Replatforming in AWS
Replatforming is one of the methods of migration when a legacy solution needs to be replaced. An application might already be running in the cloud, but might require an upgrade to better meet objectives. This can be done to either reduce costs or to replace existing services with alternate solutions that can provide a certain function more efficiently.
Upgrading your Projects
As explained in our article covering AWS migration strategies, replatforming (or “lift, tinker, and shift”) is a solution for applications that are already adapted to the cloud and don’t need any core changes to its architecture in order to continue functioning. AWS does provide a variety of services each with their own batch of computing and processing options. Some services can be easily augmented while others may require a new AWS environment to be enabled.
Why Consider Replatforming
Our team of AWS specialists are trained and have extensive experience with this model of migration. Since the application is already adapted to the cloud, the issue isn’t restructuring the core architecture to meet the requirements of the platform. Making changes to the application while abiding by the functionality and rules imposed by the platform. Even though there are potential risks from replatforming, there are also good reasons to do so.
Optimization
Replatforming can offer opportunities to either improve application efficiency or reduce operation costs. These changes can provide better functionality without straining the developers’ budget.
Acquire Automation Opportunities
If not already utilized, this is a good opportunity to implement services with automated functionality to alleviate staff stress and remove variables that provide room for human error.
Faster Than Rebuilding
If an application needs to utilize different services, but needs to also retain the same function from the original build, it’s not necessary to pitch out the old architecture just yet. Anything from frameworks to languages and existing frameworks can be reused just the same while bringing onboard different services. With less to change overall, there will be significantly less downtime for the business as a whole.
Easier for Staff
Because the core architecture remains unaffected with only the fringe elements being changed, staff and engineers will experience less stress having to reconfigure the application and adjust for customers to smoothly transition. With less time spent offline, assuming development teams prioritize changes promising the highest return on investment, that return on investment will arrive sooner.
Low Risk Involved
Like with the low downtime, because these services will be on the edges of the structure, there is an incredibly low chance any changes made will negatively impact the application as a whole.
At the Pace the Company Needs
While some companies might prefer getting back to market as soon as possible, it all happens relative to the company’s schedule.
Room for Legacy Components
Though legacy solutions can have security vulnerabilities as the software is unable to adapt to new threats, AWS does allow for the incorporation of such older models with new hardware and software.
Preparation
Before any sort of migration, there needs to be a reason for it. Typically, around this stage, clients will approach us with a proposition of a certain need their company and application has. Our experts will help the client to better understand and define what the objective should be over the course of this migration relative to a business’ needs, the industry standards relative to the client, the target platform, and the application’s requirements for basic functions.
The most important factor to consider during this phase is where the application will be migrated. Whether it’s moving to or from AWS, the application will need services that are compatible with the platform, typically something that is native to the cloud environment. AWS does have methods of more easily importing or exporting solutions. To better accommodate, some changes might need to be made to the application API or any workloads.
Migration Process
Minor changes will be made to the application for better compatibility with the destination platform mid-transit, such as segments of code. After any necessary changes are made to existing workloads, they will be similarly migrated over and applied to the new environment. After being successfully migrated, the application still needs to be verified and checked for any potential risks that might have resulted from the change in cloud environment. The app needs to be compliant with security and industry regulations before customers have access to it again.
As a part of our work process, we will provide client developers with any necessary training required to keep the environment functional in our absence. During the transition, developers should also take care to thoroughly document all changes made to the architecture and configuration. Before we are done, our experts will conduct one last review to ascertain if the migration was successful and highlight any points that could still use improvement.