Embarking on the journey of migrating SAP HEC to Azure is a strategic initiative that demands meticulous planning and precision. Besides the planning, embracing best practices while migrating from SAP HEC (HANA Enterprise Cloud) to Azure helps organizations navigate the complexities associated with it easily. It also assures minimal downtime, enhanced data integrity, optimized performance, and cost-efficiency.
In this blog, I have captured these best practices, the migration types, a few pointers on why you should consider Azure over SAP HEC, and why Nsight is the migration partner.
Here’s What You Will Learn in This Blog
The Digital Transformation Landscape
1. Assessing Platform and Dependencies
Before starting the migration journey, a careful assessment of the SAP platform and its dependent workloads is critical. This phase involves a comprehensive evaluation of operating systems, version compatibility, database management systems, and the intricacies of SAP solution upgrades. By gaining a deeper understanding of these aspects, organizations can chart a course for a successful migration, laying the groundwork for a seamless transition to the Azure environment.
2. Sizing Considerations for Optimal Performance
Size considerations stand as the linchpin for ensuring peak performance and resource efficiency. When orchestrating the migration from SAP HEC to Azure, a thorough evaluation of sizing requirements becomes indispensable. This assessment encompasses virtual machine configurations, storage needs, uptime parameters, licensing intricacies, and the issues of maintaining high availability. The thorough examination empowers organizations to make informed decisions, selecting the right mix of Azure resources essential for effectively supporting SAP workloads in the cloud.
3. Selecting the Right Approach
Choosing the migration approach is a pivotal decision that hinges on the specific demands of the project. Organizations must weigh the classical method against the SAP Database Migration Option (DMO). The classical approach involves the export and import of the SAP database, while DMO offers a more streamlined migration path. Opting for the approach that aligns seamlessly with the migration project’s unique requirements ensures a fluid and efficient transition.
4. Migrating the SAP Platform to Azure
With assessments and sizing considerations complete, the spotlight shifts to the migration of the SAP platform to Azure. This phase involves the meticulous configuration of Azure infrastructure, the deployment of requisite virtual machines, and the establishment of essential network connectivity. Adhering to best practices and leveraging purpose-built Azure tools for SAP workloads is crucial during this phase, ensuring a robust and secure foundation for business-critical operations.
5. Migrating Dependent Workloads with Precision
Having successfully migrated the core SAP platform, attention turns to the seamless migration of dependent workloads. Employing standardized processes is key to guaranteeing a consistent and efficient transition. Azure’s suite of tools and services comes to the forefront, simplifying the migration process and minimizing disruptions to ongoing business operations. This phase marks the holistic completion of the migration journey, setting the stage for organizations to thrive in the dynamic landscape of the Azure cloud.
Migration Types to Consider while Migrating from SAP HEC to Azure
Whenever you consider migration, there are four key migration types come to the forefront, each presenting nuanced levels of modification and optimization to leverage the robust services and features inherent to Azure.
Lift and Shift Migration
Known as the straightforward approach, the lift and shift migration type involves the relocation of the entire SAP landscape from HEC to Azure with minimal alterations to the existing architecture and functionality. It delivers speed and simplicity, the “lift and shift” type ensures a swift migration process.
Rehosting
The rehosting migration type is also recognized as ‘lift and shift with light optimization,’ this strategy entails migrating the SAP environment to Azure while implementing modest modifications to enhance performance and optimize costs. The primary focus is on seamlessly rehosting the current infrastructure onto Azure virtual machines.
Replatforming
In this migration approach, certain adjustments are made to the SAP landscape during migration to capitalize on Azure’s platform-specific services and features. It may involve rearchitecting specific components or transitioning to managed services offered by Azure, aiming for an optimal balance between customization and efficiency.
Rearchitecting
Representing a comprehensive redesign, this migration type involves overhauling the SAP landscape to use Azure’s native services. Significant alterations to architecture, application design, and deployment models may be necessary to harness the complete spectrum of cloud-native capabilities that Azure provides.
Why Migrate from SAP HEC to Microsoft Azure?
• Several organizations that make the move to Azure, experience immediate benefits like cost-effectiveness, scalability, and flexibility.
• The robust alliance between SAP and Microsoft instils confidence in the seamless and well-tested migration of SAP workloads to Azure, ensuring a hassle-free transition.
• Proficiency in both SAP and Azure technologies mitigates the necessity for extensive employee training, streamlining the adaptation process.
• Realize cost savings in comparison to on-premises deployments, with reductions in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for SAP deployments on Azure.
• Benefit from the availability of SAP-certified Virtual Machines and other dedicated resources on Azure, specifically tailored to support SAP HANA workloads and databases.
• Unlock the potential of Azure’s platform-specific services to optimize performance and capitalize on advanced capabilities, tailored to enhance SAP operations.
• Harness the power of Azure’s native services for the strategic rearchitecting of the SAP landscape, elevating its capabilities to meet evolving business needs.
• Customize solutions to align precisely with the unique infrastructure requirements.
• Access expert consulting services and adhere to best practices throughout the migration process for a successful and seamless transition to Azure.
The Nsight Advantage
Nsight leverages extensive expertise to facilitate seamless SAP and Azure migrations, guiding clients through a meticulously structured transition process.
• Unique Approach – Our approach involves developing customized strategies that align with the specific needs and priorities of each business, striking a balance between optimizing costs and preserving critical functionality.
• Methodical Migration Methodology – Our experience helps us recommend the most suited migration methodology to minimize downtime impacts, ensuring continuity through a secure process that prioritizes data integrity. Capitalizing on Azure’s scalable capabilities, we address both current and future infrastructure needs, proactively mitigating risks to enhance the overall migration experience.
• Collaborative Approach – At Nsight, we prioritize open communication and collaboration, engaging closely with clients to fully comprehend their goals and constraints. Through detailed planning assessments, we diligently prepare and support clients both before and after the migration, fostering a transparent and collaborative partnership.
• Flexible Framework – We are open to changing timelines and integrate seamlessly with existing systems, ensuring timely delivery per agreed schedules. Post-migration, our optimization services finesse Azure deployments for peak performance, guaranteeing an optimal experience for our clients.
• Future Mindedness – Functioning as trusted partners, we enable clients to unlock the full innovative potential of Azure to solve their current and future challenges. Nsight alleviates the infrastructure challenges, eliminate the stresses associated with migration, offering our assurance of a smooth, successful, and value-driven Azure adoption.
Conclusion
The decision of the right migration partner is a strategic imperative for staying ahead in the competitive landscape. Speak to us to learn how we have helped our clients navigate the complexities of migration. With successful Azure migrations for clients across industries, Nsight offers all the right experience, expertise, people, and proven methodologies to deliver a successful Azure Migration.
About the Author
Krishna Varala is a Digital Transformation Specialist with 17+ years of expertise in cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics, and ERP projects. He has successfully led high-impact initiatives across diverse sectors, including banking, healthcare, retail, and education.
As a Center of Excellence (CoE) leader, he stays ahead of emerging technologies, strategically investing in innovative solutions. His commitment to operational excellence ensures clients achieve and surpass their digital objectives, elevating organizational potential.
