SAS Viya

Basic Information

SAS Viya is a cloud-native, advanced analytics platform that provides a comprehensive environment for data exploration, machine learning, and model deployment. It is designed for scalability and adaptability, managing extensive datasets through distributed processing. SAS Viya is delivered as a set of container images.

• Model: SAS Viya (Platform)
• Version: Continuously delivered with monthly updates. Stable and Long-Term Support (LTS) cadences are available. For example, Stable 2022.11 and LTS 2022.09 were available in November 2022. SAS Viya 2025.06 is a recent stable release.
• Release Date: Continuous delivery model.
• Minimum Requirements: Varies significantly based on deployment size and specific components. Requires a Kubernetes cluster.
• Supported Operating Systems:
  • For SAS Viya 3.5:
    • Windows 64-bit (Server 2012 R2, 2016, 2019 Datacenter, Essentials, Standard Edition)
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1+ (within 7.x), 8.2+ (within 8.x)
    • Oracle Enterprise Linux 7.1+ (within 7.x), 8.2+ (within 8.x)
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12.2+ (within 12.x)
    • Linux on IBM POWER9 architecture (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 with kernel 4.14)
  • For SAS Viya 4 (and later): Primarily runs on Kubernetes, supporting most x86_64 platforms where OpenShift can be used, including self-managed OpenShift on-premise and public cloud platforms (bare metal, OpenShift Virtualization, VMware vSphere, Azure, AWS). There is no bare-metal OS support for the latest versions of SAS Viya.
  • Client access (web browser): UNIX 64-bit, Windows 64-bit, Apple OS X 10.10 and later (for Safari).
• Latest Stable Version: Continuously updated. Recent examples include SAS Viya Stable 2022.11 and SAS Viya 2025.06.
• End of Support Date: Varies by version and cadence. SAS Viya 3.5 on selected operating systems entered Limited Support in 2025.
• End of Life Date: Not explicitly stated as a single date due to continuous delivery and LTS models. Older versions like SAS Viya 3.5 for Containers are no longer supported as of January 25th, 2023.
• License Type: Commercial, proprietary software.
• Deployment Model: Cloud-native, supporting cloud, on-premises, or hybrid environments. Deploys on Kubernetes. Supported platforms include Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service, Google Kubernetes Engine, and Red Hat OpenShift.

Analysis of Basic Information: SAS Viya has evolved into a cloud-native platform, emphasizing containerized deployments on Kubernetes. This shift provides significant flexibility in deployment environments (cloud, on-premises, hybrid) and leverages modern infrastructure. The continuous delivery model with stable and LTS cadences ensures regular updates and feature enhancements. However, this also means that older versions have defined end-of-support timelines, requiring users to stay updated. The move to Kubernetes signifies a departure from traditional OS-specific deployments for the core platform, though client access remains broad.

Technical Requirements

SAS Viya's technical requirements are primarily driven by its Kubernetes-based, cloud-native architecture.

• RAM: Specific requirements depend on the scale and workload. Generally, significant RAM is needed for in-memory processing capabilities.
• Processor: x86_64 architecture is widely supported. IBM POWER9 CPU is required for Linux on Power deployments of SAS Viya 3.5.
• Storage: Requires persistent storage for infrastructure services like the internal SAS Postgres database, Consul, and RabbitMQ. Cloud providers and Red Hat OpenShift offer encrypted disk StorageClass options.
• Display: Not directly specified for the server-side platform; client access requires a supported web browser.
• Ports: Standard network ports for Kubernetes communication, web access (HTTPS), and internal microservices.
• Operating System: The underlying operating system for the Kubernetes cluster. For SAS Viya 4, this includes Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) 4.13.x - 4.14.x on various x86_64 platforms.

Analysis of Technical Requirements: The platform's reliance on Kubernetes means that hardware requirements are largely abstracted and managed by the container orchestration layer. The emphasis is on scalable infrastructure capable of running Kubernetes, rather than specific bare-metal specifications. This allows for dynamic scaling and efficient resource utilization. The need for persistent storage highlights the stateful components within the microservices architecture.

Support & Compatibility

SAS Viya offers robust support and compatibility across various environments, with a focus on cloud-native deployments.

• Latest Version: Continuously updated with monthly stable releases and six-monthly Long-Term Support (LTS) releases.
• OS Support:
  • Server-side: Primarily Kubernetes distributions like Red Hat OpenShift, Azure Kubernetes Service, AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service, and Google Kubernetes Engine.
  • Client-side: Windows 64-bit, UNIX 64-bit, Apple OS X 10.10+ (for Safari).
• End of Support Date: Varies by specific version and cadence. SAS Viya 3.5 on Windows and Linux on Power entered Limited Support in 2025.
• Localization: Not explicitly detailed in search results, but as an enterprise product, it typically supports multiple languages and regional settings.
• Available Drivers: Integrates with various data sources, implying support for necessary drivers. Supports connections to external databases and third-party products.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status: SAS Viya demonstrates strong compatibility with leading cloud providers and container orchestration platforms, reflecting its cloud-native design. The continuous release cycle ensures ongoing feature development and bug fixes. However, users of older versions, particularly SAS Viya 3.5, need to be aware of impending end-of-support dates. The platform's ability to integrate with various external data sources and open-source languages like Python and R enhances its versatility and broadens its appeal to diverse user bases.

Security Status

SAS Viya incorporates a comprehensive security framework designed to protect data and ensure secure operations.

• Security Features:
  • Default TLS security for data in motion.
  • Self-signed certificates provided at installation for HTTPS access.
  • Properties configured to protect against web security risks (e.g., Cross-Origin Resource Sharing).
  • Restrictive initial and default access: any access not granted is implicitly disallowed.
  • Predefined objects protected by predefined rules or access controls.
  • Access to user-added objects managed by inheritance, rules, and direct settings.
  • Role-based permissions and robust governance frameworks.
  • Auditing capabilities.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Not specifically detailed in public search results, but SAS regularly releases security bulletins and updates.
• Blacklist Status: No information found regarding a blacklist status.
• Certifications: Not explicitly detailed in search results, but enterprise software typically adheres to industry security standards.
• Encryption Support:
  • Data in motion: TLS 1.2 and 1.3 supported, with various cipher suites (e.g., TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256).
  • Data at rest: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys for files in SASHDAT format and tables in caslibs. Encryption can be applied to individual tables or entire libraries.
  • Cloud provider encrypted disk StorageClass options are supported.
• Authentication Methods:
  • SAS Logon Manager handles authentication requests.
  • Direct LDAP authentication.
  • Kerberos.
  • Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML).
  • OAuth and OpenID Connect (OIDC).
  • Host Authentication.
  • Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) extending UNIX host authentication.
  • Single Sign-On (SSO) is implemented using OIDC.
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is typically implemented through an Identity Provider (IdP) supporting MFA.
• General Recommendations: Configure connections to identity providers, encrypt LDAP connections, and manage SAS Boot password.

Analysis on Overall Security Rating: SAS Viya exhibits a strong security posture with multi-layered defenses. Default encryption for data in motion and at rest, coupled with comprehensive authentication and authorization mechanisms, addresses critical security concerns. The granular access controls and support for various industry-standard authentication protocols provide flexibility while maintaining a secure environment. The platform's integration with IdPs for MFA and SSO further enhances its security capabilities.

Performance & Benchmarks

SAS Viya is engineered for high performance, particularly with large datasets and complex analytical workloads.

• Benchmark Scores: Futurum benchmarking study showed SAS Viya to be 30 times faster on average compared to open source and leading alternatives in executing data and AI tasks.
• Real-world Performance Metrics:
  • Super-fast processing for large-scale data manipulation, exploration, advanced analytics, and AI.
  • In-memory computing speeds up large data processing.
  • Handles big data without issues; impressive server speed.
  • Processes everything quickly.
• Power Consumption: Not directly specified, but its cloud-native design and efficient processing contribute to optimized resource use.
• Carbon Footprint: SAS Viya has the potential to reduce carbon footprint by up to 50 tons of CO2e in five years, compared to traditional approaches. Cloud deployments are generally more environmentally friendly than on-premises due to greater efficiency of aggregated computing resources.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: Benchmarks indicate it is significantly faster than open-source alternatives and other leading platforms.

Analysis of Overall Performance Status: SAS Viya demonstrates exceptional performance, particularly in handling large datasets and complex analytical tasks, largely due to its in-memory and distributed computing capabilities. Benchmarking studies highlight its speed advantage over competitors. Beyond raw speed, its cloud-native architecture contributes to efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint, aligning with modern sustainability goals.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews for SAS Viya generally highlight its powerful analytical capabilities, ease of use for certain tasks, and cloud-native advantages, while also pointing out some areas for improvement.

• Strengths:
  • Cloud-based and cloud-native, offering scalability, flexibility, and remote access.
  • Integrates analytical visualization and data science in a single platform.
  • Supports multiple languages (Python, R, SAS, Lua, Java), fostering collaboration.
  • User-friendly interface and automation features, making advanced models accessible even without extensive programming experience.
  • Fast processing for large datasets due to in-memory and distributed computing.
  • Strong data integration and data preparation capabilities.
  • Excellent customer support.
  • Modernized look and improved online options compared to base SAS.
  • Robust governance frameworks and role-based controls.
• Weaknesses:
  • Costly, especially for single users or as a cloud-based system.
  • Some users report bugs, particularly with monthly upgrades, affecting productivity.
  • Integration with open-source languages like R and Python, while supported, may not always be as seamless as purely open-source platforms.
  • Can be less user-friendly in certain aspects, with limited online solutions for specific issues.
  • Some functionalities are limited, especially for uncommon Python packages and Spark techniques.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Data integration, data preparation, applying AI/ML solutions, and designing dashboards.
  • Advanced model development and deployment.
  • Fraud detection, risk management, customer intelligence, and supply chain optimization.
  • Workflow Management, Performance Management, Campaign Management.
  • Predictive modeling and MLOps.
  • Real-time analytics.

Summary

SAS Viya stands as a powerful, cloud-native analytics and AI platform designed to handle complex data challenges across various industries. Its architecture, built on Kubernetes, offers significant flexibility for deployment in cloud, on-premises, or hybrid environments, enabling dynamic scaling and efficient resource utilization. The platform benefits from continuous delivery, providing regular updates and feature enhancements through stable and Long-Term Support (LTS) cadences. This ensures access to the latest analytical capabilities and AI advancements.

Technically, SAS Viya leverages modern computing paradigms, requiring robust Kubernetes infrastructure rather than specific bare-metal specifications. It supports a wide array of operating systems for client access and integrates seamlessly with leading cloud providers. Security is a core strength, featuring default TLS encryption for data in motion and AES 256-bit encryption for data at rest. Comprehensive authentication methods, including LDAP, Kerberos, SAML, OAuth/OIDC, and MFA, provide strong access control and identity verification.

Performance benchmarks consistently show SAS Viya outperforming open-source and other leading alternatives, demonstrating its ability to process large datasets and execute AI tasks with remarkable speed. Its in-memory computing capabilities are particularly noted for accelerating data processing. Furthermore, its efficient design contributes to a reduced carbon footprint, aligning with environmental sustainability goals.

User feedback generally praises SAS Viya for its integrated platform approach, combining data preparation, advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI in one environment. The support for multiple programming languages (SAS, Python, R, Lua, Java) fosters collaboration among diverse technical teams. Strengths include its user-friendly interface for certain tasks, robust data integration, and excellent customer support. However, common criticisms revolve around its cost and occasional bugs, particularly with monthly updates. Some users also note that while open-source language integration is present, it might not always be as fluid as dedicated open-source tools. Recommended use cases span from fraud detection and risk management to workflow and performance management, highlighting its versatility in addressing complex business problems.

In summary, SAS Viya is a high-performance, secure, and flexible platform ideal for enterprises seeking advanced analytics and AI capabilities in a cloud-native environment. Its strengths in speed, security, and integrated functionality make it a compelling choice, though potential users should consider its cost and the continuous update cycle. The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations; for up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.