So, when you and your team begin your cloud-deployment initiatives, legacy architecture isn’t replaced, it’s updated, and better positioned to meet customer needs. This is the very essence of connecting legacy architecture with cloud-hosted applications; crafting a seamless move towards a more agile environment.
But where do you start? How do you begin making this happen?
Well, the first thing to consider are your objectives. What are you trying to gain from the process? For example; Increasing user access to legacy architecture, perhaps through increasing up-time for existing applications, or migrating functionality to the cloud for increased capability and an all-round enhanced user experience.
You may have only a handful of objectives, or you may find your list growing exponentially. This is not important, as long as you ensure that your targets are within your realistic capability and are easily managed.
This set of objectives will guide you during the process, and also give you a yardstick by which to measure its success: Next, you need to consider what your legacy applications are, and how they can be improved by connection with the cloud. Ask yourself the following questions about each of the legacy applications as you define your list:
• What is the level of connection or integration for each application currently? Typically, this level of connection will be low; something that connection with your cloud structure will immediately remedy. The data from such applications is usually siloed, also, making it impossible for other applications and processes to benefit.
• Do you have the necessary workflow in place for managing the productivity and efficiency of the application once it is integrated with your cloud structure? Bear in mind that workflows will change along with the shift towards cloud connection, so be prepared for this.
• What customer support services are required for the legacy application? How will customer needs shift as you connect and integrate the application with the cloud?
Answering these questions will provide you with the road-map you need as you take real steps towards cloud integration. You will begin to build up a picture of what to expect during integration, and of what form the final connection will take. This will also give you an understanding of any potential pitfalls of obstacles. Unfortunately, these obstacles are real. While you and your organisation will certainly benefit from connecting legacy architecture with your cloud solution, there are risks to the process that your team must be aware of.
Consider the impact that the move to the cloud will have on your business. You are already utilizing these applications after all, and they are probably an important part of what you offer to your clients and customers. With this in mind, you need to consider how application usage will shift, and what the impact of this will be.
It is also important to consider how long the process will take to complete. Set yourself a deadline, certainly, but be prepared to make this deadline flexible if required. Keep on top of this deadline, and manage extensions carefully. Finally, what about downtime? If your services are suddenly not available to your customers during the process, what impact will this have, and what can you do to mitigate the damage to company reputation? Knowing this in advance will help you to protect your business against any service disruption during the process.
It is important to get the very best advice and guidance when connecting legacy architecture to cloud-hosted applications.
Let the Nexon team help you navigate this process with ease. Get in touch with us today.
Blog 
Read more 
4 minutes