Re-platforming, in the context of cloud computing, is a process that involves moving an application from one environment to another, typically from an on-premises data center to a cloud-based infrastructure. This term is often used interchangeably with the term 'lift and shift', although there are subtle differences between the two. The goal of re-platforming is to leverage the benefits of the cloud, such as scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, without having to completely redesign or re-architect the application.
Re-platforming is a critical aspect of a company's digital transformation strategy and is often a complex and multi-faceted process. It involves not just the migration of applications, but also the transformation of business processes, the re-skilling of staff, and the implementation of new operational models. This article will delve into the intricacies of re-platforming, its history, use cases, and specific examples.
Definition of Re-platforming
Re-platforming is defined as the process of moving an application or a set of applications from one environment to another, typically from an on-premises data center to a cloud-based infrastructure. The goal of re-platforming is to take advantage of the benefits of the cloud, such as scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, without having to completely redesign or re-architect the application.
While the term 're-platforming' is often used interchangeably with 'lift and shift', there are subtle differences between the two. 'Lift and shift' typically involves moving an application to the cloud without making any changes to its architecture. 'Re-platforming', on the other hand, may involve making some changes to the application's architecture to better leverage the capabilities of the cloud.
Key Components of Re-platforming
Re-platforming involves several key components, including the application itself, the data associated with the application, the infrastructure on which the application runs, and the processes and tools used to manage and operate the application. Each of these components must be carefully considered and managed during the re-platforming process.
The application is the most visible component of the re-platforming process. It is the software that provides the functionality that the business relies on. The data associated with the application is also critical, as it is often the most valuable asset of the business. The infrastructure is the physical and virtual resources that the application runs on, including servers, storage, and network resources. The processes and tools are the methods and software used to manage and operate the application and the infrastructure.
Benefits of Re-platforming
There are several benefits to re-platforming, including cost savings, increased scalability, improved flexibility, and enhanced security. By moving to the cloud, companies can often reduce their capital expenditures on IT infrastructure and shift to a more predictable, pay-as-you-go operating expense model. They can also scale their applications up or down as needed, providing the flexibility to respond to changing business conditions.
Re-platforming can also improve security by leveraging the advanced security features and capabilities of cloud providers. These providers typically have significant resources dedicated to security and compliance, which can be a significant advantage for businesses, especially those in regulated industries.
History of Re-platforming
The concept of re-platforming has been around for as long as there have been computer systems. However, the term itself, and the process it describes, has gained prominence with the rise of cloud computing. In the early days of computing, applications were typically run on dedicated, on-premises hardware. As technology evolved, these applications were often moved, or 're-platformed', to new hardware or operating systems to take advantage of improved performance or capabilities.
With the advent of virtualization technology in the early 2000s, the concept of re-platforming took on a new dimension. Virtualization allowed applications to be decoupled from the underlying hardware, making it easier to move them between different physical servers or data centers. This paved the way for the rise of cloud computing, which took the concept of virtualization to a new level by allowing applications to be run on shared, distributed resources accessed over the internet.
Re-platforming in the Age of Cloud Computing
With the rise of cloud computing, re-platforming has become a key strategy for businesses looking to modernize their IT infrastructure. The cloud offers a number of advantages over traditional on-premises infrastructure, including cost savings, scalability, and flexibility. However, moving applications to the cloud is not a simple task. It requires careful planning, skilled resources, and a deep understanding of both the existing application architecture and the capabilities of the cloud platform.
Despite the challenges, many businesses have successfully re-platformed their applications to the cloud. These businesses have been able to reduce their IT costs, improve their operational efficiency, and increase their agility. They have also been able to take advantage of new cloud-native features and services, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and serverless computing.
Use Cases of Re-platforming
Re-platforming is used in a variety of scenarios, ranging from simple application migrations to complex digital transformation initiatives. Some of the most common use cases for re-platforming include cost reduction, business agility, and digital transformation.
Cost reduction is often the primary driver for re-platforming. By moving applications to the cloud, businesses can reduce their capital expenditures on IT infrastructure and shift to a more predictable, pay-as-you-go operating expense model. Business agility is another key driver for re-platforming. The cloud allows businesses to scale their applications up or down as needed, providing the flexibility to respond to changing business conditions. Digital transformation is a broader use case that often involves re-platforming as a key component. In these scenarios, businesses are looking to leverage the power of the cloud to transform their business processes, customer experiences, and business models.
Re-platforming for Cost Reduction
One of the most common use cases for re-platforming is cost reduction. By moving applications to the cloud, businesses can often reduce their capital expenditures on IT infrastructure and shift to a more predictable, pay-as-you-go operating expense model. This can result in significant cost savings, especially for businesses with large, complex IT environments.
However, it's important to note that re-platforming for cost reduction is not just about reducing hardware costs. It also involves optimizing the application architecture to take advantage of the cloud's scalability and elasticity. This can involve refactoring the application to make it more modular, implementing auto-scaling policies, and leveraging cloud-native services to reduce the operational overhead.
Re-platforming for Business Agility
Another common use case for re-platforming is to increase business agility. The cloud allows businesses to scale their applications up or down as needed, providing the flexibility to respond to changing business conditions. This can be particularly valuable for businesses that experience seasonal demand fluctuations or that are growing rapidly.
Re-platforming for business agility often involves more than just moving the application to the cloud. It also involves re-architecting the application to make it more scalable and resilient. This can involve implementing microservices architecture, leveraging cloud-native services, and adopting DevOps practices to enable continuous delivery and rapid iteration.
Examples of Re-platforming
There are many examples of businesses that have successfully re-platformed their applications to the cloud. These examples span a wide range of industries and use cases, but they all share a common theme: the desire to leverage the power of the cloud to improve business outcomes.
One example is Netflix, which began its cloud migration journey in 2008. The company decided to re-platform its entire IT infrastructure to the cloud after experiencing a major database corruption that resulted in a three-day service outage. By moving to the cloud, Netflix was able to improve its scalability, resilience, and agility, enabling it to grow into one of the world's largest streaming services.
Netflix: A Re-platforming Success Story
Netflix is often cited as a success story in the world of re-platforming. The company began its cloud migration journey in 2008, after experiencing a major database corruption that resulted in a three-day service outage. This incident highlighted the limitations of Netflix's on-premises infrastructure and prompted the company to look for a more scalable and resilient solution.
Netflix decided to re-platform its entire IT infrastructure to the cloud. This was a massive undertaking, involving the migration of thousands of servers, hundreds of petabytes of data, and a complete overhaul of the company's development and operations processes. Despite the challenges, Netflix successfully completed its cloud migration in 2016, becoming one of the largest cloud-based businesses in the world.
Capital One: Re-platforming for Digital Transformation
Capital One is another example of a company that has used re-platforming to drive digital transformation. The financial services company began its cloud migration journey in 2015, with the goal of becoming a digital-first business. To achieve this, Capital One needed to move away from its traditional, on-premises IT infrastructure and embrace the cloud.
Capital One decided to re-platform its applications to the cloud, leveraging the scalability, flexibility, and innovation capabilities of the cloud to transform its business. The company also invested heavily in re-skilling its staff, adopting DevOps practices, and implementing a cloud-first development strategy. Today, Capital One is recognized as a leader in digital banking, thanks in large part to its successful re-platforming initiative.
Conclusion
Re-platforming is a critical aspect of a company's digital transformation strategy. By moving applications from on-premises data centers to the cloud, businesses can leverage the benefits of the cloud, such as scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. However, re-platforming is not a simple task. It requires careful planning, skilled resources, and a deep understanding of both the existing application architecture and the capabilities of the cloud platform.
Despite the challenges, many businesses have successfully re-platformed their applications to the cloud, achieving significant cost savings, improving operational efficiency, and increasing business agility. As cloud computing continues to evolve, re-platforming will remain a key strategy for businesses looking to stay competitive in the digital age.