Migrating an application can be complex for many reasons. As software development is constantly evolving, businesses need to ensure that their software is also developing.
However, the cost to migrate may seem too much. Moving an application can be challenging because many dependencies need to be taken into account.
With application migration, companies can relocate a project, application, or service from one environment to another efficiently. It helps businesses remain competitive in today’s market by allowing them to keep pace with these changes.
This article will guide you through how application migration works, its strategies, and best practices.
What is application migration?
Application migration is the process of moving a software application from one operating system to another.
This is usually done to upgrade the current platform and get a new version of the application. Migration can be done manually using command line tools or dedicated third-party tools.
According to the Synergy Research Group report, business spending on cloud infrastructure services exceeded $57 billion, up $11 billion in Q3 of 2021.
This indicates that there’s a lot of application migration going on in today’s market. Applications are migrated for many reasons:
- To take advantage of new technology, such as faster CPUs, more memory, or improved GUI development tools
- To leverage new features in existing technology, such as support for Unicode characters
- To move to a new platform, e.g., moving from DOS to Windows
Application migration strategies
Applications can be migrated in multiple ways. Over the years, different technologies and languages have been used, and many applications are now highly customized with many third-party components.
There are the main ways to migrate applications:
Rehosting
One of the important application migration strategies is rehosting. Also known as “lift and shift,” rehosting is the process that uses tools to deploy a legacy system onto the cloud platform.
It is often necessary when an organization needs to change its target platform. However, this strategy has its own set of limitations that make it unsuitable for many organizations.
Refactoring/rearchitecting
It involves rewriting sections of code or entire applications from scratch. This type of application migration strategy can be time-consuming and requires expertise in order for it to be successful.
Refactoring or rearchitecting is when an organization wants to make significant changes in its application or add new functionalities without changing the underlying architecture.
However, this is recommended only if there are specific reasons to do so. For instance, security issues in the current environment.
Replatforming
Replatforming an existing application with a new one is the most common way to migrate from one cloud provider to another or on-premises to the public cloud.
This approach typically involves a complete rewrite of the application and can be expensive, time-consuming, and risky.
When re-platforming, the goal is to provide the same user experience as before but with new technical capabilities and improved performance.
Repurchase
Another way of application migration is repurchasing, which is used when most or all of the application code needs to be rewritten.
The main advantage of repurchasing an application is that it provides developers with more freedom in designing their new applications.
While it’s cheaper than re-platforming, it still requires substantial investment in time and money and requires starting over with new designs and implementation work.
Retire
It is time to retire an application when it no longer meets the needs of the business. It is the most straightforward application migration strategy and the least likely to succeed.
Retiring an old application doesn’t mean throwing it away; using the code in another project may be possible if it’s not tied specifically to business needs.
Retain
Businesses will sometimes want to retain an older application even though it has been replaced by a newer one. This could mean storing old code on a secure server so the company can bring it back if necessary.
For instance, many companies still use Microsoft Excel for budgeting purposes even though newer programs like Microsoft Planner can do similar tasks.
Application migration best practices
When planning to migrate from one application to another, it’s important to follow these best practices:
Tie migration to your business goals
As with any project, it’s important to consider business goals before deciding on an application migration strategy.
In application migration, it is crucial to tie migration to business goals. Businesses need to consider whether migrating applications can provide significant benefits, such as improved performance, reduced maintenance, or increased scalability.
Choose a suitable application migration approach
Choosing an application migration approach is a complex decision because of the number of options available.
Factors such as the amount and type of data being moved, how it is being used after migration, and what kind of access to the data will be required after migration should be considered.
Thus, choosing the right approach helps companies reduce errors and lessen disruption after migration.
Indulge and educate power users
Application migration is a complex process that requires dedicated effort from IT. The result is worth it, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach to application migration.
Some people will feel like they’ve been left behind. This can be resolved by educating power users about why things are changing and what they need to know about the new system.
Test and trial before and after migration
Ensuring that the application is compatible with the new platform before beginning and testing it after the process is an important practice in application migration.
This will give an idea of whether any unexpected issues arose during the migration process itself. Also, this will help avoid any last-minute changes that could lead to delays or unexpected costs once the project has begun.
Upgrade your old application through application migration
In the world of technology, new apps are developed everyday, and old ones get updated or replaced.
If businesses are always looking for ways to improve their productivity and efficiency, and stay competitive, the best solution is through application migration.
With application migration, companies can have more flexibility in terms of scalability or customization capability, which is important for achieving business goals.
