If your software currently runs on a legacy application, it may be time to dust off the cobwebs and upgrade your system. There are a variety of options for cleaning up your legacy systems, from application migration to reengineering, auditing, and modernizing the existing software.
What is a “legacy” application?
An application becomes “legacy” when it’s been around for a while and is still in use, and generally means that there are elements of the build that have become outdated or need a refresh. Some developer teams also refer to an application as “legacy” when it was built by a different team before them, so they aren’t the original developers. Applications can also become “legacy” when they no longer receive support – meaning that their software is old enough it no longer receives patches or updates in response to issues that may arise.
Options for Legacy Modernization
Modernizing your application is a great way to save your company money, make everything run more smoothly, and guarantee the security of your systems. There are various ways to do this, depending on what your current software looks like and what needs you’re trying to meet. Options include:
- Legacy application migration to cloud
- Legacy software migration
- Legacy software reengineering
- Legacy software audit
Legacy Application Migration to Cloud
If your legacy application currently resides in on-site servers, you can save your company a lot of money by migrating to the cloud. There are a variety of 3rd party cloud providers to choose from, with the most common being Amazon (AWS), Google (GCP), and Microsoft (Azure). Cloud migration involves taking your existing application and moving it to one of these providers, so you no longer have to spend money or resources hosting your own software.
Successful legacy application migration to the cloud can save enormous amounts of money annually – read our cloud migration case study, where we saved a client $100k/year by migrating their legacy application.
Legacy Software Migration
Updating elements of your legacy application is often referred to as software migration. This could involve updating the current programming language to a newer version, or updating the existing software packages to have a more modernized flow. This can be done in conjunction with a cloud migration or separately.
Legacy Software Reengineering
If your legacy system needs a renovation, then software reengineering could be the right move. Our team will go into sections of your system, or the whole system itself, and rebuild the architecture.This could involve simply modifying and improving the existing systems, or it could mean breaking down the whole system to be rebuilt into a new programming language or software.
Legacy Software Audit
Not sure what exactly needs to be done to get your legacy system up to modern speed? We can run a legacy software audit that will analyze the existing system or systems and provide recommendations for improvements. Our team will find ways to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, intuitiveness, and security of your system, as well as make sure that its long-term prospects will have it in good shape for the future.
Why do you need to modernize your legacy application?
Modernizing legacy applications helps to keep everything running smoothly and save your company money. By migrating your legacy system to a modern technology, you can reduce costs by relying on a system that’s much easier to staff for and build with.
Technology that’s kept up-to-date will have improved long-term prospects, meaning that the support horizon is much longer and new staff will have a much easier time making modifications. Updated systems also benefit from improved security, better user experience, and more compatibility with new features and functions.
An effective migration should be carefully planned and executed with care. Typically, we recommend breaking a system down into its components and then updating each as its own project. Tackling modernization in pieces is a much more manageable flow than a top-down, “big bang” approach.
Cost of Legacy Modernization
Because we address legacy application migration and modernization as improving pieces of the puzzle rather than trying to solve the whole puzzle at once, clients are able to start at nearly any price point. Depending on how much of the system you want to change at once, we can assemble the right team of engineers to tackle your project in the requested timeline.
For reference, here are some example timeline and cost scenarios:
- $5,000/month for 3 months
Our team can put together a list of relatively simple tasks that will have an outsized influence on the quality of the software system. - $10,000/month for 4 months
Our team will focus on simple, high-impact tasks first, but the larger budget means we can also begin untangling the more complicated pieces of your legacy system(s). - $40,000+/month for 3+ months
We will assemble a team to tackle more complex legacy systems. Whether this involves rewriting old software, migrating to the cloud, or updating/upgrading dependencies, our team of experts will guide you through the process of modernizing your system.
Just like physical assets, digital assets also need to be maintained. The sooner you take care of these tasks, the less expensive the project will be. By modernizing your old system, your company can provide better services at decreased costs. Giving your existing system a makeover is almost always better than trying to build something new from scratch, because you can continue to benefit from all of the knowledge that went into the legacy software.
If you do think a full rebuild is necessary, we can help with that too! This could be the case if your product has outgrown your system, or if your technology needs have changed. Not sure what your legacy application needs? Our team can help by running an audit and making the right recommendation.