ArticlesMission-critical applications running on legacy hardware are holding IT departments back with their increasing risk of failure, increasing costs, a continual vulnerability to security, and diminishing support.
To overcome these obstacles and embrace the transformative power of the cloud, businesses are increasingly turning to legacy System Migration. It involves transitioning from outdated hardware and software systems to modern, more efficient alternatives such as the cloud.
This process involves transitioning traditional, on-premises legacy applications and infrastructure to cloud-based platforms. Legacy system cloud migration not only ensures business continuity but also paves the way for a modern, agile, and efficient future.
When discussing legacy system migration, many enterprises believe they have to create something entirely new. However, this is not always the case. Instead, it’s important to consider the hardware and software separately.
The application needs to persist in many instances because it embodies the company’s knowledge. The company’s critical operations are embedded within this application. For example, it includes all the company’s processes, such as how chemicals are mixed, or in the case of a semiconductor company, all the designs and intellectual property developed over the years. All the progress the company has made is captured within this application.
The problem arises when the hardware stops performing or gives you tough times. Hardware failures are responsible for 31% of downtime. Those who are thinking that’s a small number on paper, imagine the time legacy hardware takes to restart after a downtime. This leads to business disruption, financial loss, and dissatisfaction among customers.
Ideally, the plan should be to get rid of the legacy hardware whilst retaining and improving the functionality of the application that’s been running on it for many years or maybe even decades.
There should be two goals:
When migrating legacy systems to the cloud, there are four main strategies to consider.
Refactoring involves making minimal changes to your existing applications so they can run more efficiently in the cloud. This might include optimizing your code for better performance or making
Rearchitecting means fundamentally changing the architecture of your application. This often involves breaking it down into smaller, more manageable services (microservices) that can be deployed independently in the cloud.
Rebuilding involves rewriting your application from scratch using a cloud-native approach. This strategy takes full advantage of cloud features and capabilities.
Rehosting, or “lift and shift,” involves moving your applications to the cloud with minimal or no changes. You simply redeploy your existing infrastructure to the cloud.
Which is Better?
While more complex strategies like refactoring, rearchitecting, or rebuilding have their own advantages, lift and shift allows organizations to quickly take advantage of cloud benefits without extensive planning or reworking. It is also cost-effective, less risky, and time efficient. With lift and shift, there is no need to retain your end users. They will not even notice that the hardware has been changed. Your applications will run as they used to be.
Legacy systems, which served businesses faithfully for years, now present a roadblock to progress. The key reasons for migrating legacy systems to the cloud are as follows:
Maintaining and operating aging hardware can be financially draining. Legacy systems are often expensive to maintain, with a diminishing pool of skilled personnel to handle them. By migrating to the cloud, businesses can shift from capital-intensive expenditures to a more cost-efficient operational expenditure model. Cloud providers offer flexible pricing options, allowing organizations to pay only for the resources they consume.
Legacy systems might struggle to handle the surges in demand characteristic of today’s digital landscape. Scalability limitations could hinder growth opportunities and result in missed business prospects. Cloud platforms offer unparalleled scalability, empowering businesses to effortlessly scale their resources up or down, depending on the current requirements. This legacy system migration strategy offers flexibility that ensures optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.
Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, and legacy systems often lack the robust security measures necessary to combat modern cyber-attacks. Cloud providers invest heavily in security infrastructure, employing the latest encryption, authentication, and access controls to safeguard data and applications. Additionally, reputable cloud providers adhere to strict compliance standards, easing the burden of regulatory compliance for businesses.
Unforeseen disasters can wreak havoc on on-premises legacy systems, leading to data loss and prolonged downtime. Cloud-based solutions incorporate robust disaster recovery strategies, ensuring that data remains safe, and services are swiftly restored in case of any disruption. This enhanced business continuity is vital for maintaining customer trust and preserving the brand reputation.
Migrating legacy systems to the cloud is a meticulous process that requires careful planning and execution. Here are the key steps involved in a successful migration:
Understand the existing legacy system’s architecture, dependencies, and functionalities. Determine the desired outcome of the migration and identify the most suitable cloud
deployment model (public, private, or hybrid). Create a detailed migration plan, including a timeline, resource allocation, and potential risks.
Data is the lifeblood of any organization, and its seamless migration is critical. Ensure that data is appropriately transferred to the cloud and verify its integrity post-migration. Implement data encryption and backup strategies to protect against data loss.
With lift and shift, it’s a simple process. Engineers create a design and move the entire legacy workload to modern could platforms like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud etc. Once the workload is transferred, it is a matter of a few tests and trial runs to check if it’s working properly or not. Once the tech experts are satisfied, it’s good to go.
Cloud migration is an ongoing journey. Continuously monitor and optimize the cloud infrastructure to ensure cost-effectiveness, security, and performance.
Legacy system migration to the cloud is no longer a luxury but a strategic imperative for businesses seeking growth, efficiency, and innovation. By embracing the cloud, organizations can bid farewell to the constraints of legacy systems and unlock a realm of possibilities. From cost savings and scalability to enhanced security and business continuity, the cloud offers an array of advantages that can propel businesses towards a bright and dynamic future. Migrating to the cloud may be a complex endeavor, but with careful planning and the right cloud partner, organizations can successfully navigate this transformation and set themselves on a path of enduring success.
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