Is It Time to Transform Your Legacy Applications to Microservices?
- Posted by Adham Jan
- On August 5, 2019
Unless your IT infrastructure is brand new, it’s likely that you’ll need to wrestle with the prospect of updating your legacy applications at some point. This can be a difficult prospect because every change forces new choices with other aspects of your infrastructure. Switching to cloud computing can be an excellent solution for real time communication and customer service issues. It often also means a headache in trying to integrate legacy software that you need to fulfill certain aspects of your business process.
For most companies, upgrading to new systems can be difficult because there are so many applications that need to be considered. It’s a delicate process to switch from legacy to microservices, which means creating a clear plan. Often making the decision to take on the challenge of transforming your legacy applications starts with a problem.
Symptoms That Indicate You Need To Modernize
”If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
It seems like a trite adage, but it’s honestly fairly effective. There’s no reason to embark on massive improvements unless you’re going to see a return on the investment. Transforming legacy applications to cloud computing is a necessity for many companies. It’s needed because it solves some common pain points.
Here are a few symptoms that indicate your IT infrastructure isn’t functioning at full capacity and needs an overhaul.
Slow Deployment of New Features
Technology moves at a dizzying speed but older applications can’t always keep up. While it can be an investment to replace older software and infrastructure, it can be even more costly to use outdated systems that can’t keep up with new developments.
Cloud Computing Is Essential for Your Business
Cloud computing has become more of a necessity than a choice for many businesses. It allows you to access all of your documentation and data from a secure cloud platform, which means that your team has real time information that helps keep them on the cutting edge of new developments with clients and overall. It also helps with the work on the go/work from home environment that many industries are currently thriving in. Some of your legacy applications simply won’t transfer over to the cloud, which might mean uploading old information or it might mean retiring outdated software.
Difficulties in Implementing New Technologies
Some of your older programs and databases won’t integrate with newer technology. When the choice is between using outmoded processes that cost time and productivity or investing in new infrastructure, the second option is going to serve your company better in the long run.
You’re Lagging Behind the Competition
If your direct competition is outperforming you, it might be time to look at where your lag in productivity is coming from. Using outmoded technology can cost your employees a lot of time and increase the chances of human error, which are diminished with newer, more automated systems.
You Don’t Want to Invest in New Hardware or Maintain Current Servers
Many older companies have their own servers and an excess of hardware which was the cutting edge of IT not very long ago. Today, however, it’s costly to maintain. Replacing the hardware and keeping the staff to man it can be a large investment. When your hardware is due for an upgrade, it can be an ideal time to consider transforming your infrastructure to cloud computing, rather than reinvesting in hardware to run your legacy applications.
Outdated Applications Are Complicated
Older software is simply more complicated to learn and run. Newer applications are designed to be user-friendly, which makes the process of training staff far easier.
Designing your transformation to microservices is a process that can take a good deal of time and effort. If you’re noticing any of these symptoms in your infrastructure, the investment may be well worth it for future growth and productivity.