Legacy applications weren’t built for today’s scale, speed, or customer expectations. But ripping and replacing them overnight isn’t realistic either.
That’s where application modernization comes in.
Whether you're migrating workloads to AWS or trying to make your app more resilient and scalable, here's a concise breakdown of practical modernization strategies you can implement today.
1. Rehost (a.k.a. Lift and Shift)
If speed is your priority, rehosting is often the quickest way to initiate cloud adoption. You move existing workloads to the cloud with minimal changes. Tools like AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) make this even smoother.
2. Replatform
Take it a step further. Instead of just rehosting, optimize parts of your stack for cloud efficiency. This may involve switching to managed services (RDS, DynamoDB) or containerising your application with ECS or EKS.
3. Refactor
When your app requires more scalability or agility, refactoring is your go-to solution. Break down monoliths into microservices, introduce API gateways, and adopt an event-driven architecture. This approach requires more upfront effort, but the payoff in long-term flexibility is substantial.
4. Replace
Sometimes, it’s better to retire an outdated module entirely and replace it with SaaS or third-party services. For example, instead of maintaining an on-prem email server, move to Amazon SES or another cloud-based solution.
5. Retire & Archive
Not every piece of your legacy app needs to make the trip. Identify low-value components and retire them. Store necessary data in low-cost, long-term storage options like Amazon S3 Glacier.
Final Thoughts
Application modernization isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. Each business has unique needs, constraints, and goals.
At Significance, we help startups and enterprises assess their current state, identify quick wins, and create a modernisation roadmap that’s cloud-native, cost-efficient, and future-ready.
Want a step-by-step modernisation plan?