What is application modernization?

• Understanding application modernization

• Nothing - start here!

Application modernization is a process that improves software delivery performance for a business by updating older legacy software systems rather than replacing them.

These application modernization strategies can be defined as:

• Rehost: “Lift-and-shift” applications to a cloud (hosted or on-premise) or hybrid cloud application platform like Red Hat® OpenShift® Virtualization without architectural changes.
• Replatform: Applications are more optimized to run on and benefit from the cloud during the migration, without changing core application code or architecture. This is sometimes referred to as “tweak, lift and shift.”
• Refactor: Redesign as cloud-native, for example, by containerizing workloads onto a modern cloud platform based on Kubernetes, and breaking monolithic applications into smaller pieces like microservices. 

It’s also common to adopt new ways of working, like DevOps, site reliability engineering (SRE), and continuous integration and continuous deployment/development (CI/CD), as part of application modernization.

There are a variety of reasons why an organization should consider modernizing their software systems. For the purpose of this lesson, we are going to break down the key benefits of application modernization by the teams that are most often impacted.

Development teams

• Reduced technical debt: Technical debt can accrue when development teams add functionality to an application without fully considering its long-term impact. By modernizing an application, development teams can address issues related to technical debt and improve the overall quality of the software.
• Improved teamwork and productivity: Modernized applications often enable collaboration, making it easier for development teams to work together and share code, leading to increased productivity.
• Increased agility and flexibility: Modernized applications are often more agile and flexible, allowing development teams to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs.
• Improved scalability: Modernizing an application can improve its scalability, making it easier for development teams to handle increased workloads and user demands.
• Access to new tools and technologies: Modernizing an application can allow development teams to use new tools and technologies, such as cloud computing, containers, and microservices, which can improve the performance and scalability of the software.
• Enhanced security: Modernized applications can have improved security features, making it less vulnerable to cyber attacks and other security threats.
• Cost savings: Modernizing an application can reduce development and maintenance costs over the long term, as development teams can take advantage of new technologies and tools to work more efficiently.

IT operations

• Improved scalability: Modernizing applications makes it easier for IT operations teams to handle increased workloads and user demands.
• Enhanced security: Modernized applications can have improved security features, making them less vulnerable to cyber attacks and other security threats.
• Reduced maintenance and support costs: Modernizing applications can reduce maintenance and support costs over the long term, as IT operations teams can take advantage of new technologies and tools to work more efficiently and effectively.
• Increased agility and flexibility: Modernized applications are often more agile and flexible, allowing IT operations teams to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs.
• Better resource utilization: Modernized applications can use resources more efficiently, reducing the amount of hardware required and lowering operating costs.
• Improved compliance: Modernized applications can help organizations comply with regulations and security standards, reducing the risk of fines and penalties.
• Streamlined operations: Modernized applications can streamline operations, making it easier for IT operations teams to manage and maintain the software.

Business leaders

• Increased agility and speed to market: Modernized applications can help organizations respond more quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs, providing a competitive advantage.
• Improved customer experience: Modernized applications can improve the customer experience by providing better functionality, usability, and reliability.
• Better data management: Modernized applications can have better data management capabilities, allowing organizations to make better decisions and gain deeper insights into their business.
• Enhanced security: Modernized applications can have improved security features, reducing the risk of data breaches and other security threats.
• Reduced technical debt: Modernizing applications can reduce technical debt, freeing up resources and improving the overall health of the IT infrastructure.
• Increased productivity: Modernized applications can increase productivity by automating tasks and providing better tools and resources for employees.
• Cost savings: Modernizing applications can reduce maintenance and support costs over the long term, as organizations can take advantage of new technologies and tools to work more efficiently and effectively.

In the next resource, we’ll learn about the migration toolkit for applications, which can help you modernize your legacy applications.