What is cloud computing?

Simply put, cloud computing makes it possible for users to access data, applications, and services over the Internet. The cloud eliminates the need for costly hardware, such as hard drives and servers – and gives users the ability to work from anywhere. Over 90% of businesses are already using cloud technology in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment. The major benefits of cloud include:

Elasticity: Scale up or down quickly to meet computing demand
Affordability: Only pay for what you use, and minimise hardware and IT costs
Availability: Get 24/7 cloud system access from anywhere, on any device
Simplicity: Free IT from managing servers and updating software

Cloud software offers a number of distinct advantages that help sharpen your competitive edge.

The top 3 reasons to move to the cloud:

Use it to deploy faster, with lower upfront costs
Accelerate innovation cycles with hassle-free, more frequent updates
Leverage anytime scalability and dynamic capacity to boost flexibility and compete with big businesses

SAP Cloud Trust Center

Trust, security, and compliance in the cloud – that’s our commitment to you. Get easy access to all SAP cloud trust related content including your personalised cloud services status.

Cloud-as-a-service

Cloud computing is divided into three broad service categories: software-as-a-service (SaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS).

What is SaaS?

SaaS – software-as-a-service – is a way of delivering applications over the Internet. Customers can access SaaS applications right from a Web browser, which means there is no hardware or software to buy, install, maintain, or update. The SaaS provider takes care of everything – and the customer always has the latest version of the application.

Explore our SaaS products:

What is PaaS?

Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) provides a cloud platform and tools to help developers build and deploy cloud applications. Users access PaaS from a Web browser, so there is no need to purchase and maintain the underlying hardware and software. With PaaS, developers can pick and choose the features they want on a subscription basis.

Learn about the SAP Cloud Platform

What is IaaS?

Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) lets companies “rent” computing resources such as servers, networks, storage, and operating systems on a pay-per-use basis. IaaS providers host the infrastructure and handle tasks like system maintenance and backups – so customers don’t have to buy hardware or employ in-house experts to manage it.

Public, private, or hybrid cloud?

Learn about the three types of cloud deployment models: public, private, and hybrid – and find out which one makes the most sense for your business.

With a public cloud, services are delivered to customers over a network that’s open for public usage. Public clouds offer efficiency and affordability, and are often multi-tenant – meaning the provider runs your service in a shared environment.

Private Cloud

With a private cloud, services are maintained on a private network protected by a firewall. You can build a private cloud within your own data centre – or subscribe to one hosted by a vendor. Private clouds offer the most security and control.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud is a composition of two or more clouds (public or private) – often from multiple providers. Hybrid clouds offer variety, so you can pick and choose which aspects of your business to include in a hybrid landscape, a build of both cloud and on-premise.

Cloud integration scenarios:

As companies digitize the enterprise, leveraging the best solutions from cloud with your SAP solutions helps establish your platform for innovation and business process automation. With sophisticated integration options and built-in integration from SAP, you can connect your core suite with other SAP and third-party cloud solutions.

View the SAP Road Map for cloud integration providing information on the recent innovations, as well as planned innovations and a summary of future direction for the cloud solution portfolio.

Explore defined best practice integration scenarios for the following SAP products below.

A new path to cloud adoption

We work with trusted partners to deliver SAP solutions in a private, managed cloud environment. This per-user subscription model includes hardware, software, and support provided by our partners – to help you speed cloud adoption and reduce the cost and effort of IT.

The sky’s the limit: Cloud computing technology from SAP

There are many reasons to choose SAP as your cloud provider. Learn about three in particular: business networks, collaboration, and cutting-edge IT security.

According to IDC, cloud-based business networks are the next wave of innovation. Find out how they leverage technologies such as mobile, analytics, and the Internet of Things to deliver unprecedented performance improvements.

Read the white paper

Connecting people in the cloud

Cloud collaboration tools make it easy for people to meet virtually and share information in real time. Learn about SAP Jam solutions – and see how they facilitate collaboration among employees, customers, and partners.

SAP Jam Collaboration

SAP Jam Communities

Cloud Security Platform

Learn about our comprehensive approach to security, which is based on diligently designed measures that span all the different aspects necessary to provide a cloud solution with one of the highest levels of security in the industry.

Learn more about our cloud security

Rexel

With 2,100 branches in 31 countries, this distributor of electrical supplies generates a huge amount of data. See how they upgraded to a cloud database, future-proofed their technology, and gained 5X faster reporting by moving to SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud.

View more customer stories

B. Braun

B. Braun is one of the world´s leading providers of healthcare solutions, offering over 5,000 products as well as supplementary services to the healthcare sector. To step into the digital future and develop new, innovative services for its customers, the company turned to the SAP Cloud Platform and SAP Analytics Cloud.

View more customer stories

NFL

NFL fans are a dedicated bunch – and now cloud technology is bringing them even closer to the game. Learn how the league and SAP developed an in-memory cloud solution that takes fantasy football to the next level.

SAP customers take to the skies

Ride along as SAP takes four customers up in hot air balloons to hear their cloud stories. You’ll learn how Insight, SRAM, Genband, and DASA are using SAP cloud software – from high above Orlando.

Timken Company

The Timken Company is a bearings and transmissions manufacturer with operations in 28 countries. Hear how they’re using our cloud solutions to eliminate complexity, engage customers and suppliers, and make better business decisions.

View more customer stories

Based on over 40 years of experience working with the world’s most progressive organisations and a robust partner ecosystem, SAP Digital Business Services can guide you on the path to innovation and digital transformation, while securing critical business processes.

Quickly and smoothly implement new SAP technologies and applications – no matter if the deployment scenario is on-premise, in the cloud, or a combination of the two. The key is having the right expertise to translate your business needs into a clear roadmap for transforming your IT landscape. Our services are co-designed with the solutions themselves, and our experts leverage proven methodologies and best practices to ensure your deployment is a success.

Speed implementation with SAP’s exclusive best practices

Ensure critical integration and migration of data between on-premise and cloud solutions

Explore the hottest topics in cloud computing

Avoid Pitfalls of Running Business Apps in the Cloud

IDC expects 75% of enterprise infrastructure and software spending to go toward cloud offerings this year. Private managed cloud deployment options can help.

Why the Cloud Doesn’t Matter

Users care about software to get info and get their jobs done. The deployment method on-premise, cloud, or hybrid doesn’t really matter.

Blog Series: The Digital Economy

Read how individuals, businesses, and societies are interconnecting in the cloud, in real time – creating a new digital economy.

SME’s: Finding Simplicity in the Cloud

Discover how our cloud solutions can help small and midsize businesses tackle complexity head on – quickly and safely.

Visit the SAP Cloud Community

Stay on top of the latest cloud computing news, blogs, articles, and tutorials – and connect with our cloud experts.

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A Next-Generation Cloud Architecture from SAP Hybris

Learn about YaaS - our new Hybris-as-a-service commerce platform based on microservices.

It’s Good to Have Your Head in the Clouds

Cloud usage has grown exponentially, and technology has changed and expanded just as quickly. Explore the new cloud domains.

SAP HANA Cloud Integration for Data Services

Find out about the on-demand version of SAP Data Services: SAP Cloud Platform, integration services.

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Cloud Computing at SAP