Introduction: Designing Technology Architecture in the SAP Era
SAP’s technology portfolio is rapidly shifting toward the cloud, with offerings such as SAP S/4HANA, RISE with SAP, and SAP BTP leading the transformation.
At the same time, many enterprises must operate in hybrid environments that include on-premises systems and legacy landscapes. This makes it increasingly complex to design a coherent Technology Architecture as part of Enterprise Architecture.
This article examines TOGAF® ADM Phase D (Technology Architecture) and explains its purpose, key deliverables, and required skill sets in the context of SAP implementation projects—specifically for enterprise architects.
What is TOGAF® ADM Phase D?
Positioning of Technology Architecture
In TOGAF®, Phase D focuses on developing the Technology Architecture.
This is not merely an infrastructure diagram. It is a structured representation of platform services and logical/physical components that support business, data, and application architectures.
It answers critical questions such as:
- Where should systems be deployed (on-premises, cloud, SAP data centers)?
- On which OS, virtualization platforms, middleware, and network layers will SAP and related systems run?
- How will availability, performance, security, and operability be ensured?
From an Enterprise Architecture perspective, Technology Architecture is the layer that makes business and application architectures realistically implementable and sustainable.
Purpose of Phase D in SAP Projects
Making Architecture “Implementable”
In SAP programs, business processes and application architectures (e.g., S/4HANA, BTP, integrations) are defined in Phases B and C.
Phase D translates these into executable technical components such as infrastructure, cloud services, networks, and security.
Its objectives include:
- Defining the target Technology Architecture that supports business and application goals
- Identifying gaps between current and target architectures
- Creating an Architecture Roadmap that defines transformation steps (e.g., cloud migration, infrastructure modernization)
In practice, this becomes the “common blueprint” aligning infrastructure, Basis, security, network, and application teams.
Phase D Process in SAP Context
Reframed for SAP projects, Phase D typically follows these steps:
- Select reference models and tools
- SAP Reference Architecture, cloud Well-Architected Frameworks, internal standards
- Define modeling views (logical, physical, security, deployment)
- Document baseline architecture
- Current ERP, legacy systems, network topology, identity integration, DR setup
- Model enterprise-wide infrastructure landscape
- Define target architecture
- Design S/4HANA (on-prem, RISE, IaaS) and BTP landscape
- Define cloud/on-prem mix, regions, security zones, and connectivity patterns
- Perform gap analysis
- Identify new components, decommissioned assets, performance/security gaps
- Define remediation approaches (replace, migrate, integrate)
- Define roadmap components
- Identify initiatives (e.g., network redesign, identity platform, SAP platform build)
- Define sequencing, dependencies, risks, and timelines
- Validate and finalize
- Assess cost, risk, and organizational impact
- Align with stakeholders and formalize deliverables
This process clarifies the technical prerequisites required to make SAP implementation viable.
Key Deliverables in SAP Technology Architecture
1. Architecture Definition Document (ADD)
Includes:
- Baseline Architecture
- Current system landscape, OS/DB, network, DR, monitoring
- Target Architecture
- S/4HANA deployment model
- SAP BTP integration strategy
- Security zones, network segmentation, identity architecture
- DR design (RPO/RTO), high availability
These are modeled across multiple views (logical, physical, deployment, security).
2. Technology Component Catalog
- SAP components: S/4HANA instances, SAP Gateway, CPI/PO, SAP Cloud ALM
- Infrastructure: cloud accounts, VNets, subnets, VPN, firewalls, load balancers
- Shared services: identity (Azure AD, IdP), encryption, logging
This clarifies how each SAP system is supported technically.
3. Candidate Architectures and Evaluation
Typical options:
- On-premise-centric with partial cloud
- Hyperscaler IaaS (self-managed S/4HANA)
- RISE with SAP (SaaS/PaaS-centric)
- Hybrid (on-prem + BTP)
Each is evaluated based on cost, risk, lead time, operations, and compliance.
4. Technology Roadmap
Example phases:
- Phase 1: Cloud and network/security strategy
- Phase 2: SAP platform build (S/4, BTP, monitoring)
- Phase 3: DR setup and performance testing
- Phase 4: Operations transition and optimization
This ensures alignment with application rollout timelines.
Required Skills for Technology Architecture (SAP Context)
1. Problem Solving and Technical Analysis
- Translate business requirements into technical requirements
- Design solutions considering real-world constraints (latency, batch windows, failures)
2. Solution Lifecycle Understanding
- SAP HANA sizing and best practices
- Cloud platform capabilities
- Lifecycle planning (patching, capacity, monitoring)
3. Framework and Best Practice Utilization
- TOGAF® ADM application
- SAP reference architectures and cloud guidelines
- Alignment with hyperscaler frameworks
4. Business and Stakeholder Management
- Connect architecture to business outcomes (TCO, speed, standardization)
- Align cross-functional stakeholders and drive consensus
Key Takeaways for Enterprise Architects
- Phase D ensures SAP architectures are technically feasible and sustainable
- Core deliverables include target architecture, component models, evaluated options, and roadmap
- Success requires both deep technical expertise and strong stakeholder alignment
By mastering these elements, Technology Architecture evolves beyond infrastructure diagrams into a strategic capability that balances business value and risk.
Please refer to this article for topics related to Enterprise Architecture (EA).
Enterprise Architecture – Insight Arc | SAP, Enterprise Architecture & Supply Chain Strategy
Reference Links
- Phase D: Technology Architecture – Visual Paradigm Guide
(Objectives, steps, and outputs of Phase D)
https://circle.visual-paradigm.com/docs/togaf-adm-guide-through/phase-d-technology-architecture/ - A Comprehensive Guide for TOGAF ADM Phase D: Technology Architecture – Visual Paradigm
(Detailed steps, inputs/outputs table, Architecture Definition Document, etc.)
https://togaf.visual-paradigm.com/2023/10/12/a-comprehensive-guide-for-togaf-adm-phase-d-technology-architecture/ - Comprehensive Guide to Phase D: Technology Architecture in TOGAF ADM – Visual Paradigm
(Objectives, development of Target Technology Architecture, alignment with business/data/application)
https://togaf.visual-paradigm.com/2025/01/20/comprehensive-guide-to-phase-d-technology-architecture-in-togaf-adm/ - Phase D – Technology Architecture – ALMBoK
(Purpose of the Technology Architecture phase, key activities)
https://almbok.com/architecture/togaf/phase_d_-_technology_architecture - Phase D – Technology Architecture – Visual Paradigm Circle (alternate entry point)
(Concise objectives and roadmap components)
https://circle.visual-paradigm.com/docs/togaf-adm-guide-through/phase-d-technology-architecture/ - TOGAF ADM Phase D – Develop the Technology Architecture – Conexiam
(Practical interpretation of Phase D, technology architecture models and questions)
https://conexiam.com/togaf-adm-phase-d-develop-the-technology-architecture/ - TOGAF® – The Open Group (Official)
(General TOGAF framework, ADM context; useful as a top-level reference)
https://www.opengroup.org/togaf
Disclaimer
Parts of this article were developed with reference to generative AI suggestions and were reviewed, refined, and supplemented based on the author’s professional expertise and judgment.
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