ArticlesReplacing legacy applications isn’t always the most strategic choice. This is especially true when these systems handle crucial workloads for your business. This is where cloud migration comes in.
What if you could run your mission-critical applications in the cloud without losing important data or sacrificing your familiar processes?
Let’s explore cloud migration strategies and crucial considerations. You’ll discover a proven method to modernize your legacy application on the cloud – all without making any modifications.
For legacy systems, cloud migration involves moving on-premises workloads (database, applications, and OS) to cloud-based infrastructure. This process involves:
Migrating legacy applications to the cloud can revolutionize your business. By doing so, you adapt to changing needs and harness the advantages of cloud technology.
Cloud migration is on a rapid rise. By 2024, the market is projected to hit USD 232.51 billion. Fast forward to 2029, and it will reach an impressive USD 806.41 billion, with a CAGR of 28.24%.
The rapid growth highlights a pressing need for IT leaders to plan the cloud migration of legacy applications. Once this migration is done, it ensures absolute reliability and scalability.
Legacy applications consist of important data, and processes that are crucial to keep the business running. By moving to cloud, enterprises can keep critical processes safe. In fact, with strategies like lift and shift, they can seamlessly transition your legacy applications to the cloud. No changes are needed – enhanced reliability like never before.
Modern cloud platforms offer a pay-as-you-go model. Migrating legacy systems to the cloud can significantly reduce operating costs. This gives you the flexibility to scale usage based on your needs.
Outdated applications are often more expensive to manage than to migrate. Moving to the cloud boosts security and agility, which gives your business a competitive edge. This shift not only enhances efficiency but also elevates customer satisfaction with superior user experiences.
Cloud migration simplifies API integration with various software and third-party tools. It strengthens security against potential threats and ensures robust protection. Performance boosts stem from minimized risks and dependable processes.
Adopting models like DevOps further enhances efficiency by providing flexible, easily automated platforms. This approach encourages new ideas and growth in today’s constantly changing market.
Here’s a breakdown of the key considerations before migrating legacy applications to the Cloud:
A cloud migration of legacy systems demands careful planning. A thorough SWOT analysis is essential. It helps ensure a smooth transition and maximizes benefits.
Migrating legacy systems to the cloud offers a key advantage: scalability. Cloud platforms provide flexible resources, allowing you to adjust based on demand. This ensures performance needs are met without unnecessary infrastructure costs.
Moreover, moving to the cloud often boosts system reliability and uptime, thanks to modern tech stacks and strong failover mechanisms.
However, it’s important to acknowledge potential weaknesses in this process. Legacy systems often come with intricate dependencies and compatibility hurdles. These need careful attention during migration planning. It’s crucial to map existing workflows and data structures meticulously. This prevents disruptions or data loss and ensures a seamless transition.
Cloud migration offers significant opportunities. Cost efficiency is at the forefront. By eliminating physical servers, organizations reduce capital expenses and optimize resources allocation. Advanced analytics from cloud providers further fuel innovation and reveal new insights from existing data.
Don’t ignore potential threats like security vulnerabilities during transitions. Compliance challenges with industry regulations are also crucial. Conduct a thorough risk assessment to tackle these proactively. It’s essential for smooth operations and peace of mind.
It is essential to choose an appropriate migration strategy for a successful transition. Here are the five most popular strategies for cloud migration of legacy systems.
Move legacy systems to the cloud without extensive changes. Best for quick migration requirements with minimal upfront cost.
| Strategy | Description | Advantages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehost (“Lift and Shift”) | Migrate legacy systems to the cloud without changing the application or rewriting anything. |
|
Companies that don’t want to change their familiar systems and processes and still want to leverage the benefits of the cloud. |
| Replatform (“Lift and Optimize”) | Migrate to the cloud and optimize some components (e.g., using managed services). |
|
Businesses want moderate cloud benefits without a full rewrite. |
| Refactor | Re-architect or rewrite applications to fully leverage cloud-native features. |
|
Long-term transformation and futureproofing. |
| Retire | Decommission legacy systems that are no longer needed. |
|
Businesses are looking to streamline operations and create something new. |
| Retain | Keep certain systems on-premises while migrating others to the cloud (hybrid model). |
|
Practically speaking, it is not a feasible strategy for businesses struggling with legacy hardware challenges. |
It depends on your requirements, long-term goals, budget, and risk-taking capabilities.
For instance:
Consider the following factors when selecting a cloud provider:
Migrating backups to the cloud requires careful planning, especially for large datasets. Consider options that meet project objectives and timelines and ensure efficient transfer over WAN connections.
Ensure users can connect to the application while maintaining the organization’s security requirements.
Key factors:
Define a test plan before migration to ensure the application works as expected. Testing should cover both common and uncommon user functions
Steps for testing:
If done properly, cloud migration of legacy systems comes with a wealth of benefits. To achieve an efficient data center, make sure you avoid the potential risks in each stage of the journey. Here are the key risks involved:
Complex dependencies, custom setups, and outdated tech aren’t always visible at first glance. These factors can complicate and prolong migration efforts significantly.
Mishandling or incorrect mapping can lead to data corruption, loss, or inconsistencies. It protects your operations and upholds trust in your systems. Without it, vulnerabilities can arise and can impact reliability and confidence.
Moving on-premises applications to the cloud isn’t always smooth. Architectural differences can degrade performance, affect customer satisfaction, and drive-up operational costs. The result? Lost revenue opportunities. This is why it’s important to get help from experts who have done it first-hand.
Without clear objectives, businesses risk ending up with infrastructure that falls short of their needs. Misaligned goals often result in inefficiencies and poor performance. This misalignment can hinder your ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits of cloud adoption.
It demands a thorough grasp of both legacy systems and cloud environments. Teams lacking cloud expertise may struggle with application optimization, security, and performance. This can result in a migration that falls short of expectations.
Legacy applications can act unpredictably in the cloud. Insufficient testing can degrade performance, cause system crashes, and expose security vulnerabilities. Post-migration, these issues may disrupt operations.
Relying solely on one cloud provider can restrict your future options. Vendor lock-in complicates migration and limits access to top solutions. Over time, this dependence can hinder growth and flexibility. Costs may also rise if pricing changes unexpectedly.
Cloud migration projects frequently encounter unexpected expenses. These costs often stem from underestimating the project’s scope, facing technical hurdles, or experiencing delays. Such budget overruns can drain financial resources and diminish the migration’s ROI – risking the project entirely.
Sensitive data requires tight compliance with privacy legislation and industry regulations. If not resolved, these issues can lead to hefty penalties and lawsuits.
As discussed above, cloud migration for legacy systems is risky and needs meticulous planning. This is why finding experts who can help you throughout the journey is important.
But thanks to Stromasys and its in-house engineered product Charon on the cloud – the process has become simple and structured. Backed by the working principle of lift and shift, Charon offers a pioneering solution for emulating legacy systems like SPARC, PA-RISC, VAX, and Alpha. It’s accessible through Cloud subscription across major platforms: AWS, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud.
Charon on the Cloud keeps your applications, databases, and operating systems intact. No need for modifications or re-certifications. It removes the original hardware while ensuring your applications run smoothly on the Cloud.
Why consider Charon on the cloud? It acts as a one-stop solution for modernizing legacy applications. You’ll see lower maintenance costs and ultra-fast backups. At the same, you will experience business continuity and disaster recovery benefits, with higher availability at your fingertips.
Choose from various cloud providers while reaping all the usual Charon advantages: reduced risk, lower costs, and potential performance boosts.
The Challenge: Aging Hardware Limits M&A Activities Businesses are managing more data and IT systems...
Read More
Many businesses still rely on legacy systems. This may be due to an investment in...
Read More
Despite their age and obsolescence, many organizations still cling to SPARC systems for their operations....
Read More