How to optimize a legacy application?

A legacy application or legacy system is obsolete computer software that is still in use. While its system is outdated, it can still operate, albeit often unstably due to incompatibility with current infrastructures. Companies continue to use legacy applications because they meet critical business needs.

Replacing legacy software is often complex, expensive, and risky. Legacy applications can be tied to specific versions of coding languages or operating systems. For instance, in business, ERP software, though obsolete, might be integral to managing essential processes such as accounting, supply chain, and inventory. The challenge lies in maintaining legacy applications while improving their core technologies to enhance efficiency, a process known as legacy system modernization. Lemon Learning helps you better understand this process, which may involve migrating legacy applications to the cloud.

The Challenges of Legacy Applications

The main challenges of retaining a legacy application or system include:

• Accessibility of essential data and functionalities
• Rigidity of the system, making it difficult to adapt to technological developments and new business needs
• Complex integration with modern systems
• Expenses related to maintenance and adjustments
• Non-compliance and security risks

Retaining a legacy application can prevent your business from fully leveraging new technologies due to compatibility issues. Data stored on legacy systems might not be shareable with other departments using newer applications, limiting performance and reducing competitive advantage.

Companies typically use legacy applications because of the expense involved in replacing them. However, it’s important to consider the long-term cost of maintaining and repairing legacy software, which can be more expensive. Failures are more frequent, and resource consumption is higher. An outdated application that is no longer updated by its developers will need ongoing maintenance from your IT team. Beyond the cost of repairs and adjustments, time is also lost due to the slowdown of activities caused by the dysfunction of the legacy system.

Legacy applications may also fail to meet current compliance and data security standards, depending on your field of activity. Regulations such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and HDS (Health Data Hosting) may apply. Legacy applications can create security vulnerabilities, making it easier for cybercriminals to access your systems. In the event of a successful attack, you risk losing important data and the trust of your customers and partners.

Modernizing Legacy Applications

Modernizing a legacy application involves upgrading a less capable legacy system to a modern solution, often more efficient and adaptable. As part of the digital transformation process, modernization allows you to meet current needs and standards. Success requires a solid strategy that aligns with your business realities.

Approaches to Modernization

You can adopt several solutions to modernize a legacy application. You will choose the appropriate strategy by considering factors such as demand, expected results, and budgetary constraints.

• Rehosting: Rehosting involves migrating legacy applications to a new environment (host) with minimal changes to the source code and functionalities. This approach is recommended for companies needing a rapid transition but doesn’t fully exploit the potential of modernization.
• Refactoring: Refactoring involves restructuring and optimizing legacy code to strengthen performance and maintainability without changing its basic functionalities. This strategy results in a more efficient legacy application.
• Reengineering: Reengineering refers to the complete overhaul of the application’s architecture to meet modern standards. It is a complex process that uses a progressive management approach.
• Replatforming: Replatforming involves moving to a different infrastructure, with gains in performance and scalability. This strategy requires some level of adaptation of the application code.
• Complete Replacement: When a legacy system is too outdated, complete replacement may be necessary. Your business must prepare to face challenges or disruptions that may arise during the transition.

The Benefits of Modernization

Modernizing legacy applications improves performance and operational efficiency, leading to faster response times and a better user experience. Interfaces are reorganized to increase staff or customer satisfaction. The process also includes upgrading security systems and complying with industry standards, reducing the risk of breaches and avoiding costly compliance failures.

Modernization offers alternatives to reduce maintenance costs. You can optimize your legacy system hosting and maximize your workforce. For example, companies that have used the same inventory management system for years will see their profitability gradually decrease. Outdated applications become slower and require constant maintenance. Modernization helps reduce maintenance costs and improve employee productivity.

Migration to the Cloud

Cloud migration involves transferring applications, data, infrastructure, security systems, or other IT elements to a cloud computing environment. This process allows you to shift from an investment model to operational expenses, eliminating the need to own, operate, or maintain expensive on-premises data center hardware. Systems can migrate as they are or undergo ongoing optimization and modernization.

Advantages of Migrating Legacy Applications to the Cloud

Migrating legacy applications to the cloud offers several benefits, including:

• Improved scalability
• Increased accessibility
• Flexibility
• Reduction of expenses

Cloud solutions precisely meet current needs and can quickly adapt when those needs change. Your business won’t need additional hardware or infrastructure. Cloud-based applications can be accessed anytime (24/7) from anywhere, facilitating collaboration and streamlining workflow. Cloud providers use advanced security measures like data encryption, multi-factor access checks, and threat monitoring, offering disaster recovery options with multiple backups and reliable recovery.

The cloud environment has network connections that reduce latency for legacy applications. By migrating, you can add new features, such as automation, artificial intelligence (AI), or connected devices, which can bring real value to your processes. With the cloud, your business only pays for the capacity used, a significant departure from legacy software running on old, expensive hardware. However, careful planning during the migration process is essential to avoid underutilization of available resources.

Challenges of Migrating to the Cloud

Companies migrating their legacy applications to the cloud face several challenges, including:

• Initial costs of migration and staff training
• Adoption problems and resistance to change
• Security and compliance issues

Migration costs can be high when moving from legacy systems to the cloud, compounded by the need to train employees on new application features. Initial expenses may be significant, but you can recoup this investment in the long term through the many benefits of migration.

Human resources management is a key factor for a successful transition. Implement a migration strategy that facilitates team adaptation as work processes change. Regarding data security, confidentiality and regulatory compliance are essential. Some cloud deployment models may be better suited, depending on the type of information to be processed or moved.

Modernizing legacy applications is essential for companies wanting to remain competitive in the market. Competing against a competitor leveraging new technologies while using outdated systems is difficult, if not impossible. Migrating to the cloud can be a vital step in your business’s digital transformation. However, it requires strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration to ensure a successful transition.