

With SAP, you can choose public or private cloud – depending on your needs and level of customization. Whatever you choose, with cloud ERP, you ensure the ability to scale, keep up with change, and stay secure and competitive for decades.
Get started with SAP Cloud ERPThe case for cloud ERP isn't about following a trend. It's about how your business operates day to day – and what becomes easier when you're not managing your own infrastructure.
| Public Cloud | Private Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Managed by | SAP | SAP or hyperscaler |
| Customization | Limited – built on SAP standard | More flexibility |
| Best for | Companies ready to adopt SAP best practices | Companies with complex processes or existing customizations |
| Transformation path | GROW with SAP | RISE with SAP |
S/4HANA Public Cloud – also known as SAP Cloud ERP – is a fully managed, multi-tenant system hosted by SAP. You get a standardized environment built on SAP's best practices, automatic regular updates, and no infrastructure to manage.
It works well for companies that are willing to adapt their processes to fit SAP's standard model rather than the other way around. That trade-off is intentional: less customization means faster implementation, lower maintenance, and a system that stays current without extra effort.
GROW with SAP is the solution package SAP designed specifically for companies moving to the Public Cloud. It bundles together the software, implementation methodology, and onboarding resources to get you live quickly – typically with a defined scope and a structured approach that keeps the project from expanding. It's aimed particularly at mid-sized companies and those making their first move to the SAP cloud.
S/4HANA Private Cloud – SAP Cloud ERP, Private Edition – runs in a dedicated environment, either hosted by SAP or on a hyperscaler like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. It's still a managed cloud system, but with more isolation and flexibility than the public model.
This is the better fit for companies that have invested heavily in customizations they need to carry forward, operate in regulated industries with specific data or infrastructure requirements, or run complex system landscapes that don't fit into SAP's standard processes.
RISE with SAP is the transformation journey that brings your ERP into the Private Cloud. It includes the software license, cloud infrastructure, SAP Business Technology Platform access, and migration support. Instead of coordinating multiple vendors and agreements, you have a single commercial relationship that covers the full scope.
There's no universal answer, but a few questions help narrow it down.
Moving to SAP cloud involves more than just switching where the system runs. It’s a complicated journey that includes designing a clear migration strategy, careful data handling, and many decisions about what to keep, what to adapt, and what to leave behind.
ACBaltica is an SAP Platinum Partner with over 20 years of experience working exclusively with SAP. That focus matters: every consultant on our team works with SAP day-to-day, on real projects, in real business environments.
Both are SAP's programs for moving to cloud ERP – but they target different starting points.
RISE was developed for existing on-premise customers migrating to S/4HANA, while GROW was built for new SAP customers who want a faster, more standardized cloud experience. GROW with SAP runs on SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition – a multi-tenant environment fully managed by SAP, with automatic software updates. The solution is suited to small and mid-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective, ready-to-use solution. RISE with SAP, on the other hand, is mostly deployed in the private cloud and is designed for larger enterprises that need customization and scalability.
In short: if you're already on SAP and have complex, customized processes, RISE is likely the best fit for you. If you're new to SAP and want to go live fast and on standard processes, start with GROW.
It depends on the deployment model and how much you're bringing from your existing system.
SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud implementations typically take about 3–6 months. Using SAP's migration cockpit and standardized templates, S/4HANA Public Cloud implementations can be shortened to several months – and for some preconfigured cloud solutions, even weeks. Private Cloud and on-premise projects run longer: about 6–18 months.
The main drivers of timeline are data complexity, integration scope, and how much custom code needs to be assessed or reworked.
Cost depends heavily on the deployment model, company size, and implementation scope – so ranges vary widely. The accurate number can be defined after properly exploring your project and your needs – but you can get an estimate within 24 hours, if you use our SAP Cloud ERP cost calculator.
Not necessarily – but they need to be rebuilt differently.
Classic extensibility (standard ABAP modifications) is not available in SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud – it needs to be redesigned. But not everything should be carried into the cloud solution: your custom code should first be analyzed, assessed, and prioritized.
SAP provides two main paths for recreating functionality: in-app extensions via key user extensibility for smaller changes, and side-by-side extensions via SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) for more complex requirements that need to stay independent of the core. KPS
However, heavy custom code from ECC often can't be lifted and shifted in the cloud (or at least, it’s not worth the effort). That is why you need a pre-migration custom code assessment to understand what can be retired, what needs reworking, and what can be rebuilt on BTP.
Yes – SAP Cloud ERP has a broad set of internationally recognized certifications.
Thus, SAP data centers comply with ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR, with data-at-rest and in-transit encryption and regular compliance audits. SOC 1 Type II confirms internal controls over financial processes – particularly relevant for customers in regulated industries such as finance. SOC 2 Type II covers security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and data protection.
There are also additional certifications: ISO 22301 (business continuity), PCI DSS (payment data), and industry-specific standards. You can find the full list of current certifications in the SAP Trust Center.
That said, compliance responsibility is shared: SAP secures the platform, but your configuration, access controls, and data management practices are your organization's responsibility.
Most integrations can be preserved, but they typically need to be assessed and, in some cases, re-architected.
During migration from SAP ECC, SAP PI/PO supports existing integrations. SAP Cloud Integration, part of SAP Integration Suite, connects SAP S/4HANA with both cloud and on-premise systems. SAP BTP also allows building integrations maintained by SAP for commonly needed connections. And there’s even more: the platform also supports automatic integration with popular third-party cloud applications.
Before migrating, you need to identify, upgrade, or replace legacy interfaces not compatible with S/4HANA – this includes linked custom developments, reports, and third-party integrations previously built in your SAP landscape.
To have a clear answer to the question, start with a pre-migration integration inventory. Most probably, not all existing interfaces will break, but assuming they carry over unchanged is a common source of project risk.
Post-go-live support typically has a two-phase structure.
Immediately after go-live, a 2-6 week hypercare period starts, which ensures intensive support: user issue resolution, system monitoring, and coordination with SAP on incident management. This phase ends once critical issues are resolved and business processes are stable.
After hypercare, organizations typically transition to SAP Application Management Services (AMS) – a long-term managed service for ongoing system operation, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.
For SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud specifically, SAP handles infrastructure, security patching, and quarterly upgrades. Support for application-level issues is typically provided either through SAP directly (via support tickets) or through SAP Cloud Application Support Services from your SAP Partner. And note: we recommend agreeing on the scope and SLAs during the implementation – not after go-live.