The trend of moving applications to the cloud has rekindled interest in IT modernization. As a result, businesses are looking for ways to implement the tools, strategies, and knowledge gained from this endeavor across their entire application portfolio. 

This article investigates how IT organizations can extract value from their investments by utilizing highly effective methodologies and tools for application development, security, modernization, and migration of existing applications. 

IT Modernization 

Modern application development practices make it possible for businesses to liberate the insights and business value locked away in their legacy applications, all while reducing costs, future-proofing their infrastructure, and improving their agility. 

They make it possible to swiftly roll out new points of differentiation for customer service, data access, and customer insights, which helps significantly cut down the time it takes from the conception of a new business idea to its successful launch in a secure environment. Businesses can quickly disrupt their competitors or quickly respond to being disrupted themselves. 

A Fundamental Component of the Modernization of IT 

The majority of IT organizations are already in the process of migrating applications, launching agile DevOps processes, and adopting cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications; in addition, these organizations are aware of how important it is to adhere to legacy application modernization approaches to secure applications and the data that underlies them. 

Businesses are looking for ways to implement the tools, strategies, and knowledge gained from this endeavor across their entire application portfolio. 

IT organizations can extract value from their investments by utilizing highly effective methodologies and tools for application development, security, modernization, and migration of existing applications. 

Modernizing applications and data can result in various advantages, such as increased business agility, decreased application delivery times, and decreased overall costs. 

In addition, organizations now have simpler access to the data they need to gain fresh insights, allowing them to forge more personalized connections with their customers, employees, and business partners. 

Moving Software to Run In The Cloud 

The migration of applications is essential to increase business agility; however, a common obstacle that many large businesses must face is the sheer size of the applications portfolio.  

On its way to the cloud, each application goes through a series of steps compared to something resembling a highly productive assembly line in a manufacturing facility. The following are the steps: 

• Determine and evaluate the state of readiness of the application 

• Make plans and get the application ready to run in the cloud 

• Determine which methodology for modernization is the most appropriate. 

• Determine which cloud platform would serve as the ideal target. 

Modernizing Mainframes 

Rehosting applications on a modern platform while preserving their original code is the option that will result in the least downtime during the transformation application.

Performance can also be improved by installing the most recent version of the mainframe operating system and adding processor cores, memory, and other hardware. The usage of the central processing unit (CPU) and the associated costs can be significantly reduced thanks to high-performance in-memory technology. In addition, intelligent performance capping can cut costs without affecting the mission-critical workloads. 

 

Modernizing Applications 

Enterprises can either re-architect their existing applications to run in a more modern, open-source environment or rebuild their applications from the ground up to run in a cloud-native environment. In most cases, the scope and complexity of the legacy applications play a role in the decision-making process. For instance, applications that carry out specialized business functions might be good candidates for re-architecting. Tools that automate the refactoring of code can help to speed up this process.

Agile development teams go through a process known as continuous iteration, which involves breaking down the product into smaller pieces and then integrating those pieces for final testing. DevOps encourages collaboration between development teams, operations teams, and security personnel through automated tools that enable rapid code deployment into production.

IT organizations should have realistic expectations for what can be accomplished with these development methods and view application modernization as a continuous improvement rather than a one-time massive overhaul or even a series of substantial projects.  

These modifications are made in a timely and flexible manner. Teams should be given the authority to become experts at improving themselves. 

Bringing Outdated Databases and Software Up To Date 

A further transformation at the fundamental level is the adoption of open source replacements for aging infrastructure, middleware, and database software.

Additionally, older databases frequently have security flaws and are the primary targets of cybercriminals who rush to exploit them before patches can be installed. This is because older databases contain fewer patches. Database modernization is crucial in avoiding embarrassing and expensive data breaches in your organization.   

Cloud-Native Software Development and Containerization  

Most newly developed development will be cloud-native applications, resulting in the phase-out of older computer systems. Development native to the cloud can reduce costs by at least 30 percent over time, fundamentally altering infrastructure costs, ensuring greater utilization, and aligning IT spending with the demands of the business. 

Applications that are exposed to the public and provide customers and business partners with access to fundamentally distinct service offerings are excellent candidates for cloud-native development. 

Cloud-native development helps maximize the benefits obtained from cloud computing infrastructure. Applications are planned out, designed, developed, packaged, and managed specifically for use in cloud environments. All necessary hardware and services are provided by standardized and scalable processes housed in an environment with multiple tenants. This helps to prevent service disruptions and drives high levels of automation.

Containerization is used to break down applications into smaller code units, typically no more than 200 megabytes in size, which developers can spin up in milliseconds.

All of these functions, as well as backup and recovery, are supported by a single platform: development, incident management, patching, monitoring, and performance reporting. 

Implementing SaaS for Enterprise and Industrial Applications 

Businesses are granted access to a more extensive cloud-based ecosystem by using SaaS. Suppose an application for human resources is moved to the cloud, for instance. In that case, it will be able to establish connections with LinkedIn and other social media sites and use methods such as crowdsourcing in ways it could not do before. 

In addition to this benefit, SaaS releases IT organizations from the burden of managing specialized hardware and software configurations within a data center. It is possible to make rapid modifications to the code that underpins SaaS, which can drive innovation and serve as a key differentiator for businesses. 

Moving to a SaaS model presents many businesses with the challenging task of modernizing tightly integrated, monolithic ERP applications that have been heavily customized over many years.

The work will start by deconstructing the application from its edges. Then it will move on to SaaS-specific functionality such as marketing, sales, and service, human capital management, or supply chain planning. 

Protecting the Ecosystem 

Phishing attacks and credential hijacking leave underlying data vulnerable to theft and extortion using ransomware. Security organizations have historically focused on implementing servers, networks, and storage controls. However, these types of attacks are ineffective in today’s threat environment. 

Even though major cloud providers build in safeguards to prevent data loss, they do not take responsibility for any information that is misplaced or destroyed. Most data breaches in the cloud can be traced back to users’ improper configuration or carelessness. Consequently, one essential aspect of modernization is locating and categorizing valuable data assets. Tools for preventing the loss of data and the encryption of extremely sensitive data can help prevent hackers from gaining unrestricted access.

Older client servers, web-based, or mainframe applications may experience disruptions when installing data encryption and other new controls. When undertaking modernization efforts to refactor and re-architect systems, now is the ideal time to think about implementing innovative data protection strategies and tools. 

In Conclusion: The Subsequent Steps Toward Modernization  

On the road to enterprise modernization, different organizations are at various stages.  

Legacy application modernization services and solutions can prove game-changing for your enterprise.

At the enterprise level, conduct evaluations, planning, and design modernization projects. Bringing the requirements of digital transformation in line with the drivers of change in the business is the essential first step toward modernization.

In addition, more accurate cost projections and schedules will make it easier to gain executive buy-in and support on an ongoing basis.

To develop, test, and update applications at a faster pace, individuals should be encouraged to think creatively and outside the box.

We trust that this article will prove informative. Until next time, happy developing!

Author Bio

I am Pratik Mistry, a rare mix of technologist and vice president in sales at Radixweb. My passion lies is in helping companies to grow revenues by delivering top notch custom software development solutions and build value-based partnerships. When not driving high-impact go to market strategies, I love to try new cuisines and going to the movies.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pratikradixweb/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pratikjmistry