Application Modernization Services are in demand. To understand the scope of modernization, we need to define legacy applications. According to Techopedia, "A legacy application is a software application that is considered obsolete or based on technology that is older than a current standard."
Why Modernize - Limitations of Legacy Applications
The following are the limitations of legacy applications:
Developed using an earlier version of a programming language which is now superseded by newer versions.
Optimized for an on premise setup and runs on a particular version of an OS which could be outdated.
Resources with the required skillsets to maintain legacy applications are hard to find.
It is expensive to support legacy applications.
Integrating legacy applications with modern, cloud-based applications could be challenging without glue code/anti-corruption layer or APIs.
On-premise applications miss out on the cloud's elasticity, flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency.
Cloud Strategy is the megatrend for this decade. Companies have already started deploying apps and services on the cloud. In 2019, IDC estimated that 50% of total IT infrastructure spending of $134.4 billion is on cloud environments.
New software development projects focus on building cloud-native applications using microservices architecture, containerization, and serverless computing. Companies need to modernize their legacy applications to maximize their return on cloud investments.
Application Modernization Strategies
There are various strategies that businesses can use to migrate their legacy apps to the cloud. The right approach will depend entirely on your business needs. However, the following is a brief overview of cloud modernization strategies.
Cloud Infrastructure-based Applications
This strategy includes the migration of your on-premise apps to the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform. This is also known as a “Lift and Shift” migration because the apps will have the same composition but are deployed to the VM.
Cloud Optimized Applications
This is a strategy in which you don’t have to change or modify your applications’ current code considerably. You can still gain access to cloud-based benefits because of technologies like containers and other cloud services.
Cloud-Native Applications
This is the ultimate cloud migration strategy for businesses that want complete modernization for mission-critical apps. At this stage, the apps often have to be rewritten and re-coded entirely, but it gives you access to all of the cloud-based benefits and services.
When you partner with Softura for Application Modernization Services, our cloud specialists will build a roadmap based on a risk-free staggered approach.
Cloud Rationalization Models
According to the cloud rationalization 5R model, the strategies for Application Modernization are "Rehost, Refactor, Rearchitect, Rebuild and Replace."
Rehost
Rehosting refers to "lifting and shifting" applications to the cloud without modifications. The on-premise environment can be replicated on the cloud before migrating the application. Typical candidates for rehosting are Commercial, Off-The-Shelf (COTS) applications that cannot be modified.
Refactor
An ideal refactoring candidate is a custom-built monolithic application hosted on-premise that must be scaled up to include new users from different geographies with additional features. These applications can be modified by breaking it down to microservices and adding features to make it function effectively as a cloud-native app. In this approach there will be minor architecture and code changes to the application before migrating to the cloud.
Rearchitect
Most legacy applications hosted on native servers are found to be incompatible with the cloud environment because of underlying architecture based on monolithic design. Such applications cannot be migrated to the cloud directly. Rearchitecting refers to changing the underlying design architecture by bringing in modularity, maintainability, and autonomy.
Rearchitected applications makes the best use of the cloud features such as on-demand and automated provisioning, security, and scalability. Even cloud-compatible legacy applications will benefit from rearchitecting to cloud-native form.
Rebuild/Rewrite
Rebuilding an application for the cloud is essentially retaining the specifications of the legacy application but developing it as a cloud native application using a modern tech stack: programming language, services, data infrastructure, frontend and backend frameworks, API platforms, monitoring, performance, and analytics tools.
The combination of Agile and DevOps automation provides native cloud applications the edge in terms of iterative development, continuous delivery and integrations, interoperability, portability, reusable components or microservices and deployment flexibility.
Replace
Replacing refers to changing or upgrading the underlying specifications to accommodate new business requirements, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency. It is more efficient and less time consuming to replace a legacy application with a modern, native cloud application than to refactor, rearchitect or rebuild.
Softura Approach to Modernization
Softura has a unique, battle-tested methodology when offering application modernization services to companies across industries.
Softura’s Agile DevOps Process is Proven to Deliver Predictable, Consistent, Quality Code
• Review Business Drivers & Pain Points • Current State Application Landscape • Potential Targets for Cloud Migration or Application Modernization and Development
Meeting 2
Art of the Possible Presentation
• Value of Modern Architecture and What's Possible with Emerging Technologies • Softura's Approach • Demo of To-Be-State • High Level Roadmap, Recommendations and Cost Estimate
Legacy applications are often based on monolithic architecture and hosted on-premise. Companies find it challenging to scale, manage and maintain such applications. Application Modernization Services will help you choose and implement the right modernization strategy customized for your company’s needs.
Modern applications are cloud-based, cost-efficient, scalable, secure, and accessible. Built using microservices and deployed on containers, these modern applications offer unmatched resilience and portability.
Softura has proven expertise in helping clients prepare and implement a risk-free modernization roadmap that begins with choosing the right strategy. Our modernization experts will guide you through the entire process to ensure risk-free, on-time and on-budget deliverables.
We offer Application Modernization Consulting, Cloud Migration, Application Reengineering, Application Recoding, and App Containerization services.
The different phases in Application Modernization are planning, discovery, implementing the right modernization strategy, integration, support, and maintenance.
Get Modernized
Register for your FREE Application Assessment
Softura will host an abbreviated version of our Application Modernization Assessment to help you get started on your journey at No charge.
