Microsoft Azure vs SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud comparison

Microsoft and SAP are both solutions in the Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS) category. Microsoft is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.4, while SAP is ranked #12 with an average rating of 9.0. Microsoft holds a 9.9% mindshare in ISI, compared to SAP’s 1.4% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 89% of SAP users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Azure

Read 323 Microsoft Azure reviews

20,175 Views
10,895 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

Read 25 SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud reviews

1,548 Views
1,440 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Microsoft Azure

SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 16, 2024

Microsoft Azure and SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud are both leading solutions in the cloud computing market. Azure's strength lies in its versatility and extensive global infrastructure, making it a compelling choice for businesses seeking a flexible cloud environment. Conversely, SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud stands out for its deep integration capabilities specifically tailored for SAP applications, providing an edge for enterprises dependent on the SAP ecosystem.

Features: Microsoft Azure provides comprehensive integration with various programming languages and frameworks, extensive global data centers enhancing customer proximity, and a robust PaaS platform. It also includes reliable distributed caching and scalability, addressing the needs of large organizations and developers. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud excels in offering a secure, managed environment for SAP workloads with seamless SAP application integration, which is vital for organizations with significant SAP investments.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Azure could enhance its pricing transparency, improve debugging tools and integration capabilities for non-Microsoft platforms. Additionally, security in multitenant settings and complex cost estimates need attention. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud requires improvement in customization flexibility, cost management, and data center localization. Enhancing update and configuration flexibility would also benefit users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Azure is praised for its deployment ease due to extensive documentation and public cloud reach. However, its customer service quality can vary, although business-tier support is often reliable. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud focuses on strong SAP-specific deployment support, which is generally effective but potentially expensive, offering integrated deployment dedicated to SAP suite challenges. This suggests a balance between Azure's broader support and SAP's dedicated enterprise support.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Azure offers competitive pricing with flexible pay-as-you-go options, yet costs may rise with increased use and complex pricing models can lead to unexpected expenses. Its ROI is strengthened by eliminating physical infrastructure needs and enabling scalable cost-efficient solutions. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud provides substantial SAP-integrated value, albeit at higher costs with annual contract structures and additional integration fees, making it favorable for large enterprises.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Azure vs. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure vs. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

March 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Azure

Ranking in Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS)

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

323

Ranking in other categories

PaaS Clouds (1st)

SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

Ranking in Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS)

12th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Azure is 9.9%, down from 19.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud is 1.4%, down from 1.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Azure	9.9%
SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud	1.4%
Other	88.7%

Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS)

Featured Reviews

Syed Abid

Snr. Infrastructure Architect (Data Centre) at LogicEra

Versatile integrations and reliable customer satisfaction elevate cloud service experience

For Microsoft Azure improvement, they need to enhance their support system. The first level of support should be improved in terms of quality and response time. They need more technical support at the first level, as there are currently only one or two technical people among five to ten staff members at this level. They should ensure that the first level support is more technical because we normally provide services to technical users ourselves. When an issue arises, it usually escalates to the second or third level. When facing first level support, they may have limited knowledge and only collect screenshots to forward to their seniors. They should ensure that the first level support is aligned with L2 and L3 to better assist us, especially since we mention in the ticket that our issues are related to specific problems and require that sort of support.

Read full review

Salman Mukhtar Baig

SAP Technical Manager at VS Furniture Middle East

Cloud access has improved reporting and sales operations across global locations

I cannot say anything about what areas of SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud could be improved or enhanced because so far, we are happy with this implementation. We are not facing any problem, or I cannot say that this can be improved. Although SAP keeps improving themselves day by day, we cannot say that SAP needs to improve anything. One thing which we face, not as a problem, is the pricing. SAP pricing is a bit higher day by day. Before, it was not too much higher, but I don't know why they are increasing their price. They should see this thing, so other customers, such as SMBs customers or small and mid-sized customers, can also avail this thing. Otherwise, we don't have any problem. First, there is the limitation. If you are a SAP user, you don't feel any problem with the limitation because if you know how to use the product, you can easily implement this thing. Otherwise, if you don't know the business process or how to integrate and implement, it could be a problem. We have a limitation, but we developed some add-ons for this. So we fulfilled these requirements.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Virtual machines, Azure Web Applications, MS SQL DB, DNS, Azure Active Directory, etc. are some of the most valuable features, as it is quite easy to learn to start working with them and they are composite enough to use in many different scenarios."

"It is a stable solution because it depends on the workload you expect. Based on that data, you can configure how many users it can handle."

"Everything is very good by way of performance."

"The product provides a host of security tools."

"Databricks is really nice because you have the power to process lots of data and you can create queries and provide big analysis for the business using a robust cluster."

"The solution is easy to manage within the cloud application, has good performance, and is secure."

"The data factory feature."

"It is stable and scalable."

More Microsoft Azure pros

"We have a wide range of use cases for SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud. These include production planning, materials management, sales management, treasury, finance, appliance maintenance, real estate, and warehouse management."

"What I like the most is that we can convert databases into a proper multi-dimensional model, and then we can project with the integration with Power BI."

"Now, with the cloud, we can move anywhere in the world and we can easily access it from SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud, and even the client can also see the stock availability which they need to order."

"The BTP module is important for digital transformations."

"The scalability is good because we have some cloud resources to support the ERP."

"The most valuable feature is virtual modeling, which is beneficial because you don't really save the data multiple times the way we did in the past."

"Now, with the cloud, we can move anywhere in the world and we can easily access it from SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud, and even the client can also see the stock availability which they need to order."

"Ensuring data integrity across finance, supply chain, and other critical areas is paramount for real-time decision-making. Access to accurate and up-to-date information is essential for data protection. While the digital solution primarily serves basic maintenance, the ability to handle these core aspects efficiently is invaluable for your needs."

More SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud pros

Cons

"The solution could improve the stability. However, this could be a configuration issue that we are not been trained."

"The initial setup can be improved."

"Predictability and quality. Make sure things work predictable, as expected, and documented."

"One of the most important areas for improvement is the administrative part of management. It‘s difficult to manage all aspects of Azure invoicing, and further pricing vs usage comparison and capacity to move under usage resources to a better positioned."

"The tool should add an interface that is similar to AWS."

"We use Microsoft Server 2019 and 2016. And I didn't like the 2019 client, so we had to downgrade back to 2016. The main issue there was its monitoring system. Our client needed an alternative, and if they were using more Windows products, they also needed to make that downgrade."

"Its subscription price could be cheaper."

"I would like to see the console improved."

More Microsoft Azure cons

"I would rate the stability a four out of ten. It's an area that could use improvement"

"One thing which we face, not as a problem, is the pricing. SAP pricing is a bit higher day by day."

"The price of SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud is quite expensive compared to solutions such as Data Fabric in Azure and Redshift on Amazon, which are quite cheap in comparison."

"SAP support isn't on par with products like Microsoft Azure or AWS. It's nowhere close to the competitors."

"The licensing model for SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud has changed, and it is not entirely clear for final customers. Instead of named users, they now have to calculate FUEs."

"The SAP products are complicated to deploy anywhere."

"Enterprise Cloud's reporting could be more automated to improve content accountability, especially regarding BI reports."

"The stability of the product is an area of concern where improvements are required."

More SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is paid on a per-use basis."

"The pricing model is subscription-based and it's not an expensive solution."

"The cost is something that could be improved."

"With adequate knowledge, I think you can come up with a good model where the pricing won't be a constraint."

"The price of this solution is one of the things that attracted us to it."

"I would like to see it more easily accessible."

"The licensing fees depend on the number of users that we have."

"The monthly costs become very reasonable because of the discounts you get on longer reserved instances."

More Microsoft Azure pricing and cost advice

"The price is high compared to other databases, which is why HANA is still not widely used. Some enterprises prefer Sybase, Oracle, or other traditional databases because HANA is a little pricey. Cost is one factor SAP needs to work on to make it more competitive with other databases. Otherwise, they'll never be able to develop a mass customer base."

"The pricing is reasonable when compared to other vendors like Oracle who offer technology enterprise resource software."

"The product itself is relatively expensive."

"If you choose the minimum, it will probably cost around $1,000 USD per month if you take a contract for a year or two."

"Our pricing is based on a yearly contract."

"The price is on little bit higher. For SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud, we see roughly five crores per annum."

"It's very, very expensive."

"I rate the product's price a five out of ten."

More SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud pricing and cost advice

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Engineer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees

Aug 14, 2013

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Answers from the Community

Harraj Saraon

Financial Guidelines Specialist at Nestle

Sep 21, 2021

SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud (HEC): how to migrate to Microsoft Azure?

Hi, It could be easy as Azure is one of the partners of SAP HEC. Please contact your SAP HEC technical account manager who can guide you on this.

2 out of 3 answers

Evgeny Belenky

Director of Community at PeerSpot (formerly IT Central Station)

Aug 3, 2021

Hi @Abdul-Rasool, @RamakrishnanRamanathaiah and @Ramakrishna Potluri. It seems you should be able to provide some assistance to @Harraj Saraon with this question.

Read full answer

Michael-Bell

Vice President of Sales at Coforge

Aug 5, 2021

@Harraj Saraon, did you get your answer?

Read full answer

See all 3 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

University

Manufacturing Company

17%

University

Healthcare Company

Marketing Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	140
Midsize Enterprise	54
Large Enterprise	149

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	16

Questions from the Community

Which is preferable - IBM Public Cloud or Microsoft Azure?

IBM Public Cloud is IBM’s Platform-as-a-Service. It aims to provide organizations with a secure cloud environment to manage data and applications. One of the features we like is the cloud activity ...

See all answers

Which is better - SAP Cloud Platform or Microsoft Azure?

One of the best features of SAP Cloud Platform is that it is web-based and you can log in from anywhere in the world. SAP Cloud Platform is suitable for companies of any size; it works well with bo...

See all answers

How does Microsoft Azure compare to Google Firebase?

I would recommend Google Firebase instead of Microsoft Azure, simply for the array of features that it has to offer. In particular, the Firebase library grants you access to a shared data structure...

See all answers

What do you like most about SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud?

It has significantly streamlined our operations.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud?

SAP HANA Cloud can be quite costly compared to other solutions. The high licensing costs make it an expensive option, particularly for smaller customers. However, they offer solutions for mid-sized...

See all answers

What needs improvement with SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud?

See all answers

Comparisons

Amazon AWS vs Microsoft Azure

Compared 9% of the time

Alibaba Cloud vs Microsoft Azure

Compared 8% of the time

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) vs Microsoft Azure

Compared 8% of the time

Google Firebase vs Microsoft Azure

Compared 8% of the time

Pivotal Cloud Foundry vs Microsoft Azure

Compared 6% of the time

More Microsoft Azure Competitors

Amazon AWS vs SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

Compared 19% of the time

SAP S4HANA on AWS vs SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

Compared 14% of the time

Media Temple IaaS Cloud vs SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

Compared 10% of the time

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) vs SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

Compared 9% of the time

SAP Commerce Cloud vs SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

Compared 8% of the time

More SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure

March 2026

Download Microsoft Azure product report

Buyer's Guide

SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

February 2026

Download SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud product report

Also Known As

Windows Azure, Azure, MS Azure

No data available

Overview

Microsoft Azure integrates services and offers flexibility, ensuring compatibility with diverse environments. Its scalability, security, and cost-efficient features enhance deployment and management, making it ideal for infrastructure services and application hosting.

Azure provides a comprehensive suite of tools for application deployment, virtual machine management, and data analytics. It allows seamless integration with Power BI and offers a user-friendly interface supported by detailed documentation and technical support. Though users appreciate its capabilities, they sometimes face challenges with costs, setup, and interface complexity, alongside integration and performance issues. Frequent updates and a learning curve are also noted, though Azure's cloud-based security and scalability remain critical for disaster recovery and business continuity.

What are Azure's key features?

Integrated Services: Ensures compatibility with Microsoft and non-Microsoft environments.
Scalability: Supports growing business demands with flexible computing power.
Security: Offers robust cloud-based security features for data protection.
Cost Efficiency: Provides options that optimize costs for diverse requirements.
Application Deployment: Facilitates quick rollout of apps and services.

What benefits should users expect from Azure?

Operational Optimization: Allows companies to streamline processes effectively.
Innovative Efficiency: Empowers businesses to innovate with powerful tools.
Reliable Support: Backed by strong technical support and comprehensive documentation.
Flexible Cloud Solutions: Offers a range of options for cloud migrations and infrastructure management.

Microsoft Azure is widely implemented in industries like financial services, healthcare, and logistics for hosting enterprise applications and vital services. Companies utilize its capabilities for IoT applications, DevOps, and Kubernetes clusters, benefiting from its cloud migrations, data analytics, and active directory support.

Microsoft

SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud is a fully scalable and secure private managed cloud solution. It empowers organizations to unlock the full value of SAP HANA in the cloud - accelerating growth and innovation, driving IT and business transformation, quickly delivering business outcomes, and reducing risk.

SAP

Sample Customers

BMW, Toyota, easyJet, NBC Sports, HarperCollins, Aviva, TalkTalk Business, Avanade, and Telenor.

FC Bayern Munich, Reuters News Agency, MEMEBOX

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure vs. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

March 2026

Free Report: Microsoft Azure vs. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud

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