SAP Business Data Cloud Cockpit Tutorial – Step-by-Step Guide

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The SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC), part of the SAP Datasphere ecosystem, provides a centralized platform for managing data connections, governance, and analytics in SAP’s cloud data architecture. The Business Data Cloud Cockpit is the administration and management interface where you configure spaces, connections, users, and system integrations.

This tutorial explains how to use the SAP Business Data Cloud Cockpit step by step — from setup to managing connections and monitoring data workloads.

What Is SAP Business Data Cloud Cockpit

The Business Data Cloud Cockpit is a browser-based management console that allows administrators and data engineers to

  • Configure spaces (isolated data areas for teams or projects).
  • Create and manage connections to SAP and non-SAP sources.
  • Monitor system health, performance, and usage.
  • Manage user roles and authorizations.
  • Control data replication and integration settings.

It serves as the central control layer for managing your SAP Datasphere environment.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • A valid SAP Datasphere tenant (Business Data Cloud account).
  • Administrator or Space Administrator access.
  • Supported browsers like Chrome or Edge.
  • Connectivity information for your source systems (SAP ECC, S/4HANA, Snowflake, etc.).

Also Read: How Does SAP Cloud ALM for Operations Enable Customers to Increase Operational Efficiency

Step 1: Log In to the Business Data Cloud Cockpit

  1. Navigate to the SAP Datasphere login URL for your region, for example
    https://datapreview.eu10.hcs.cloud.sap/
  2. Log in using your SAP BTP credentials.
  3. You’ll land on the SAP Datasphere Home screen.
  4. From the left navigation panel, choose Administration → Business Data Cloud Cockpit.

The cockpit dashboard will display system information such as spaces, users, and recent activities.

Step 2: Create a Space

A space is a dedicated work area that isolates data models, connections, and authorizations for a specific project or business domain.

To create one:

  1. Go to Spaces in the Cockpit menu.
  2. Click Create Space.
  3. Enter a name, for example SALES_ANALYTICS_SPACE.
  4. Define space size and memory quota.
  5. Assign Space Administrators and Data Builders.
  6. Save your configuration.

You now have a working environment where data models, replication tasks, and connections are managed independently.

Also Read: Substring in SAP HANA Calculated Column – Example and Syntax

Step 3: Set Up a Connection

Connections enable SAP BDC to access data from SAP and external systems.

  1. In your space, open the Connections tab.
  2. Click + New Connection.
  3. Select a connection type, for example:
    • SAP ABAP System (for ECC/S/4HANA)
    • Snowflake
    • Google BigQuery
    • Amazon S3
    • JDBC/ODBC database
  4. Enter the required parameters (host, port, credentials).
  5. Test and save the connection.

You’ll see it appear in the list of available data sources under your space.

Step 4: Manage Users and Roles

To control access, assign roles in the Users and Roles section.

Common roles include

  • System Administrator – Full access to all cockpit features.
  • Space Administrator – Manages spaces and resources.
  • Data Builder – Builds data models and views.
  • Viewer – Read-only access for reporting.

Steps:

  1. Navigate to Security → Users and Roles.
  2. Add new users using their SAP BTP email addresses.
  3. Assign appropriate roles or custom role collections.

Step 5: Monitor Space Usage and System Performance

Monitoring is a key function of the Business Data Cloud Cockpit. It helps track resource consumption and system performance.

  1. Go to Monitoring → System Overview.
  2. Check metrics like CPU usage, memory consumption, and job execution history.
  3. For each space, review:
    • Storage utilization
    • Job logs
    • Replication status

This helps ensure optimal system performance and early detection of bottlenecks.

Step 6: Manage Data Flows and Replication

The cockpit provides visibility into all data flows created in Datasphere.

  1. Open Data Integration → Data Flows.
  2. Review the list of active and completed data replication tasks.
  3. Use Execution Monitor to view logs, error messages, or throughput rates.
  4. You can pause, restart, or delete replication tasks directly from the cockpit.

Step 7: Configure Governance and Security

Data governance ensures that only authorized users can view or manipulate sensitive data.

Within the cockpit, you can

  • Define data access controls at the space or object level.
  • Enable encryption for data at rest and in transit.
  • Set up audit logs to track system actions and changes.

You can also connect to SAP’s Identity Authentication Service (IAS) or Identity Provisioning Service (IPS) for central user management.

Step 8: Integrate with SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)

Once your connections and spaces are configured, link Datasphere (Business Data Cloud) with SAP Analytics Cloud for visualization.

  1. In SAC, create a Live Connection to SAP Datasphere.
  2. Choose Connection Type → SAP Datasphere.
  3. Provide your tenant URL and credentials.
  4. Test and save the connection.

Now, you can use your Datasphere models and views directly in SAC dashboards.

Step 9: Schedule and Automate Tasks

You can automate repetitive data management tasks through the Scheduler feature in the cockpit.

  • Schedule regular data replication jobs.
  • Automate space backups or data refreshes.
  • Send system health notifications to admins.

Automation reduces manual effort and ensures consistent operational efficiency.

Step 10: Monitor Audit Logs

Audit logs help you track configuration changes, user activities, and data movements.

  1. Navigate to Audit Logs in the cockpit.
  2. Filter by date, user, or object.
  3. Export logs for compliance or security analysis.

This ensures accountability and compliance with internal data governance policies.

Summary

The SAP Business Data Cloud Cockpit acts as the control center for managing all aspects of SAP Datasphere — from spaces and connections to monitoring and governance.

By mastering the cockpit, administrators can

  • Centralize configuration and control of data environments.
  • Ensure secure, governed access to all connected systems.
  • Monitor performance and automate operational tasks.
  • Streamline collaboration across analytics and data engineering teams.

In short: The Business Data Cloud Cockpit is the key to maintaining a well-organized, efficient, and secure data ecosystem within SAP’s modern cloud architecture.

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