1 Executive Summary
2 Cost Comparison
3 Tunnel Technology: They're Equivalent
| Capability | BTP Cloud Connector | Cloudflare Tunnel | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connection Type | Outbound-only TLS | Outbound-only TLS | Equivalent |
| Inbound Firewall Ports | None required | None required | Equivalent |
| HTTPS/REST Support | Full support | Full support | Equivalent |
| SAP B1 Service Layer | Works | Works | Equivalent |
| S/4HANA OData APIs | Works | Works | Equivalent |
| Virtual Host Mapping | Yes | Yes (ingress rules) | Equivalent |
| RFC/BAPI Protocol | Supported | Not supported | Edge case |
| Principal Propagation | Supported | Not supported | Edge case |
4 Architecture Comparison
5 Edge Cases Explained
RFC (Remote Function Call) is SAP's proprietary protocol for calling functions. BAPIs are standardized RFC functions.
Old Way (RFC)
Call BAPI_SALESORDER_GETLIST via RFC protocol. Requires SAP JCo/NCo libraries. Proprietary binary protocol on port 33XX.
Modern Way (OData)
Call GET /API_SALES_ORDER_SRV via standard HTTPS. Works through ANY tunnel including Cloudflare.
When You Need RFC
Only for legacy SAP ECC without Gateway, or custom Z-BAPIs not exposed as OData. Rare in modern systems.
Principal Propagation forwards the logged-in user's identity from BTP through Cloud Connector to the SAP backend.
With Principal Propagation
User "John" → BTP → Cloud Connector → SAP executes as John. SAP enforces John's authorizations.
Without (Technical User)
User "John" → App → Tunnel → SAP executes as SVC_USER. App handles authorization. Most common pattern.
When You Need It
Only when SAP must enforce per-user authorization OR audit trail must show actual user in SAP. Rare for API integrations.
6 BTP Arguments: Valid vs Invalid
Existing BTP Credits
If you have unused credits from an enterprise agreement
RFC/BAPI Requirement
Legacy systems that cannot expose OData APIs
Principal Propagation
SAP must enforce per-user authorization
Fiori Launchpad
Deep integration with SAP Fiori UX ecosystem
Organizational Mandate
Policy requires SAP stack (not technical)
"SAP integration requires BTP"
SAP APIs are standard HTTPS - any platform works
"Cloud Connector is more secure"
Same TLS tunnel architecture as Cloudflare
"CAP saves development time"
AI writes code for both platforms equally fast
"Destination Service is essential"
Workers Secrets provides equivalent capability
"BTP is enterprise-grade"
Cloudflare handles 20%+ of global internet traffic
7 Recommendation Matrix
New Project, No SAP Mandate
Start fresh with the more cost-effective stack
→ CloudflareCost-Sensitive Project
90% savings is significant for any budget
→ CloudflareGlobal User Base
300+ edge locations for low latency
→ CloudflareStandard SAP API Integration
OData/REST works identically via tunnel
→ CloudflareUnused BTP Credits
Use what you're already paying for
→ BTPDirect RFC/BAPI Required
Legacy systems without OData exposure
→ BTPPrincipal Propagation Required
SAP must enforce user-level auth
→ BTPOrganizational Policy
IT mandate requires SAP ecosystem
→ BTP8 Final Verdict
Choose Cloudflare
The "SAP requires SAP" narrative is marketing, not engineering. Modern SAP systems expose standard APIs that any platform can consume. Choose infrastructure based on cost, simplicity, and actual requirements - not vendor alignment assumptions.