Stage 1: Application Assessment
The first step of any endeavor is to set goals. Analyze the current applications’ code bases and evaluate them against your modernization goals. How scalable are your apps? Are they easy to maintain? Are they efficient and useful? A holistic assessment engagement can offer a big-picture overview of multiple apps and provide you with a custom plan that helps you achieve your modernization goals.
Stage 2: Cloud Migration
As apps move to the cloud, many IT leaders simply default to a familiar public cloud environment and force their apps to fit the cloud’s feature set. Rather than letting the tail wag the dog, base your decision on the cloud service provider’s ability to deliver the specific services you need. This point becomes even more important when organizations are managing their core, edge and cloud data from the cloud itself.
Stage 3: Application Modernization
Now that you have a clear understanding of your modernization needs and where your apps will live, you must create cloud-ready applications that will meet your needs. This probably means using modern technologies: containers to enable seamless deployment across multiple environments, microservices to allow each core function to be built independently, artificial intelligence to mine insights from vast amounts of data, and automation to streamline deployment and diagnostics.
Stage 4: Application Optimization
Application modernization is not a one-and-done process. As with any successful initiative, app modernization must be sustained over time. Application monitoring tools can help you ensure that your modernized apps continue to align with your people, processes and governance. Make sure to track key performance indicators in an ongoing process of assessment and keep taking steps to ensure that your apps and environment continue to meet your organization’s needs.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on Jan. 4, 2024.
