Top 4 Hindrances To Watch Out For When Moving Old Apps To The Cloud

a5cf29a1efac262f2fe8f5d9_640

Granted, because they still have a great value and due to the specific industry niche, some companies prefer to hold on to their mature applications. Then again, the same businesses strive to align themselves with to the modern efficiency standard and hence, prefer to move their operations to the cloud.

In the event your company still runs old applications, especially those whose origins can be traced back to the mid-1990s, then be aware that relocating them to the cloud presents some specific challenges. Let’s summarize the top impediments you can encounter in the process.

1. Compatibility

Before migrating an application to the cloud, the first thing you need to find out consist of the operating system version it requires. Take note that although most providers allow you to create virtual machines for mature applications, they will mostly provide you with fairly recent operating systems. Therefore, ask your IaaS provider for the correct OS version. In case this is not an option, then you could run the app on a later version of the same OS. However, this step can alter its original design and you might be forced to perform some tweaking before the app works as intended.

2. Software

Once you find the appropriate operating system, the next step you need to take comprises of making sure the application’s software is available for reinstall. You can find the old software somewhere in the storage or you can download it from the developer’s website. The only issue you can encounter here is that the software may be too old and the developer doesn’t sell copies anymore. If this is the case, then you only have two options, namely upgrade the software or give up on the idea of moving it to the cloud.

3. License activation

In addition to finding the software for it, a further issue could stem from the license activation. In general, for relatively old applications you will have to request a new license or activation code from the developer. Unfortunately, you may learn that the developer stopped issuing activation codes for your app and hence, you won’t be able to move it to the cloud.

A second problem that can arise from the licensing activation is that the code doesn’t function on a cloud-based virtual machine. The licensing system used by most vendors includes hardware related features, such as the network card information. With virtual machines, this could represent an obstacle because some VMs change the hardware signature once you start them. Without the license, the software will not see it as a valid installation; ergo, the app won’t work.

4. Database issues

Let’s assume for a second that you intend to move the application on an SQL server database. If you have to perform modifications to the database’s version, then you will need to test the app and make sure it still works. While changing versions is the least risky method to keep the database intact, don’t forget that you will need to test it to ensure it continues to work.

The bottom line is that before you decide to migrate a mature app to the cloud, you are required to have the appropriate OS, software, license and verify that the app works on the server database.


Leave a comment!

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Struggling with unpredictable and costly IT? Grab a FREE copy of Managed IT Services: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Implementing the Right Solution for Your Business and learn how managed IT services can optimize your IT infrastructure and ensure predictable IT costs.DOWNLOAD IT TODAY FOR FREE
+