What is SAP System Landscape? Insights and Expert Tips

SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) is an ERP program with many business solutions. These solutions cover every aspect of business process, such as finance, human resource management, supply chain management, and many others. One of the fundamental concepts that are part of SAP implementation is the SAP landscape.

The SAP system landscape depicts the manner in which SAP servers and software units are arranged. The SAP system landscape is the configuration of SAP servers. A comprehensive understanding of the SAP landscape is critical to ensure the proper implementation and maintenance of the SAP ecosystem, which is productive, protected, and flexible.

SAP Landscape and its Components

SAP landscape is a collection of systems that are arranged in a coherent fashion using the SAP product and iteration. The most common type of landscape is tri-tiered, which indicates that the landscape contains three systems.

– Development Server (DEV)

– Quality Assurance or Test Server (QAS)

– Production Server (PROD)

Development (DEV) System

The development system is the first place for organizational change and improvement for configurations and new advancements, as well as testing or implementation. Developers use this server to type in the code, set parameters, and perform basic unit tests of the code.

Quality Assurance System (QAS)

The quality assurance system helps carry out modifications, and the settings done in the DEV system are carried out during the test. It is done there for functional and integration tests. It eliminates any modifications that are likely to harm current procedures. Employees of the relevant departments test new features to check their effectiveness and operation.

Production (PRD) System

The production system is the real business setting within which all organizational transactions occur. This component is extremely relevant to the operation of the SAP system landscape because it is defined by the actual ability to run standard, routine organizational processes. The PRD system tends to focus on stability, performance, and security as its primary objectives.

SAP System Landscape Management

A Transport Management System (TMS) is crucial to the efficient management of the SAP landscape. TMS helps transfer development items and configuration between different systems within the landscape. It ensures that the QAS and PRD systems are updated correctly and safely based on the changes made in the DEV system.

Another important aspect of managing the SAP landscape is system refresh. A system refresh is a procedure that ensures the synchronization of data, customization, and repositories inside a system. It guarantees that they do not become outdated or include updates that have been discarded. For testing reasons, it is crucial to ensure that the system has the most current data. A refresh is a fundamental operation that involves the transfer of data from one system to another, resulting in the replacement of the pre-existing data in the system undergoing the update. System refresh typically entails configuring interfaces and user accounts to align with their former status.

Best practices for managing SAP landscape

– Have different groups

Having different groups in charge of development, testing, and production is effective for maintaining system integrity and preventing unsanctioned alteration of system functions.

– Refresh system regularly

Update the QAS system frequently with data from the PRD system to make sure that the test data is reliable and latest, thereby facilitating realistic testing scenarios.

– Get transport control

Safeguard strict transport rules to control the spread of alterations across the territory. Fully optimize the key processes using the Transportation Management System (TMS) to arrange and manage the transportation processes in the best, most accurate, and least interrupted way possible.

– Monitor performance

Systematically monitor all systems within the landscape. Use integrated SAP tools as well as external solutions to identify and solve problems that negatively affect performance.

– Devise contingency measures

Implement and methodologically analyze contingency measures to ensure that business processes remain undisrupted even in the face of a system breakdown or possible hacker attacks.

Conclusion

SAP landscape defines the strategic plan and order of work on the development, testing, and implementation of productions within the company. A 3-tier landscape is the most prevalent type, characterized by the presence of three distinct systems within the landscape. Usually, the sequence is Development -> Quality Assurance -> Production. Through efficient management of the SAP system landscape, firms could ensure a stable, secure, and efficient platform for their working needs and business objectives. Arthur Lawrence’s SAPZILLA community is one of the largest communities for SAP professionals. It is an active platform where SAP professionals can collaborate and share knowledge. The platform offers a space for people to connect, exchange ideas, and stay informed about the latest developments in the SAP ecosystem. Get in touch for more information.