Updating the applications is considered the right way to make the old and obsolete software suitable to comply with the latest business needs. App modernization has become the newest buzzword as it helps to make apps fit user demands.
App modernization involves a plethora of benefits, such as improved scalability and enhanced performance. The implementation of legacy apps helps to remove security vulnerabilities. In addition, it plays an integral role in boosting efficiency, reducing maintenance fees, and saving money in the long run.
In addition, it helps to beat the competitors so that the business can react to faster market changes in no time. Thus, they help to seize the latest opportunities to introduce effective growth. This comprehensive guide walks you through the 7 app modernization challenges and the ways to solve them:
Database migration might lead to data corruption and data loss.
Challenge
There are a bunch of business enterprises that are adopting legacy solutions for a prolonged period. Owing to this, a massive amount of transactional data accumulates over various databases over time. Migration of such a database introduces significant challenges as it needs re-categorization to match the latest architecture. The inability to import the old data during the cloud solution adoption might lead to data loss, as the data needs to be incorporated manually.
Solution
If you want to remove the challenge, it is recommended to opt for Extract, Transform, and Load technology to reduce the data to the load seamlessly. In addition, you will be able to implement the services the cloud service providers provide to accommodate the data migration. For the success of cloud migration, it is recommended that a careful pre-migration assessment be conducted. In addition, it is useful in defining the business metrics to align the data elements and technical drivers.
Legacy infrastructure dependencies
Challenge
There are a bunch of legacy apps that use outdated dependencies and old-fashioned infrastructure that do not suit the latest environments.
Solution
To resolve the issue, it is a good idea to re-factor the app code gradually, thereby ensuring that it is independent of the latest legacy dependencies. The implementation of virtualization methodologies and containerization is comprised of legacy components. So, it is necessary to run them in the latest environments without modification.
For instance, a manufacturing business had issues with the inventory management system modernization, as it was tied to the old databases’ legacy apps. To solve this, the manufacturing company migrates the data slowly within the cloud database. It ensured that the legacy elements remained confined within the containers. Thus, the manufacturing business was successful in modernizing the app without losing the legacy components’ functionality.
Bulky legacy systems might slow the latest software.
Challenge
Legacy applications involve a huge code base along with a lot of functionalities. Owing to the monolithic structure, introducing minor data in the legacy system might lead to several conflicts. Besides this, the legacy systems have enormous documentation and undocumented features. Hence, it becomes risky to interfere with the source code.
Solution
Avoid bulky legacy systems.
If you want to solve the problem, it will be a wise decision to implement a chunking approach during data modernization. With business modernization progressing, it is recommended to adopt the legacy systems components, in the beginning, and then manage with the rest. So, it is essential to prepare certain designs and tools to support the legacy ways. Hence, you can be assured that the existing business will be unaffected in the interim.
Business disruption risks
Challenge
Cloud app modernization introduces the threat of smooth business functioning during the initial time or downtime.
Solution
During the industry modernization phase, it will be a good decision to adopt testing, communication, and proper planning as the preemptive measure. It allows the business to avoid the risks of business disruptions.
Rightsizing and optimizing the container environments
Challenge
Kubernetes containers are equipped with the power to enhance operational efficiency, agility, and speed. At times, business enterprises need to allocate these containers more effectively, which might lead to out-of-memory errors and service assurance problems.
Solution
It is recommended to determine the containers that are without the resource limits along with the ones that adopting the agile development team is useful to the business in promoting the incremental and iterative process. Implementation and introduction of the latest practices, such as continuous delivery, continuous integration, and automated testing, ensure the improved app quality, which is developed during the cloud modernization of the apps.h tight limits to rightsize the Kubernetes containers. After this, it is recommended that the container use study be conducted with the implementation of aggressive and conservative strategies. Then, one should choose the container value, which is consumed at every moment. In the final step, it is advised to look for the over-commit clusters, thereby adjusting it.
Technology trends evolve at a faster rate. Hence, app modernization trends are considered to be a necessity for business enterprises that are looking forward to introducing the latest opportunities and developing an enhanced customer experience. Though app modernization involves specific challenges, proactive planning and the understanding of different strategic approaches are useful to the business enterprise going through the app modernization journey.
