Usage Scenario
You've encountered the terms on-premise and private cloud edition, when discussing SAP BW deployments. For an existing or prospective SAP BW organization, understanding the distinctions between these options is crucial for determining the optimal path forward for its specific needs. This lesson will provide a comparative analysis to guide the decision-making process.
Comparison of Deployment Options
Organizations with existing SAP BW 7.5 or SAP BW/4HANA systems may wonder about the best-suited deployment option for them. The following table compares the features of the deployment options.
| Deployment | SAP BW / SAP BW/4HANA, private cloud edition | SAP BW / SAP BW/4HANA On-premise |
| Scalability | Easy up- or downsizing on customer request | Requires manual installation |
| Data location | SAP or other host's data center | Customer-specific server |
| Release | Any SAP BW 7.5 powered by SAP HANA or SAP BW/4HANA release | Any SAP BW or SAP BW/4HANA release |
| End of maintenance | SAP BW 7.5: 2027 (as part of SAP BDC 2030) / SAP BW/4HANA: 2040 | SAP BW 7.5: 2027 / SAP BW/4HANA: 2040 |
| Integration with SAP BDC | Optional as SAP BW or SAP BW/4HANA component | Only possible as a source system |
The on-premise deployment is not part of SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC). For on-premise deployment, your organization must provide its own resources both in terms of hardware (servers) and IT staff. This contrasts with SAP BW, private cloud edition or SAP BW/4HANA, private cloud edition, where much of the infrastructure and application management is handled by SAP or a hyperscaler. Moreover, with these cloud solutions, it is easier to upsize or downsize the system and to stay up to date.
Choosing the right path
For SAP BW/4HANA organizations who prioritize complete control over their infrastructure, maintaining an on-premise deployment remains a viable option. However, transitioning to SAP BW/4HANA , private cloud edition is recommended to streamline administrative tasks and potentially reduce operational overhead.
Organizations currently running SAP BW 7.x face a crucial decision. To maintain support until 2030, lifting to SAP BW, private cloud edition within the context of SAP BDC is necessary. Alternatively, a conversion project to SAP BW/4HANA can be undertaken. Even after lifting the deployment to SAP BW 7.5, private cloud edition, a subsequent conversion to SAP BW/4HANA remains possible.
Besides the discussed differences, SAP BW, private cloud edition and SAP BW/4HANA, private cloud edition, offer the possibility to leverage BW investments and innovate in SAP Business Data Cloud.
Let’s Summarize What You’ve Learned
You have learned about the following deployment options:
SAP BW 7.5 on-premise deployments offer full control over infrastructure but require manual installation and have the earliest end-of-maintenance date.
SAP BW/4HANA on-premise requires manual installation, update, maintenance, and upscaling efforts on the organization side, but remains supported until 2040.
SAP BW, private cloud edition, allows for organization-specific customization and update schedules with flexible data location options. It is ideal for existing SAP BW organizations. When included in SAP Business Data Cloud, SAP BW remains supported until 2030.