This article was authored by Patrick Boch, Product Manager, Security SAP S/4HANA, SAP SE, and Matthias Ems, Business Information Security Officer, Cloud ERP & Chief Security Product Owner S/4HANA, SAP SE. For more insights, don't miss Ems' public cloud security session at ASUG Tech Connect (register here).
Through SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition and SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, SAP provides two ERP solutions — built on the same foundation, with very different deployment models. Both offer top-of-the line cloud security and privacy, but a lingering misconception persists that Public Cloud is less secure than Private Cloud. Let’s set the record straight.
Security by Design, Validated by Execution
To start with the software, SAP S/4HANA is engineered with security at its core. The ERP’s baseline is the SAP Secure Software Development and Operations Lifecycle (SDOL), which defines a holistic set of cloud product security standards, cloud operational security standards, and security testing and validation processes, such as code scanning, dynamic application scanning and open-source security programs.
In addition, each cloud solution undergoes continuous and rigorous internal and external penetration testing, complemented by red team exercises that simulate real-world attack scenarios. These efforts are further enhanced by SAP’s Bug Bounty Program, which incentivizes ethical hackers to identify and report vulnerabilities responsibly.
This proactive security posture ensures that threats are identified and mitigated before they can impact customers, making security not just a feature but a foundational principle. Since SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition and SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition were both developed to comply with the SAP SDOL, this principle holds equally true for both solutions.
Shared Responsibility: A Strategic Advantage
A key differentiator between Public and Private Cloud lies in the division of responsibilities. In the Public Edition, SAP assumes full accountability for:
- Automated upgrades and centralized testing
- Security patching and compliance validation
- Operational monitoring and incident response
This model ensures that all customers benefit from the latest security enhancements without delay or dependency on internal IT resources. In contrast, Private Cloud customers manage their own upgrade cadence, which can introduce variability in patching and testing timelines.
Standardization – Clean Core Principles Approach
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition delivers a ready-to-run SaaS ERP solution with seamless, SAP-managed updates and a strictly governed extensibility model that keeps the core clean by design. In comparison, SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition places greater responsibility on customers to manage upgrades and extensions thoughtfully—with the same clean core goals in mind.
This also relates to the security standpoint, as the grade of standardization that comes with the clean core concept—established in the public cloud—moves most of the security measures to the responsibility area of the cloud provider, in this case SAP.
Ultimately, it all boils down to a question as old as cloud computing itself: is the cloud more secure than what customers can do on their own? Though it’s challenging to secure thousands of servers and millions of assets, cloud service providers like SAP have dedicated teams for security, can operate a SOC 24/7, and maintain the global resources needed to apply leading security measures across all operations. And let’s not forget that cloud application providers know how to secure their own software better than anyone. Add that to the decreased possibility of misconfigurations or potential backdoors in heavily customized or expanded solutions in an on-premises environment, and you will see clear advantage in cloud solutions.
AI with Integrity: Security and Ethics at the Forefront
SAP’s integration of Artificial Intelligence into the Public Cloud is governed by a holistic security and ethical framework. This includes:
- Secure-by-default development for AI-enhanced features
- Data protection and privacy assessments for AI use cases
- External penetration tests targeting AI integrations and critical functionalities
- Ethical oversight aligned with SAP’s global standards for responsible AI
These safeguards ensure AI capabilities in S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition are not only powerful but also trustworthy, supporting intelligent automation without compromising on compliance or ethics.
Conclusion: Security Without Trade-Offs
Going back to the initial question: which deployment mode is more secure?
Consider your morning commute. If you use your own car, you will have the most flexibility. By comparison, a taxi is almost as flexible; you can call them anytime you want, but you don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot. You could also take public transport, which offers the least flexibility but comes with other advantages, such as a lower price. Regardless of what your criteria would be to choose one option over the other, all are equally safe. (That said, one depends more on your own driving skills.)
You can think similarly about the security of cloud deployment models. SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition delivers enterprise-grade security through continuous validation, centralized responsibility, and a proactive security culture, and so does SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition. Security is not a trade-off between Public and Private Cloud — it’s a shared commitment, delivered differently.
Patrick Boch is Product Manager of Security SAP S/4HANA, SAP SE. Matthias Ems is Business Information Security Officer of Cloud ERP & Chief Security Product Owner S/4HANA at SAP.