10 tips for modernizing legacy apps for the cloud

CIOs should leverage partners with deep insights on cloud transformation, specifically through cloud platforms that are built using DevSecOps, cloud-native accelerators, infrastructure as code, and other techniques and tools, Srinivasan says. “This enables speedy software delivery and a multipronged modernization approach.”

A holistic approach, Srinivasan explains, also allows adopters to leverage “a combination of proven accelerators and patterns combined across the software delivery lifecycle to accelerate application transformation, deployment, and verification.”

8. Create a maturity assessment framework

Rajat Kohli, partner at global management consultancy Zinnov, stresses the importance of building a three-step maturity assessment framework.

The first step, discovery and assessment, will create insights into current challenges and final outcome needs, as well as providing a general assessment of the current technology stack and architecture, Kohli says. Step two, roadmap creation, calls for developing a blueprint that builds a defined path leading to end-goal scenarios. The final step, role allocation, involves assigning responsibilities to specific stakeholders for the execution of multiple critical tasks. He advises that relevant parties should include internal and external teams, technology providers, and application testing groups.

Kohli believes that creating an assessment framework will improve ROI, accelerate development, and enable enterprises to build new capabilities into their modernized app. “It facilitates multiple applications to run simultaneously and to connect seamlessly with the existing applications,” he explains. “It also eliminates the barriers that limit productivity and integration to create new user experiences and improved performance.”

9. Componentize

It’s important to follow a systematic approach, says Vasyl Magometa, co-founder and CTO at software development firm Reenbit. “Start by analyzing your app’s architecture and identifying areas that can be improved,” he suggests. “Then, break down your app into smaller, independent components that can be deployed and scaled individually.”

Next, Magometa recommends leveraging cloud-native services and technologies, such as containers and serverless computing, to optimize app performance and scalability. “Finally, ensure a smooth transition by gradually migrating your app to the cloud and testing it thoroughly.”

10. Make good on the promise of containers and microservices

Apps modernization is challenging, particularly for IT leaders and teams facing the task for the very first time. Sergey Gladun, founder and CEO of software developer Agilie.com, recalls the first major app he needed to modernize. Gladun describes the task as a challenging project that involved significant refactoring. “We chose to break down the monolithic application into smaller, more manageable microservices.”

The process was time-consuming, but it made the application more scalable and cloud-friendly, Gladun says. “Microservices allowed us to develop, test, deploy, and scale components independently, making the overall development process more efficient,” he explains. Additionally, containerization, through tools such as Docker and Kubernetes, further enhanced scalability and portability, making the application platform-independent. “Our modernization process not only improved the app’s performance, but also simplified the maintenance and updates,” Gladun concludes.