First steps in SAP BTP

This guide describes the most important steps for getting started with the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). From the initial planning to setting up the infrastructure to an executable app. This article serves as a rough guideline and refers to further articles in which details and specific instructions can be found.

The necessary departments that should be involved in these steps are also defined. You should inform the relevant people about these steps right at the start of a project so that capacities can be planned. It is important that these departments also take part in the appointments, as this is the only way …

… all persons with the appropriate authorizations are present, …

… all perspectives and requirements from the specialist department, IT, network and SAP BTP can be taken into account and …

The knowledge for later permanent, productive use can be built up and disseminated.

… the knowledge can be built up and disseminated for later permanent, productive use.

The most important departments to be involved in the SAP BTP implementation

Department

Responsibilities

Basic IT

Basis IT manages and provides the basic infrastructure. The operation of databases and other systems such as on-premise SAP also runs via this department. User and rights management is also managed by this department.

Network IT

Network IT controls and manages proxies and the SAP Cloud Connector. This department is involved whenever internal networks need to be accessed from outside.

Specialist IT

Business IT is familiar with the individual business processes, sets up the apps within SAP BTP, manages them and installs updates for the apps. Business IT also uses the foundations provided by Basis and Network IT.

Business development or specialist department

The specialist department is the specialist for the technical processes and uses the apps that will run in SAP BTP.

Step 1: Planning the architecture and infrastructure of SAP BTP

Necessary departments: Basic IT, specialist IT and business development

Before you can deploy an app or create the necessary infrastructure, you should plan its future use and scaling. With the SAP Business Technology Platform, there are many ways to design the infrastructure and architecture to optimize scalability and individual usage.

To begin with, it is important to define exactly what the current and future use will be in order to select an ideal architecture. The following two questions should be discussed together and written down as guidelines:

How is the SAP Business Technology Platform currently used?
How should the SAP Business Technology Platform be used in the future?

Tips and ideas can be found in the article What architectures are available in SAP BTP? described.

Both IT and Business Development or the specialist department should be involved in this planning. As the future use is decided from a business perspective, this must be agreed with the possibilities of IT.

Step 2: Setting up the infrastructure

Required department: Basic IT

Once you have defined the basic infrastructure together with Business Development or the specialist departments, this must now be set up in SAP BTP.

Instructions can be found in the following articles:

Step 3: Connecting SAP BTP with on-premise systems

Necessary departments: Basic IT and Network IT

In almost all use cases, SAP BTP, which is located in the data center of a cloud provider such as AWS, Google or Microsoft, must be connected to on-premise systems. This includes not only on-premise SAP systems, but also proxies, AGV fleet managers or IoT systems.

Instructions can be found in the following articles:

Step 4: Deployment of a new app in SAP BTP

Necessary departments: Basic IT and specialist IT

As soon as the infrastructure is in place, the first app can be deployed. Instructions can be found in the article Deploying an app in the BTP article.

When deploying for the first time, you automatically create templates for roles that you need in the app. This is the reason why the app should be deployed first and then the next step – user and role administration – should be carried out.

In most companies, the deployment of the app, especially during productive operation when updates need to be installed, is the responsibility of the IT department.

However, it is advisable to carry out the first deployment together, as it can be implemented in different ways. With joint deployment, you can define best practices and company guidelines.

Step 5: User and role management for apps

Necessary departments: Basic IT and specialist IT

When deploying an app, you automatically create templates for roles in the SAP Business Technology Platform.

These can be used to define your own roles and assign them to users. It is advisable to connect this directly to an external identity provider such as the SAP on-premise system or Microsoft Azure AD.

Step 6: Continuous updates of apps in the BTP

Required department: Specialist IT

Updates will have to be installed regularly during operation. The process for this is identical to the initial deployment. To ensure that you can do this smoothly and without major risks, you should define a procedure for updates directly in the “Deployment of a new app” step: