SAP on AWS: Comprehensive Guide to Migration, Implementation, Configuration & Operation

SAP HANA on AWS

AWS delivers SAP-certified cloud infrastructure tailored for SAP HANA in-memory computing. Organizations, large and small, can unlock the full benefits of SAP HANA on AWS. Deployments are supported on both SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

Key Resources:

• Migration Guide
• Environment Setup Guide
• Operations Guide
• Quick Start Deployment Guide
• AWS Launch Wizard – SAP
• AWS Backint Agent for SAP HANA
• Data Tiering Overview
• High Availability with Overlay IP Routing
• High Availability Configuration Guide for SLES/RHEL
• SAP HANA on AWS with Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
• Using Amazon EBS Snapshots for SAP HANA

SAP BusinessObjects on AWS

For enterprises leveraging business intelligence, SAP BusinessObjects on AWS supports high availability and disaster recovery across both Linux and Windows systems:

Key Resources:

• Deployment & Operations Guide (Linux / Windows)
• High Availability & Disaster Recovery Guide (Linux / Windows)

SAP NetWeaver-Based Solutions on AWS

SAP NetWeaver, foundation for applications like ERP/ECC, S/4HANA, BW/BW4HANA, and Hybris Marketing, runs robustly on AWS. Supported configurations include Linux, Windows, SQL Server, Oracle, and SAP ASE.

Key Resources:

• Environment Setup Guide (Linux)
• AWS Launch Wizard – SAP
• Deployment & Operations Guide (Windows / SQL Server)
• High Availability with Overlay IP Routing
• Deployment & Operations for Oracle / ASE (Linux)
• High Availability for SLES and RHEL
• Automated SAP Installation

SAP AnyDB on AWS

Support for a range of databases, from IBM Db2 to SAP ASE, ensures flexibility for SAP deployments on AWS.

Key Resources:

• High Availability with IBM Db2 HADR & Pacemaker
• SAP MaxDB with Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
• SAP on IBM Db2 with FSx for ONTAP
• SAP ASE on AWS with FSx for ONTAP
• High Availability Configurations for SLES and RHEL

General SAP on AWS Guides

For SAP customers and partners, these broader resources guide planning, reliability, architecture, cost estimation, compliance, and operations:

• SAP on AWS Overview and Planning Guide
• Architecture Guidance for Availability & Reliability
• AWS Data Provider Guide
• Backup and Recovery Whitepaper
• SAP on AWS Cost Estimation Guide
• AWS Well-Architected Framework – SAP Lens
• EC2 Instance Types for SAP on AWS
• AWS SDK for ABAP
• Disaster Recovery using AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery
• Automated OS Patching
• RISE with SAP on AWS

Business Value & Asia-Pacific Insights for SAP on AWS

IDC – SAP S/4HANA on AWS (Global & APAC)

According to an IDC whitepaper, organizations migrating to SAP S/4HANA on AWS experience an average three-year ROI of 503%, with a payback period of just 11 months. Benefits include:

• 24% reduction in infrastructure costs
• 29% lower three-year operational cost
• 32% improved IT team efficiency
• 55% fewer SAP outage events
• $28.9 million in average annual revenue gains
  Importantly, APAC participants, including enterprises in the Philippines and Vietnam, contribute to these figures.

AWS / IDG Research

Longer-term adopters of SAP on AWS report significantly higher benefits beyond cost savings. In one IDG survey:

• 96% of respondents saw a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO), with an average 26% savings
• Experienced users report better innovation, customer service, agility, and improved uptime
• Nearly two-thirds plan to expand SAP workloads on AWS due to high satisfaction levels.

BCG & AWS: APAC Cloud Adoption Insights

A BCG and AWS Executive Cloud Survey across eight APAC countries (including Singapore, India, Malaysia, Indonesia) shows:

• 71% of executives see innovation and risk reduction as key cloud drivers
• Enterprises in APAC adopting cloud experience 30–60% faster service roll-outs compared to in-house infrastructure
• Cloud spending has been growing at a 25% CAGR in the region
• Another BCG study focused on Indonesian businesses found 96% acknowledge reduced overall IT costs after cloud adoption.

Bain & Company – Internal SAP Cloud Transformation

In 2024, Bain rolled out SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition across 40 countries to standardize processes and enable scalable growth. The initiative emphasized:

• Minimal customizations and strict adherence to industry best practices
• Strong change management, including building super-user networks and aligning IT and finance closely.

Why SAP on AWS is a Strategic Advantage

• Proven ROI & Accelerated Deployment: IDC demonstrates high returns and rapid time-to-value.
• Asia-Pacific Momentum: BCG and IDC studies confirm that APAC organizations adopting SAP on AWS reap cost reductions, innovation, and accelerated cloud maturity.
• Effective Transformation Strategies: Bain’s experience shows that clean-core implementations, guided global roll-outs, and strong alignment between business and IT drive measurable success.
• Extensive AWS Documentation: AWS provides comprehensive guidance (from HANA to BusinessObjects to AnyDB) to support every phase of SAP system life cycle.