Copy only specific data
Challenges with SAP system copies
The professional handling of test data is also important with regard to applicable data protection and compliance guidelines. Global companies in particular are required to take measures to protect sensitive data. They need to ensure compliance and reduce risks from data breaches, even in non-productive environments. Innovative test data management can protect data from internal and external misuse through encryption, among other things. Sensitive personal data is secured in accordance with current data protection requirements, while at the same time high test quality is achieved through realistic data.
Powerful and sophisticated automation tools for the creation of SAP system copies provide a remedy here and demonstrably make it possible, in addition to time and cost savings, to increase the process quality of system copying, for example, or to maintain it at a consistently high level. In effect, they free up SAP Basis.
Copying needs to be done skillfully
Even if the target system is not used for production in an update scenario based on a system copy, it is of central importance for developers and thus also the software lifecycle of the production system. That's why you should avoid upgrade downtime in both the production source system and the non-production target system. Production system downtime depends primarily on the method you use to create the image of the production data to be used in the target system. This image must be a transferable database image - for example, a database export, a backup copy, or an array-based reconciliation. To eliminate downtime in the production system and minimize the impact on application performance-regardless of the size of the production data reconciliation-you can use, for example, HP StorageWorks System Copy for SAP (HP System Copy), which has a disk array-based replication capability. Downtime in the target system depends on the following factors, among others: The time required to restore production data reconciliation in the target system The amount of pre- and post-processing in the target system With HP System Copy, images of production data can be created in minutes, with each step between shutdown and reboot of the target system occurring automatically. However, after the reboot, the target system is not immediately ready for use, as additional steps must first be performed (see description below).
For a heterogeneous system copy and for homogeneous system copies for which there is no special way for the database used, the source system must be exported. This is done with SAP tools (SUM). The export files are copied to the prepared target system and imported again during the SAP installation with SUM. A relatively comfortable way. But it can be even more comfortable.
SAP system copy is made much easier by the "Shortcut for SAP Systems" application.
An SAP system copy (also referred to as client copy) describes the procedure of equipping non-productive SAP systems (eg QA, test, project systems) with current productive data in order to be able to develop, test and execute realistic processes.
Although the actual copying process is completed in just a few hours, the manual post-processing - which includes, for example, adjusting parameters, users and rights, profiles, system settings and interfaces - can take up to a week.