Virtual Tarzan - Transformation Architect
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact me

Recent Comments

  • Virtual Tarzan on Cloud Migration – Where to start?
  • Dan on Cloud Migration – Where to start?
  • Virtual Tarzan on How to Maximise Benefits from Multi-Cloud Adoption
  • Freya on How to Maximise Benefits from Multi-Cloud Adoption
  • Virtual Tarzan on How to Maximise Benefits from Multi-Cloud Adoption

Categories

  • AI-ML
  • Azure Architecture
  • Citrix
  • Cloud
  • Cloud Architecture
  • Cloud Strategy
  • Compliance
  • Digital Transformation
  • EUC
  • General
  • Infrastructure Design & Architecture
  • IT Strategy
  • Storage
  • Troubleshooting
  • vCloud
  • VMware
  • vSphere

Archives

  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • July 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • August 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012

Follow me

Virtual Tarzan - Transformation Architect
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact me
Cloud, Cloud Strategy,

Cloud Migration Application Assessment – Before and After Migration

Cloud-Migration-Application-Assessment02


Application assessment stage is a core component of Cloud Migration Strategy

Today, many organisations are racing to move on premise workloads to the cloud in support of digital transformation, with many adopting a cloud first policy. Some have executed their migration with a great level of success while others have struggled. Having a cloud migration strategy is critical for a successful migration, but also for the ongoing transformation of applications post-migration which is essential to keep the cost of cloud low, and the value derived from cloud high.

The migration strategy consists of multiple stages and the application assessment stage is a critical component of that strategy. Application assessment helps identify which applications to migrate to the cloud and to which cloud service specifically. It dictates whether an application migration is ‘lift and shift’ or more transformational – and crucially it’s a decision which can be revisited post-migration if the cost, or potential use of that application (e.g. to exploit its data for analytics) merits it.

Retain

If an application is providing a high business value and has a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), then it might make sense to retain the application on premise. This allows you to focus on applications valuable to the business that are suited for the cloud. This assessment may change as that on-premise application or its infrastructure reaches end of life.

Retire

If an application is providing low business value with high TCO, retiring it might be the preferred option. The effort to support it and the cost savings can be directed to more valuable applications. On average, organisations retire 10-20% of their applications after assessment phase.

Re-Host

This strategy is also referred to as “Lift & Shift”. This option is suitable for legacy applications that provide a high business value with a high Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). In Re-Hosting scenario, the application is migrated to a cloud IaaS as a virtual machine and retains the same basic functionality with minimal changes.

This strategy is appealing as it makes the application simpler to operate and often less expensive to run on cloud IaaS. The migration itself is the simplest of all options and least risky.

Although this strategy has low risk, it also provides the lowest value/benefit as you will not get the most out of what the cloud capabilities offer. Also, virtual machines that have poor resource utilisation on premise will likely inherit the same deficiencies when migrated “As Is” to the cloud and the benefit of lower cost might not be recognised. We believe it’s an essential part of what we call “Cloud Lifecycle Management” to constantly revisit applications which have simply been re-hosted, to manage these older models out of the cloud architecture over time.

Re-Platform

This strategy is the next step up from Re-Hosting and it is also known as Lift, Tweak and Shift. Some applications, in order to migrate to cloud, may require minor re-packaging to make them work on the cloud IaaS. Refactoring (repackaging) activities are primarily focused on replacing some of the application components with cloud native services. It is important to emphasis, there should be minimal re-coding in this strategy, as most changes will be to services.

For example, an application that has a database server on premise, might instead be refactored to use a cloud Database as a Service (DBaaS) for better scalability, built-in intelligence, improved redundancy and easier management. As with re-host, this is a judgement which can be revisited to more ambitiously rearchitect applications as new capabilities come to market

Re-Factor/Re-Architect

There are certain legacy applications that used to provide high business value, but today, its functionality is constrained and it can no longer address modern day business requirements. Often, Re-Platforming them is just not enough and a complete Re-Factoring is required to take full advantage of cloud native services. This approach redesigns an application and breaks down it into services (often utilising Microservices Architecture) that fully integrate with cloud native technologies (IoT, AI, machine learning, blockchain, automation, resiliency, etc.). Re-Factoring an application in the cloud will often provide the highest business value in comparison to other migration options. Re-Factoring is also likely to be the most expensive, longest and challenging path to cloud.

Re-Purchase

This is often referred to as drop and shop. If an application is providing high business value with high TCO but a cloud based SaaS application provides a similar business value but with lower TCO, then replacing it might be the sensible approach.

Moving from CRM to Saleforce.com, moving from on HR legacy system to Workday and moving from exchange to O365 are just a few examples of on premise applications being replaced with SAS solutions.

Summary

There are many routes to cloud, however, I often see clients focused on short term decisions (i.e. taking the least effort and fastest route to cloud). Re-Hosting and Re-Factoring are good options for quick move to cloud, often to meet aggressive timelines but the price often is inefficiencies. For example, many organisations in their early stages of public cloud adoption, find themselves ill prepared for managing ongoing cloud costs which result in significant value erosion.

A longer-term view would see more refactoring of applications done but at a time which suits the application roadmap rather than an external pressure to get stuff to the cloud quickly. An added benefit of extra time, will enable organisations to establish                                 discipline to manage ongoing cloud costs. This latter view is what we see as the default mode of operation for most organisations who are mature in cloud.

Thank you for reading.

Nick

Sharing is Caring!

1 Shares

#AI has designed bacteria-killing proteins from scratch – and they work @VirtualTarzan https://t.co/z4MUE4rJ2z
h J R
@VirtualTarzan

- January 31, 2023

The latest from Fox news: US should invade Canada! Can we get any crazier! https://t.co/MsBJVX7BVc
h J R
@VirtualTarzan

- January 28, 2023

#AI has designed bacteria-killing proteins from scratch – and they work @VirtualTarzan https://t.co/z4MUE4rJ2z
h J R
@VirtualTarzan

- January 27, 2023

Follow @VirtualTarzan
Previous

Multicloud will Prevent Vendor Lock-in – Fact or Fiction

March 3, 2019
Next

Holistic Solution Scope

May 12, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related posts

Multicloud
Cloud, Cloud Architecture, Cloud Strategy, General,

How to Maximise Benefits from Multi-Cloud Adoption

DB Migration
Cloud Strategy, General,

Database Migration to the Cloud

On Premise vs Public Cloud
Cloud, Cloud Strategy,

Which is cheaper – On Premise vs Public Cloud

Cloud Strategy
Cloud, Cloud Strategy,

Do you have a Cloud Strategy?

Cloud, Cloud Strategy,

A Cloud Exit Strategy

future-cloud
Cloud, Cloud Strategy,

Future of Cloud

Recent Comments

  • Virtual Tarzan on Cloud Migration – Where to start?
  • Dan on Cloud Migration – Where to start?
  • Virtual Tarzan on How to Maximise Benefits from Multi-Cloud Adoption
  • Freya on How to Maximise Benefits from Multi-Cloud Adoption
  • Virtual Tarzan on How to Maximise Benefits from Multi-Cloud Adoption

Categories

  • AI-ML
  • Azure Architecture
  • Citrix
  • Cloud
  • Cloud Architecture
  • Cloud Strategy
  • Compliance
  • Digital Transformation
  • EUC
  • General
  • Infrastructure Design & Architecture
  • IT Strategy
  • Storage
  • Troubleshooting
  • vCloud
  • VMware
  • vSphere

Archives

  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • July 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • August 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012

Follow me

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact me

© 2019 http://virtualtarzan.com. All rights reserved.