This is why companies need professional test data management
Multicloud: the systems involved with different hyperscalers
The task of a system copy created for updates is a carefully integrated system that takes on a specific role in an SAP system landscape. That is why customizing the SAP database of the target system differs significantly from customizing the database of the production system. In a system copy-based update, the database of the target system is completely overwritten with the contents of the production system. Therefore, all SAP-specific customization of the target system must be performed after the update with the system copy. The pre- and post-processing is often performed manually while the target system is running. Specific SAP transactions are used to customize the system. Execution can take a long time and is a source of human error. To automate most transactions, UC4 Automated System Copy for SAP can also be used. Before the update, UC4 Automated System Copy takes care of downloading the required content for the SAP customization from the target system and after the update is complete, uploading the content back to the system.
To meet ever-changing business requirements, a production system must be continuously developed and adapted after the initial installation. To do this, you need development, consolidation, and quality assurance (QA) systems that can provide the appropriate updates to the production system as SAP transports.
Copy only specific data
Advantage of the system copy: Users receive one hundred percent consistent test data. A disadvantage, however, is the high storage space requirement of such a test system, which corresponds to that of the productive system. In addition, an authorization concept for the system copy is required to protect the authentic data it contains. Otherwise, company secrets are at risk, and there is a violation of regulations such as the Federal Data Protection Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Acceleration/table export: up to 4 times faster. The larger the table and the higher the effort for sorting, the greater the time gain during export.
With "Shortcut for SAP Systems" the effort for many work steps is reduced. The work done by "Shortcut for SAP Systems" lies in the preparation and post-processing of the data - by backing up the system-specific data before the system copy and restoring it after the system copy. Efforts for preparation and post-processing are thus reduced to a minimum.
However, the disadvantages of this procedure are the high memory requirements, the lack of anonymization of the data and the long runtime of the copy process.
Security-conscious companies usually keep their mission-critical IT infrastructures redundant anyway.