In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations are increasingly turning to cloud solutions to enhance their agility, scalability, and operational efficiency. Among the many cloud providers, Amazon Web Services (AWS) stands out as a leader, offering a robust platform for businesses looking to migrate their critical systems.

(Note: For companies operating in China and considering migrating their SAP S/4HANA systems to AWS, there are unique considerations and requirements to keep in mind.)

Before diving into the migration process, let’s explore the general benefits of migrating to AWS:

• Cost Optimization: AWS offers a pay-as-you-go model, allowing organizations to reduce capital expenditures and optimize operational costs.
• Scalability: Cloud infrastructure can easily scale up or down based on demand, ensuring optimal performance during peak times.
• Innovation: Access to cutting-edge technologies and services enables faster innovation and time-to-market for new features and products.
• Global Reach: AWS’s global infrastructure allows businesses to expand their reach and serve customers worldwide efficiently.

The migration process can be broken down into two complementary frameworks:

1. The high-level framework: Plan, Prepare, Perform
2. The detailed AWS framework: Assess, Mobilize, Migrate & Modernize, Operate & Optimize

Let’s explore how these frameworks align and what each phase entails for migrating an SAP S/4HANA system to AWS.

1. Plan (Aligns with Assess)

The Plan phase is crucial for understanding your current environment and setting the foundation for your migration strategy.

Inventory Assessment

• Use AWS Application Discovery Service (ADS) to collect detailed information about your on-premises SAP landscape, including server configurations, network connections, and database details.
• Employ AWS Migration Evaluator (formerly TSO Logic) to analyze compute, storage, memory, and Microsoft license usage in your data center.

Readiness Assessment

• Conduct a Migration Readiness Assessment (MRA) to evaluate your organization’s cloud readiness across various categories, including business case, skills, landing zone, and security.
• Utilize the Cloud Adoption Readiness Tool (CART) for a self-service assessment of your cloud adoption readiness.

Business Case Development

• Use the Migration Portfolio Assessment (MPA) tool to generate a business case for migrating to AWS, including TCO analysis and cost estimations.
• (Note: Consider China-specific factors such as data residency requirements and network connectivity options.)

2. Prepare (Aligns with Mobilize)

The Prepare phase gets your organization ready for the migration, addressing any gaps in readiness and setting up the baseline environment.

Landing Zone Setup

• Use AWS Control Tower to set up a well-architected, multi-account AWS environment that complies with Chinese regulations.
• Configure network architecture, including VPCs and connectivity options like AWS Direct Connect for secure, dedicated connections between your on-premises data centers and AWS.

Skills and Center of Excellence

• Develop cloud skills within your team, focusing on SAP on AWS expertise.
• Establish a Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE) to guide the migration process and ensure best practices are followed.

Migration Planning

• Use AWS Migration Hub to plan and track the progress of your migration across multiple AWS tools and services.
• Develop a detailed migration plan for your SAP S/4HANA system, including database migration strategy and application server migration approach.

3. Perform (Aligns with Migrate & Modernize, and Operate & Optimize)

The Perform phase involves executing the migration, validating results, and optimizing your new cloud environment.

Migrate & Modernize

Workload Migration

• Utilize AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) for lift-and-shift migration of your SAP application servers.
• Consider using VMware Cloud on AWS if you’re currently running SAP on VMware and want to maintain consistency in your environment.

Data Migration

• Employ AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for migrating your SAP HANA database to Amazon EC2 instances certified for SAP HANA.
• Use AWS DataSync or AWS Snow Family for large-scale data transfer, considering potential bandwidth limitations.

Optimization and Modernization

• After migration, consider opportunities to optimize your SAP landscape using AWS services:
•   Implement auto-scaling for application servers to handle varying workloads.
•   Utilize Amazon S3 for cost-effective storage of SAP data and backups.
•   Implement AWS Backup for comprehensive backup and recovery solutions.

Testing and Validation

• Conduct thorough testing of your migrated SAP S/4HANA system, including performance testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing.
• Validate compliance with Chinese regulations, particularly around data security and privacy.

Operate & Optimize

Monitoring and Management

• Implement Amazon CloudWatch for comprehensive monitoring of your SAP landscape.
• Use AWS Systems Manager for streamlined management of your EC2 instances running SAP workloads.

Continuous Optimization

• Regularly review your AWS infrastructure using AWS Trusted Advisor and AWS Cost Explorer to identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Stay updated with new AWS services and features that could benefit your SAP workloads.

Security and Compliance

• Implement AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for fine-grained access control.
• Regularly audit your environment using AWS Config and AWS Security Hub to ensure compliance with Chinese regulations.

When migrating SAP S/4HANA to AWS in China, there are several unique factors to consider throughout all phases:

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with China’s cybersecurity laws and data localization requirements. This may involve using AWS’s China regions operated by local partners.
• Network Connectivity: Plan for reliable and secure connectivity between your on-premises systems and AWS infrastructure in China. Consider using AWS Direct Connect for dedicated network connections.
• Data Transfer: Given potential bandwidth limitations, evaluate AWS Snowball or similar services for large-scale data transfer to the cloud.
• SAP-Certified Instances: Use SAP-certified Amazon EC2 instance types to ensure optimal performance and support for your S/4HANA workloads.
• High Availability and Disaster Recovery: Implement a robust high availability and disaster recovery strategy using AWS services like Amazon EBS, Amazon S3, and AWS Backup.
• Security and Encryption: Implement strong encryption measures for data at rest and in transit, adhering to both AWS best practices and Chinese regulations.
• Performance Optimization: Leverage AWS services like Amazon CloudWatch and AWS X-Ray to monitor and optimize your SAP S/4HANA performance in the cloud.

Throughout the migration process, AWS offers several tools to facilitate your journey:

• AWS Application Discovery Service: Use this to collect detailed information about your on-premises SAP landscape.
• AWS Migration Hub: Centrally track the progress of your migration across multiple AWS tools and services.
• AWS Database Migration Service: Helpful for migrating databases associated with your SAP S/4HANA system.
• AWS Application Migration Service: This service can assist in rehosting your SAP applications on AWS with minimal downtime.

Migrating SAP S/4HANA to AWS (and especially to AWS in China) presents unique challenges, but with careful planning and the right approach, it can yield significant benefits. By leveraging AWS’s robust infrastructure and services while adhering to local regulations, organizations can enhance their SAP S/4HANA performance, scalability, and innovation capabilities.

Remember, migration is not just a technical process but a transformational journey. It requires a holistic approach considering technology, processes, and people. Whether you follow the high-level Plan, Prepare, Perform framework or dive deeper into the AWS-specific Assess, Mobilize, Migrate & Modernize, and Operate & Optimize phases, the key is to approach the migration systematically and thoroughly.

With the right partner and strategy, AWS’s comprehensive toolkit, and a clear understanding of the unique requirements in China, your organization can successfully navigate this complex but rewarding transition to the cloud.

CONTACT US TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE!