Enterprises today face the challenge of outdated applications, slow operating systems, and limited storage, which can hinder their operational efficiency. Just as a smartphone with obsolete apps is rendered ineffective, a cloud platform lacking connectivity to essential enterprise applications can significantly impede business processes.
In response to these challenges, organizations are increasingly turning to Azure application modernization. This strategic approach allows businesses to rearchitect their on-premise IT and legacy applications, enhancing agility, scalability, and security. The global market for enterprise application modernization is projected to reach $32.8 billion by 2027.
Microsoft Azure is at the forefront of transforming business technology with its tailored tech stack designed for forward-thinking organizations. If you are contemplating the modernization of your legacy applications using Azure, this guide provides practical insights and a validated strategy for achieving a swift and effective transition.
What is Azure App Modernization?
Azure application modernization is a strategic approach that transforms legacy systems into a cloud-centric framework. The primary objective is to boost operational efficiency, flexibility, and scalability by leveraging the Azure platform.
With a comprehensive suite of tools and purpose-built solutions, Azure enables businesses to modernize their applications, aligning them with current market demands and enhancing agility. This transformative approach modernizes your legacy software, allowing organizations to adopt Azure’s cloud migration best practices to build resilience and foster innovation, helping them maintain a competitive edge in today’s market.
Common Challenges and Their Solutions for Azure App Modernization
Many organizations are hesitant to modernize their applications for several reasons. First, they’re concerned that moving away from familiar systems and technologies may disrupt their workflows on the new cloud platform. Additionally, there’s uncertainty about whether updating their legacy systems will bring the promised improvements in efficiency, agility, scalability, and productivity.
Another key concern is a lack of clarity around critical details, such as the potential costs, the time required, and whether moving to the cloud is the best decision for their business. Let’s look at some common challenges organizations face and explore practical solutions for each.
Flexibility and Scalability:
Several applications are designed in a way that does not adapt to the changes and end up affecting overall application performance. It badly hinders responsiveness to user needs and business requirements.
Solution:
You can actively deploy APIs and web apps on Azure cloud to boost app scalability and enhance flexibility. Using NET, .NET Core, Python, and Node can effectively offer high agility.
Significant Cost Involved in App Modernization:
Not keeping your operational systems up-to-date can affect budgetary plans. Going for an Azure application modernization all of a sudden can impact business operations.
Solution:
You should opt for the pay-as-you-use model while using the advanced features of Microsoft Azure. Also, you have to regularly upgrade the applications to keep the costs in check.
Operational Complexities:
Going for Azure app modernization can disrupt regular operations, which may impact the entire system. The process may even hinder business continuity.
Solution:
You must augment go-to-market timelines by making sure there are no disruptions to the backend infrastructure. You can also preserve work continuity and lower the transition costs by utilizing promising migration approaches, such as Azure App Service Migration Assistant.
Inefficient Application Management:
The lack of trained experts can impact application administration and maintenance. It can have a negative effect on the overall business performance.
Solution:
The best thing you can do is hire dedicated engineers and maintenance experts for end-to-end app modernization. You can always approach Microsoft Azure Consulting Services to get strategic suggestions.
Absence of Universality:
It impacts upgraded applications’ compatibility with different systems. This, in turn, affects integration and collation among the apps. Ultimately, a huge operational inefficiency arises.
Solution:
You should opt for a universal dashboard overview. It will help you gain control over the application modernization Azure has done. Additionally, it offers hassle-free integration across private IT systems as well as third-party environments and different cloud systems.
Pros & Cons of Application Modernization with Microsoft Azure
For successful app modernization, Azure comes with several pros and cons. You must be aware of both before opting for the process.
Pros:
- Consistent Infrastructure: Azure offers a highly reliable and redundant infrastructure that offers uninterrupted operation. It effectively reduces downtime and provides an SLA of 99.95%.
- Compliance & Security: You get complete security with Azure as it offers threat detection, analysis, diagnosis, and stabilization. Moreover, the platform’s unmatched compliance with industry standards boosts your business safety.
- Cost–Effective: Azure’s pay-as-you-go policy keeps your budget in check. You can maintain the IT budget plans effectively because you only need to pay for the used resources.
- High Scalability: Azure application modernization boots your business system scalability like nothing else. You can even adjust computing resources as per demand! It efficiently helps your business system to adapt to the changing environment.
Cons:
- Unskilled Professionals: An expert team is necessary when planning for Azure app modernization. Without skilled brains, the process can seriously affect your business operations, causing major damage.
- Resources Management: You must allocate resources proficiently to ensure a successful migration. As the system gets volatile during the modernization process, you have to take extra care of performance and security.
- Complications: You can face sudden and unpredicted complications during the process. It can hamper the consistent business performance. You need to take the required measures to ensure workflow remains unaffected.
Conclusion
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner specializing in Azure Infrastructure, Data & AI, and Digital & App Innovation, we empower our clients to select the most effective strategies for their growth objectives. Whether you need Azure cloud consulting, migration services, Azure Development services, or ongoing management, we offer comprehensive support for modernizing applications. Our focus is on facilitating a seamless transition while helping you achieve significant cost savings along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the most used migration tools for Azure cloud modernization?
Several Azure tools are available that you can utilize to ensure a successful Azure app modernization. The tools are:
- Azure Cosmos DB
- Azure Virtual Desktop
- Azure Monitor
- Azure DevOps
- Azure App Service
- Azure API Management
- Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS)
- Azure Arc
- Personalizer
- Azure Web Application Firewall
2. Which platforms successfully migrated through Azure cloud modernization?
Some of the most popular examples of Azure app modernization are:
- AT&T
- Maersk
- Walgreens
- GEICO
3. What are the 7Rs of application modernization?
The 7Rs are quite well known for their effectiveness during the modernization process. They are:
- Relocate
- Rehost
- Re-platform
- Refactor
- Rearchitect
- Rebuild
- Repurchase
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