SAP Drives Openness and Choice for Virtualization and Cloud Computing

As cloud computing and virtualization rapidly evolve, SAP AG is working in a preferred three-way strategic collaboration with partners EMC and VMware to develop tools and services that make it easier for clients to adopt cloud and run SAP systems in then and there-generation cloud infrastructures with increasing levels of automation. The company is deepening its partnerships with EMC and VMware to deliver moreover business agility and scale efficiencies by taking advantage of two key transformational technologies: cloud computing and in-memory innovation. The announcement was made at SAPPHIRE® NOW + SAP® TechEd, being held as a co-located event in Madrid from November 8-10.

As a then and there step to extensive and ongoing research with partners to unleash the benefits of pervasive virtualization and cloud computing, SAP will work closely with EMC and VMware and is currently evaluating options to deliver an end-to-end stack optimized for running mission-critical SAP applications. At the same time, the three companies plan to invest and integrate best-of-breed application, database, virtualization, management and information infrastructure technologies, as so then as deliver new services to support and accelerate clients' journey to the cloud. Additionally, consulting services and global support offerings from SAP are planned to focus on helping clients accurately assess, design, implement and optimize a virtualization and cloud strategy, with minimal impact on the business.

SAP and EMC will explore collaboration opportunities around the SAP HANA(TM) platform to deliver high-end system availability and EMC's fully automated storage tiering technologies. This deep collaboration will furthermore strengthen SAP in-memory computing research to deliver actionable insight into business processes by providing scalability and availability for clients.

The enterprise

"With virtualization now pervasive throughout the enterprise and baseline applications deployed, SAP clients are turning their attention to cloud computing strategies for mission-critical environments," said Pat Gelsinger, president and COO, Information Infrastructure Products, EMC. "EMC, SAP and VMware are working at the same time to accelerate SAP clients' journey to hybrid cloud computing. By integrating technologies and delivering new services we hope to both improve business agility and lower IT costs for our mutual clients."

"We are co-innovating with industry leaders in our vast ecosystem to deliver openness and choice to clients, making it much easier for them to adopt cloud technologies," said Dr. Vishal Sikka, member of the SAP Executive Board, Research & Technology. "Market observers agree that SAP's then and there-generation architecture is actually bringing the power of these disruptive innovations to our clients without disruption. Our work with EMC and VMware demonstrates this. It is possible to bring these benefits to our customers during working at the same time with partners in a spirit of openness, trust and co-technology."

For more information on SAP's collaboration with VMware, read the white papers: "TCO and ROI Analysis of SAP Landscapes using VMware Research" [PDF] and "Re-platforming SAP on VMware and EMC Storage Produces Superior Results for Callaway Golf Company" [PDF].

To learn more about Gartner's assessment of SAP's innovation strategy, see: "SAP Throws Down the Then-Generation Architecture Gauntlet With [SAP] HANA."

In 2011, SAP brings at the same time its largest ecosystem education event series with its premier customer conference for a co-located event being held in Madrid, Spain, from November 8-10. With SAPPHIRE® NOW, SAP offers its clients, partners and prospects furthermore opportunities to engage in dialogue with peers, participants and thought leaders around the globe, and can gain insight as to how SAP is delivering on its product strategy and helping organizations around the world to run better. SAP® TechEd brings IT managers, software developers, administrators, and business process experts at the same time for a look in accordance with the hood of today's business motors: the latest advances in in-memory and mobile technologies, and in on-premise, on-demand, and on-device applications from SAP and more. Follow on Twitter at @SAPTechEd and @SAPPHIRENOW, and join the conversation at #SAPTechEd and #SAPPHIRENOW.

As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device - SAP empowers people and organizations to work at the same time more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 176,000 clients to operate profitably, adapt uninterruptedly, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.