10 tips for modernizing legacy apps for the cloud
Woodgate observes that enterprises migrating apps to the cloud often struggle with skills shortages, lacking the in-house expertise needed to enable a seamless transition. Given app modernization complexity, he notes that it’s worth looking at external partners to help guide the process and ensure business impact is minimized during the transition.
3. Analyze app architecture thoroughly
Carefully assess the app being modernized to understand its architecture, dependencies, and requirements. “Identify components that can be migrated to the cloud and evaluate any necessary modifications,” recommends Nandor Csonka, global practice lead for cloud security services at IT security firm NCC Group.
Next, determine the most suitable application migration strategy, whether it’s “lift-and-shift,” re-platforming, refactoring, or even rebuilding the application from scratch. “Select the strategy that best aligns with your goals, timeline, and resources,” Csonka advises.
4. Rehost, refactor, rearchitect, rebuild, replace — tailor your approach
Many techniques and options are available for app modernization, including rehosting, refactoring, rearchitecting, rebuilding, and replacing, observes Will Perry, US cloud innovation and engineering leader at business consulting firm PwC. Picking the right approach requires carefully studying all of the available options before making a final selection.
Successful application modernization should increase business and IT agility and scalability, Perry says. “Replatforming and refactoring approaches take advantage of cloud services and solution patterns, making this most often the most effective approach.”
Amod Bavare, a principal with Deloitte Consulting, advises also modernizing underlying business processes, including user experience and agility. “Keeping those needs in mind allows for business modernization while also modernizing the application architecture, technology stack, and the ability to leverage cloud-native services like AI/ML, mobility, and microservices,” he explains.
