Microsoft Azure vs SAP Cloud Platform comparison

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37,026 views|29,563 comparisons
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12,405 views|9,780 comparisons
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Mar 24, 2022

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Azure and SAP Cloud Platform based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: With Microsoft Azure, the ease of deployment directly corresponds with the type of deployment, size of the application, amount of databases, webservers, etc. The complexity of the deployment grows with the complexity or size of the deployment. For larger deployments, many users relate that specialists are needed to ensure things go smoothly. SAP Cloud platform users, tell us that even some larger deployments are generally very simple to complete.
  • Features: Microsoft Azure users like that the solution is very flexible, scalable, and extremely intuitive. The solution is very easy to use, stable, and offers great performance. Microsoft Azure users would like to see improved integration with other solutions, and better security. Some users mention that more services with the on-premise versions would be beneficial and make the solution more attractive.

    SAP Cloud Platform users feel that the solution offers very good support and good integration. Users appreciate the data synchronization, the push and pull of the data, and also the pre-delivered content. SAP Cloud Platform users believe the solution could be more flexible and more stable, which would help users feel more confident using the solution.
  • Pricing: Users of both solutions feel they could be priced more competitively and that the overall costs with the scale-up, pay-as-you-go options can get very costly and need to be closely monitored.
  • Service and Support: Microsoft Azure users are split: while some are happy, there are several who feel that even with the tiered support level options Microsoft offers, it can still be challenging to get adequate support in a timely manner. Overall, SAP Cloud Platform users are very pleased with the support they have received.

Comparison Results: Although SAP is easier to deploy and has better service, Microsoft is a branded, well-known product and numerous organizations worldwide are an active part of the Microsoft Azure Universe. It is strong and powerful and many users are simply more familiar and comfortable using a solution they feel confident will help them get the job done well and that clients can more easily integrate with such a stable product.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Azure vs. SAP Cloud Platform Report (Updated: March 2024).
763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Reduces work for our IT teams and saves us a lot of time.""In terms of computer resource management and reduced cost, it is very, very effective. In large environments, it gives you a lot of flexibility to provide different services, like disaster recovery and business continuity with simple and great options because you don't have to spend a lot of time for maintenance, upgrades, and security.""Technical support, from what I understand, is quite helpful and we speak with them regularly.""It is a reliable solution that is easy to set up.""The product is a cloud solution.""The most valuable features of this solution are the value for money and flexibility.""If you have large traffic amounts, Microsoft Azure will continue to provide our customers with the best storage experience.""Azure offers broad compatibility with both structured and unstructured data. For example, we use PostgreSQL for storing Azure's official data and manage various types of data, including tabular and image data, accommodating the storage of all data types we handle. So, in many ways, Azure simplified the data storage and management needs."

More Microsoft Azure Pros →

"The solution is very useful and interactive with a dashboard for viewing other interfaces.""The features I found most valuable are the integration options.""It’s easy to maintain, as everything is handled by SAP.""One of the most valuable features I have found is that the solution is secure.""The most valuable features of the SAP Cloud Platform are the extensions and integrations. Additionally, there are a lot of AI-based microservices.""The product captures data in real time.""The ability to expand it whenever required has been great — it's very simple.""The most valuable features of SAP Cloud Platform are security integration and scalability."

More SAP Cloud Platform Pros →

Cons
"The pricing can be reduced.""It would be helpful if it offered more integration with other platforms.""Potential improvements to the price calculator tool""The solution could improve by simplifying network management.""Price could always be better. The features come in quickly, so we're comfortable with the feature set that is available to us.""I would like to see more advanced functionality in terms of information security.""The pricing criteria can be improved with broken-down terms that can be understood easily.""There are many bugs in the solutions and we already have a ticket to Microsoft. Their content team is working on that."

More Microsoft Azure Cons →

"When I started looking at the client's IT architecture, I started by doing a study of their services, DVM, data volume, and management services. According to the results, they could be a lot better at this.""The product could be improved for consistent user interfaces.""The solution’s pricing could be improved.""I want to see better pricing from the SAP Cloud Platform in the future. I also want more security and scalability from it.""In the next release, I would like to see improvements with the price and the licensing.""What I would like to see improved is the learning curve.""We need to connect our ERP solution via the VPN. We need to make sure our ERP solutions aren't exposed to the outside world. Our teams really struggle with this.""My impression of the stability is that it is not good. Almost every month there is something new and that makes us nervous about delivery."

More SAP Cloud Platform Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Related to pricing and licensing, you have to be careful how you operate with the concept."
  • "Be careful with Azure Cool storage accounts; if you are dealing with high object counts, then it can be more economical to use Hot storage because of the high storage access costs associated with Cool."
  • "Make use of Azure pricing calculator and you will find out that Azure Is still more reasonable that the competition and do your research, when unclear speak with your MS support."
  • "It’s necessary to use third party products or to use good self-management economic tools"
  • "Keep to PaaS to gain the optimal benefits from an OPEX finance and resource perspective."
  • "Several thousand dollars and counting, we haven't needed to upgrade on premises hardware (In fact we eliminated all of the old on-premises hardware and run 100% on Azure) or pay for it's maintenance, power etc."
  • "If you are not aware of costs, pricing, etc., you can end up with a hefty bill. However, I found that the Azure price calculator is a valuable tool to use before starting to deploy VMs in Azure. This tool will give you an overview of the costs you should expect on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis."
  • "Pricing is very difficult to guesstimate. With so many a la carte options and individual pricing it can be a hassle to understand."
  • More Microsoft Azure Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Licensing costs for this solution are based on the number of users and the bandwidth."
  • "SAP's pricing is usually high compared to the competition. But this is also justified because they hold their products and services to quite high standards."
  • "The pricing can be negotiated."
  • "The cost when it comes to monitoring can be difficult."
  • "SAP offers yearly, subscription-based, and pay-as-you-use licensing."
  • "Cost-wise, I'm unsure of how expensive the SAP Cloud Platform is."
  • "SAP Cloud Platform costs $2 to $5 per hour, while I found other platforms way more affordable. You have to pay per use, though that's fine because that means the cost is flexible."
  • "The price of the solution depends on the package that is purchased. There are many packages to choose from. The packages are not overly expensive."
  • More SAP Cloud Platform Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Answers from the Community
    Netanya Carmi
    VINCENTWU - PeerSpot reviewerVINCENTWU
    Real User

    The choice between SAP Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure depends on your specific requirements, business needs, and existing technology landscape. 
    SAP Cloud Platform is designed primarily for running and extending SAP applications. If your organization heavily relies on SAP interfaces other software and services, it might be a more suitable choice as it offers seamless integration with SAP products. 
    On the other hand, Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive cloud platform with a wide range of services, including infrastructure, and databases. It's well-suited for businesses looking for a combination of SAP and AZ Cloud as scalability enterprise-wide supports to seamless OS authentication and SAP with two levels of security. 
    In conclusion, It is essential to evaluate both platforms based on your organization's existing infrastructure, and future growth plans to scalability if SLA is adaptable.

    reviewer2177238 - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2177238 (Works at Web Synergies)
    User

    Comparison of SAP Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. Both platforms offer unique advantages, and the decision ultimately depends on business needs and priorities. As an SAP user, I appreciate the seamless integration and optimized performance of SAP solutions on Azure. The ability to scale resources on demand and utilize advanced security features is critical in today's fast-paced digital landscape. Overall, I believe that SAP solutions on Azure offer a competitive edge in terms of cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and innovation.

    More detail - https://www.websynergies.com/e...




    Ramakrishna Potluri - PeerSpot reviewerRamakrishna Potluri
    Real User

    I think it's based on the context of your environment and what you want to do. The LinkedIn article by Murali Shanmugham gives you some perspective here.   


    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse...


    If you use SAP applications extensively, extending them with various services offered by SAP on the SAP Cloud platform would be very useful. 


    In fact, SAP has made this platform available on hyperscalers like MS Azure, AWS, etc.  

    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:IBM Public Cloud is IBM’s Platform-as-a-Service. It aims to provide organizations with a secure cloud environment to manage data and applications. One of the features we like is the cloud activity… more »
    Top Answer:One of the best features of SAP Cloud Platform is that it is web-based and you can log in from anywhere in the world. SAP Cloud Platform is suitable for companies of any size; it works well with both… more »
    Top Answer:I would recommend Google Firebase instead of Microsoft Azure, simply for the array of features that it has to offer. In particular, the Firebase library grants you access to a shared data structure… more »
    Top Answer:How is SAP Cloud Platform different than Amazon AWS Amazon AWS offers options both in terms of upgrading and expanding capabilities as well as acquiring greater storage space. These upgrades can be… more »
    Top Answer:The entire SAP ecosystem is a valuable feature. It provides access to SAP S/4HANA, ACG systems, and their Fiori launchpad, making it easy to navigate between them. This makes the enterprise very… more »
    Ranking
    1st
    out of 33 in PaaS Clouds
    Views
    37,026
    Comparisons
    29,563
    Reviews
    27
    Average Words per Review
    417
    Rating
    8.3
    6th
    out of 33 in PaaS Clouds
    Views
    12,405
    Comparisons
    9,780
    Reviews
    24
    Average Words per Review
    532
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Windows Azure, Azure, MS Azure
    SAP HANA Cloud Platform
    Learn More
    Overview

    Windows Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform, where developers can create, deploy, and maintain their apps. This cloud application platform allows developers to concentrate on the actual applications, while it takes care of all the elements behind the apps.

    Windows Azure works across multiple frameworks and languages. It is fully scalable, localized in that it is hosted globally in many datacenters, and has widespread capabilities with elements of application development, deployment, and management.

    Azure is comprised of several different service modules, including Infrastructure; Web; Mobile; Dev & Test; Big Data; Media;Storage, Backup & Recovery; and Identity & Access Management.

    Microsoft Azure works as a:

    1. Platform as a service (PaaS)
    2. Software as a service (SaaS)
    3. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

    Microsoft Azure is available:

    • On-premises
    • Hybrid
    • Multi-cloud
    • At the edge

    Compared to its competitors, Microsoft Azure:

    • Has more affordable features
    • Has easier migration for organizations already using other Microsoft tools
    • Has several educational resources available
    • Provides robust support
    • Is ideal for small and large businesses

    Microsoft Azure Features:

    • Scalability
    • Stability
    • Flexibility
    • Azure Site Recovery
    • Active Directory
    • Monitoring features
    • Cloud-based
    • Automated tasks
    • Change capability cadence
    • Showback capabilities
    • Information protection
    • Azure Data Lake
    • Excellent portal
    • Intuitive user interface
    • Remote desktop
    • Fast provisioning
    • Data security
    • Data resiliency
    • Speed of service
    • Integrated delivery pipeline
    • Disaster recovery
    • Robust templates
    • Flexible coding languages
    • Virtual systems testing

    Benefits of Microsoft Azure:

    • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Because Microsoft Azure is an IaaS, organizations can deploy as well as manage applications easily and quickly. Azure also provides you with the ability to customize the cloud software to meet your specific business needs.
    • Seamless integration: Microsoft Azure is built to seamlessly integrate with existing IT departments via hybrid databases, secure private connections, and storage solutions.
    • Cost-effective: Because Azure can harmoniously exist in your business environment with your data center, it is a very cost-effective solution.
    • Analytics support: Azure is designed with built-in support that is used to analyze data and provide key insights. Azure offers Cortana Analytics, Stream Analytics, Machine Learning, and SQL services.
    • Unique storage system: Compared to other cloud services, Microsoft Azure has more data centers and delivery points, which helps create an optimal user experience and also helps deliver content faster. In addition, Microsoft Azure makes it possible for organizations to exchange content across several virtual machines.
    • Enhanced flexibility: Azure provides extreme flexibility by allowing you to choose any level of functionality you require. It also supports many of the same technologies IT teams and developers usually depend on, making it easier for them to manage.
    • Easy implementation: Microsoft Azure is easy and quick to deploy. If necessary, you can change web apps to Azure with almost zero downtime.

    Reviews from Real Users:

    "It is a flexible solution that is straightforward to use," says the principal consultant at a computer software company.

    OmarJ., future datacenter consultant: Microsoft Azure Cloud at a tech company, adds that "The user interface is very nice and makes everything easy to use."

    You can build an environment in minutes. It's very good in terms of being an infrastructure as a service, and I found that really fascinating,” says an information technology consultant at a computer software company.

    "I think Azure's level of automation to achieve efficiency or agility is valuable. I also like the change capability cadence, the showback capabilities, and understanding what our costs are," says an enterprise architect at an energy/utilities company.

    Marco C., Ing. at Wolters Kluwer, says "The valuable features of Microsoft Azure are that it is cloud-based and has good storage. The storage is completely managed by Azure. We do not need to do any patching of security because it is handled by Azure which is a benefit. The solution is fully compatible with the Microsoft technology stack and is very scalable."

    "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Azure is it has everything together in one place. It is one large tool with lots of small tools that are updated often," says the owner of a media company.



    SAP Cloud Platform is an integration platform as a service (iPaaS) and PaaS cloud tool. It powers applications that deliver real-time insights to contribute to more effective and timely decision-making. Customers all over the world from different-sized companies use SAP Cloud Platform to build application extensions, integrate landscapes, or extend existing enterprise applications in the cloud.

    The platform incorporates innovative technologies, including big data, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). SAP Cloud Platform supports native services and products by SAP, as well as partners with popular platforms such as Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon AWS, and Alibaba Cloud.

    Users of the product can extend, integrate, and develop applications on premises and in the cloud. The product offers flexibility, agility, and scalability, as it enables easy integration and connection of different applications within the platform. The solution is based on open standards and provides a wide range of development tools.

    SAP has announced that they are removing SAP Cloud Platform as a brand name and moving its capabilities within SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). The features of SAP Cloud Platform will be integrated into SAP BTP to assist with data management and analytics, alongside other components of the platform. Existing customers of SAP Cloud Platform will continue to benefit from its products under SAP Integration Suite and SAP Extension Suite.

    SAP Cloud Platform Capabilities

    The solution offers a wide variety of tools, application capabilities, services, and application programming interface (API). These can be categorized in the following ways:

    • Enterprise extensions: The features of SAP Cloud Platform in this category include SAP Localization Hub, Tax Service, Data Enrichment for SAP S/4HANA, SAP Data Quality Management, SAP Business Application Studio, ABAP environment, and SAP Web IDE.

    • Intelligent BPM: This set of features includes SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Process Visibility, Business Rules, and Workflow.

    • Integration Suite: The features of SAP Cloud Platform in this category include Open Connectors, OData Provisioning, API Management, Cloud Integration, and Smart Data Integration.

    • Digital experience: Features in this category include SAP Conversational AI, Mobile Services, Document Service, Portal, SAP Build, SAPUI5, and SAP Fiori Cloud.

    • Data-driven insights: This category of capabilities includes SAP Leonardo Internet of Things, SAP Data Intelligence, SAP Edge Services, IoT, SAP HANA Cloud, SAP Web Analytics, SAP Streaming Analytics, SAP ASE Service, and SAP Analytics Cloud.

    • Platform foundation: Alert Notification, Application Logging, Data Retention Manager, Job Scheduler, Java Server, and Transport Management are included in this group of capabilities.

    SAP Cloud Platform Benefits

    The platform has many benefits which improve their client’s workflows. They include the following:

    • SAP Cloud Platform facilitates the seamless integration of existing solutions and hybrid system landscapes.

    • The solution assists companies to deliver tailored end-to-end interfaces for improved user experience through software development kits (SDKs).

    • It simplifies application interface management through the option of building apps in the Kubernetes environment.

    • SAP Cloud Platform simplifies the development of native business applications through the various development tools and capabilities it offers.

    • It provides companies with a wide range of pre-configured business services.

    • Companies are offered the possibility to streamline the integration of new apps with a lowered overall cost of ownership.

    • The product can reduce costs for organizations, as it does not require an up-front investment in software or hardware.

    • The solution can increase productivity for developers through its supported open programming standards.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Shylaraj AK, a senior architect at a construction company, describes SAP Cloud Platform as easy to maintain, great features, and helpful support, which attributes to his high rating for the product.

    Ehab-El H., chief executive officer at Asis, likes SAP Cloud Platform because it is easy to use with a fast deployment and straightforward setup.

    Sample Customers
    BMW, Toyota, easyJet, NBC Sports, HarperCollins, Aviva, TalkTalk Business, Avanade, and Telenor.
    Siemens, Shell & Volkswagen, Still, EarlySense, Roche, National Football League, Heidelberg University Hospital, In Mind Computing, The Timken Company, OPAL, EnterpriseJungle, Groupe Danone, Accenture, T-Systems, Sailing Team Germany, Sloan Valve
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company22%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization35%
    Computer Software Company9%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company30%
    Computer Software Company25%
    Pharma/Biotech Company15%
    Construction Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Manufacturing Company13%
    Energy/Utilities Company7%
    Financial Services Firm7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business41%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise44%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business14%
    Midsize Enterprise40%
    Large Enterprise46%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business29%
    Midsize Enterprise9%
    Large Enterprise62%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise67%
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft Azure vs. SAP Cloud Platform
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Azure vs. SAP Cloud Platform and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Microsoft Azure is ranked 1st in PaaS Clouds with 40 reviews while SAP Cloud Platform is ranked 6th in PaaS Clouds with 24 reviews. Microsoft Azure is rated 8.4, while SAP Cloud Platform is rated 7.8. The top reviewer of Microsoft Azure writes "Promotes clear, logical structures preventing impractical configurations and offers seamless integration ". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SAP Cloud Platform writes "Easy to maintain, great features, and helpful support". Microsoft Azure is most compared with Oracle Cloud Platform, Google Firebase, Amazon AWS, Pivotal Cloud Foundry and OpenShift, whereas SAP Cloud Platform is most compared with Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, Mule Anypoint Platform, Mendix and Salesforce Platform. See our Microsoft Azure vs. SAP Cloud Platform report.

    See our list of best PaaS Clouds vendors.

    We monitor all PaaS Clouds reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.