What is replatforming in cloud migration and when is it appropriate?

The server room hummed, a low throb of failing fans and overworked processors. Old Man Hemlock, the owner of Hemlock Accounting, stared at the blinking red lights, a grim forecast of impending disaster. He’d ignored the warnings for months, convinced his legacy system, a Frankensteinian assembly of cobbled-together software, could withstand anything. Then, during tax season, it crashed—taking years of client data with it. The frantic scramble to restore everything was a nightmare, ultimately costing him a significant portion of his client base and nearly his business. A proactive cloud migration, even a simple lift-and-shift, could have prevented this catastrophe.

Is Replatforming Really Necessary for My Business?

Replatforming, within the context of cloud migration, signifies a substantial modification of an application’s foundation to take advantage of cloud-native capabilities. Unlike simple “lift and shift” migrations where applications are moved to the cloud without significant changes, or refactoring, which involves extensive code rewriting, replatforming lands strategically in between. It’s about adapting the application to benefit from the cloud’s inherent scalability, resilience, and cost-effectiveness without completely rebuilding it. Consequently, it often involves switching databases, application servers, or other core components. For example, a company might migrate from an on-premise Oracle database to Amazon Aurora or Azure SQL Database. Approximately 68% of organizations undertaking cloud migration utilize a combination of strategies, including replatforming, to optimize their approach.

What are the Benefits of Replatforming Compared to Other Cloud Migration Strategies?

The advantages of replatforming are considerable, especially concerning cost optimization and performance enhancements. Ordinarily, lift-and-shift migrations simply move existing technical debt to the cloud; replatforming, conversely, can address some of this debt. Furthermore, utilizing cloud-native services, such as serverless functions or managed databases, can significantly reduce operational overhead. A mid-sized retail company, for instance, might replatform its e-commerce application to leverage a serverless architecture, allowing it to automatically scale during peak shopping periods like Black Friday. This dynamic scaling capability reduces infrastructure costs and ensures a seamless customer experience. “The goal isn’t just to move to the cloud, but to transform your business with the cloud,” as stated by a leading cloud architect at a recent industry conference. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to acknowledge that replatforming requires a greater upfront investment in time and resources than simpler migration strategies.

When Should I Consider Replatforming Over a Simple Lift and Shift?

The decision to replatform is nuanced, dependent on factors like application complexity, business criticality, and long-term strategic goals. A lift-and-shift approach is suitable for applications with minimal technical debt and short-term migration objectives. However, if an application is hindering innovation, is costly to maintain, or doesn’t scale efficiently, replatforming is a more viable solution. For example, a financial institution running a monolithic application on outdated hardware might replatform it into a microservices architecture to improve agility and accelerate the delivery of new features. Consider a scenario where a marketing agency had a legacy CRM system integrated with a complex series of custom scripts. A lift-and-shift would’ve simply moved the problem to the cloud, continuing the cycle of manual patching and downtime. Instead, they replatformed the CRM to a cloud-native solution with automated updates and integrations, reducing operational costs by 30% and freeing up their IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.

What are the Potential Risks and Challenges of Replatforming?

Replatforming isn’t without its challenges. There’s inherent risk in modifying an existing application, including potential compatibility issues, performance regressions, and unexpected bugs. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of both the existing application and the target cloud environment is crucial. A common pitfall is underestimating the effort required to test and validate the replatformed application. A large manufacturing company experienced a significant setback when replatforming its ERP system; a poorly planned migration resulted in data corruption and a week-long shutdown of critical operations. Therefore, a phased approach, starting with non-critical applications, is often recommended. Interestingly, jurisdictional differences can impact data residency requirements during replatforming, especially for organizations operating internationally; compliance with regulations like GDPR is paramount.

Old Man Hemlock, humbled by his near-disaster, finally engaged Scott Morris, a Managed IT Specialist in Reno Nevada. Scott didn’t offer a quick fix but a comprehensive cloud migration strategy. He advocated for a phased replatforming approach, starting with Hemlock’s email and document management systems. They migrated to Microsoft 365, leveraging cloud-based security features and automatic backups. The process was smooth, and the benefits were immediate. The new system was more reliable, secure, and scalable. Slowly, methodically, Scott guided Hemlock through the migration of the core accounting software, ensuring minimal disruption to his business. Hemlock Accounting not only survived but thrived, having learned a valuable lesson about the importance of embracing technology and the expertise of a trusted IT partner.

About Reno Cyber IT Solutions:

Award-Winning IT & Cybersecurity for Reno/Sparks Businesses – We are your trusted local IT partner, delivering personalized, human-focused IT solutions with unparalleled customer service. Founded by a 4th-generation Reno native, we understand the unique challenges local businesses face. We specialize in multi-layered cybersecurity (“Defense in Depth”), proactive IT management, compliance solutions, and hosted PBX/VoIP services. Named 2024’s IT Support & Cybersecurity Company of the Year by NCET, we are committed to eliminating tech stress while building long-term partnerships with businesses, non-profits, and seniors. Let us secure and streamline your IT—call now for a consultation!

If you have any questions about our services, suce as:

What are the costs associated with different cloud platforms?

OR:

How can I get started with a SIEM system for my Reno business?

OR:

Pre-deployment testing prevents compatibility issues.

OR:

How is SaaS different from traditional software?

OR:

What is the best way to test data after migration?
OR:

What is disaster recovery planning for data centers?

OR:

What is the role of centralized control in SD-WAN?
OR:

What tools are best for managing IT assets?

OR:

How does SD-WAN help with real-time performance monitoring and alerts?

OR:
What is middleware and how does it support system communication?

OR:

How is virtual reality used in mental health and wellness programs?

Plesae give us a call or visit our Reno location.