system. Plan these systems early – sizing, licences and infrastructure have longer lead times than often assumed.
Hybrid Cloud Landscapes
With SAP BTP, S/4HANA Cloud and Integration Suite, landscapes are becoming increasingly hybrid. Key aspects: clear demarcation between on-premise and cloud components, integration via SAP Cloud Integration or middleware, unified identity management across all systems, monitoring across system boundaries and data flow documentation for compliance. Define a cloud strategy early: which workloads go to the cloud, which stay on-premise?
Lifecycle Management
Every system has a lifecycle: provisioning, operation, refresh and decommissioning. Define standard processes for each phase: automated provisioning (with LaMa or scripts), regular refresh cycles for non-production systems, documented decommissioning processes for systems no longer needed (including data archiving and licence return) and CMDB integration for a current overview of all systems.
Cost Optimisation
SAP landscapes are cost-intensive. Levers for optimisation: identify and shut down unused systems, shut down non-production systems outside working hours (cloud and virtualised environments), storage optimisation through data archiving and housekeeping, licence optimisation through regular review of system and user licences. An annual landscape review helps systematically identify optimisation potential.
Conclusion
Well-thought-out landscape management is the foundation for efficient SAP operations. Invest in standard processes, automation and regular reviews – the complexity of the landscape will continue to increase with cloud integration.
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