In this post, we will explore SAP’s sovereign cloud capabilities, what sets us apart, sovereign cloud solutions portfolio, deployment model and the critical aspects of security in SAP’s sovereign Cloud capabilities, as well as best practices to ensure your data remains protected. This is a first of a series of blogs about SAP’s sovereign cloud capabilities.
SAP’s Definition of Sovereign Cloud
SAP’s sovereign cloud capabilities are specialized cloud services designed to meet the unique security, compliance, and data sovereignty requirements of organizations operating in regulated environments. This includes a cloud computing architecture designed to enforce strict compliance with a country’s laws and regulations regarding data residency and data sovereignty. This cloud service ensures that data resides within specific geopolitical boundaries, providing enhanced control and protection against unauthorized access.
Key Differentiators
- Cloud services align with government standards or policies to support requirements to certify or authorize the services for use.
- Security-cleared personnel manage cloud computing and operations infrastructure.
- Operations take place in government accredited security facilities.
- A local control plane and local automation ensure that organizations can handle data self-sufficiently within their country.
- Subsequent self-sufficiency ensures resilience and maintenance of control and security over cloud workloads, no matter the geopolitical circumstances.
Sovereign Cloud Portfolio
The SAP Intelligent Sustainable Enterprise Suite provides next-generation customer experience by delivering intelligent and innovative solutions for every line of business; these are end-to-end business processes that are modular, integrated, and span across different business solutions by infusing Generative AI use cases . In this blog we will be touching some of the key LoB’s within our current sovereign cloud capabilities
Security
SAP’s approach to security in the sovereign cloud is fundamentally based around 3 pillars
- Build Securely
- Run Securely
- Act Securely
Some of the key security features in SAP’s sovereign cloud capabilities are:
- Data sovereignty and localization, including stricter access controls
- Regulatory compliance and regular audits built to comply with Australian ISM controls and all solutions in scope are already IRAP assessed and operated out of a secure Zone 3 and Zone 4 facility
- Enhanced security controls include encryption, multi-factor authentication, role based access control, advanced threat detection and response
Customer workloads across all LOB’s are secured and protected using a shared responsibility model where SAP’s sovereign cloud operations are responsible for implementing preventative controls which range from helpful to restrictive. SAP’s sovereign cloud compliance and security is aligned to the NIST Framework.
SAP’s Sovereign Cloud Capabilities in S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition
As the cornerstone of RISE with SAP, SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition can safeguard your existing ERP investment while you benefit from the latest innovations and business-wide flexibility. The RISE with SAP offering includes an AI-enabled cloud ERP that’s managed and optimized by SAP using a clean core approach. RISE with SAP also offers solutions for optimizing processes, extending and enhancing capabilities, and running sustainably
SAP’s sovereign cloud capabilities are managed services and deployments of security-hardened SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition solutions designed to adhere to national security and secrecy requirements such as government accreditation, attestation, or certification programs. They are designed for SAP customers who require additional assurances for their cloud workloads and cloud delivery model, including those in the public sector and regulated industries. With sovereign cloud capabilities in SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, we provide innovative offerings in a more secure sovereign environment, enabling you to comply with the unique regulations specific to your country.
BTP
Built upon a Foundation of Trust
SAP’s sovereign cloud capabilities leverage SAP’s Business Technology Platform architecture, a proven and secure solution already trusted by organizations worldwide. We take this robust foundation a step further by implementing additional security measures and controls specifically designed to meet the stringent requirements of Australian and New Zealand government departments and critical infrastructure providers.
Unparalleled Security and Local Expertise
Your data is our top priority. Our dedicated, Australia-based team provides support for the platform, ensuring your information always remains secure. Data is stored across geographically redundant data centres, adhering to the highest security standards.
Up to Date and Available
SAP’s sovereign cloud capabilities are built from the ground up for continuous availability. Most updates are deployed in real-time, minimizing disruption to your operations. We leverage industry-leading monitoring and tools to track performance across all cloud components. In the unlikely event of an issue, we are able to leverage our global support team to quickly react and solve the problem, restoring the system’s functionality.
Global Innovation, Locally Delivered
Our global development teams are constantly working to introduce new features and enhancements to the platform. These advancements undergo rigorous security assessments by our dedicated team before being deployed to your environment by local experts. This ensures you benefit from cutting-edge innovation whilst maintaining the highest security posture.
HCM
SAP SuccessFactors HCM is a truly global suite of cloud HR solutions that gives you everything you need to fuel employee success and drive organizational agility at scale. Built on SAP’s trusted innovation platform and powered by a single source of people and skills data, it provides the foundation and flexibility required to improve every people experience, decision, and process across your entire business.
Elevate every experience. Increase employee engagement and productivity by delivering individualized experiences designed for how, when, and where people work.
Create a future ready workforce. Boost performance and retention by finding, developing, and mobilizing the skills, attributes, and leaders needed for today and tomorrow.
Enable agile and compliant HR. Improve organizational agility by supporting all people in all locations across all ways of working with the flexibility to quickly expand and adapt.
Increase the strategic value of HR. Achieve more faster with less risk, complexity, and cost by adopting a cloud-first approach backed by technology, partnership, and community.
SAP SuccessFactors offerings within sovereign cloud are designed for SAP customers who require additional assurances for their cloud workloads and cloud delivery model, including those in the public sector and regulated industries. Security-cleared nationals manage cloud computing and operations infrastructure out of certified security facilities.
Our sovereign cloud solutions are designed to meet key audit and regulatory standards.
As more offerings and roadmap items are released within SAP sovereign cloud capabilities , future blogs will be covering those updates
This blog is also a contribution from following team members:
Kirsten Tucker – Sovereign cloud ANZ head of Delivery
Hadi Zadeh – Sovereign cloud ANZ ISSO
Warrick Howieson – Sovereign cloud ANZ BTP Core Lead
Bill Xie – Sovereign cloud ANZ BTP Extensions Lead
Abhishek Gudup – Sovereign cloud ANZ HCM Lead