Retain Strategy of Cloud Migration

Introduction

In the array of cloud migration strategies, 'Retain' serves as a selective approach, often misunderstood yet strategically crucial.

As part of the 6Rs, 'Retain' involves choosing to keep certain applications or platforms on-premises while still engaging in broader cloud migration efforts.

This guide builds upon our previous discussions of rehosting, replatforming, retiring, repurchasing, and rearchitecting, and connects the 'Retain' strategy to the comprehensive cloud migration narrative, setting the stage for understanding its role and when it proves to be the most beneficial choice.

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What is "Retain" in cloud migration?

'Retain' in cloud migration refers to the strategic choice to keep certain applications or systems in their current environment, rather than moving them to the cloud.

This decision is typically influenced by factors such as application complexity, regulatory compliance, or cost considerations.

The 'Retain' strategy acknowledges that not every application will benefit from cloud migration and that some are better suited to remain on-premises.

📚 Related: Cloud Migration Assessment

Deciding to retain vs. migrate

Choosing between retaining and migrating applications is a pivotal decision in cloud migration, requiring a nuanced understanding of each application's role within the organization and the potential impacts of migration.

• Application dependency and complexity: Assessing whether the application's complexity and dependencies make migration impractical or cost-prohibitive. Complex legacy systems with extensive dependencies may be more challenging and costly to migrate. Ask yourself: “How deeply is the application integrated into current business processes, and what would be the implications of altering its environment?”
• Compliance and regulatory requirements: Understanding if there are any data sovereignty or industry regulations that necessitate keeping certain applications on-premises. Certain industries have stringent data handling and privacy laws that might not align with cloud storage. Ask yourself: “Are there specific compliance or regulatory reasons that necessitate keeping the application on-premises?”
• Performance and latency considerations: Evaluating if applications are performance-intensive and sensitive to latency, which might be better suited for an on-premises setup. Latency-sensitive applications might not perform optimally in a cloud setting. Ask yourself: “Does the application require high-performance computing or have real-time processing needs that are best met in an on-premises environment?”

📚 Related: Data-driven Cloud Transformation

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Benefits of retaining applications

The decision to retain applications within the cloud migration strategy can be advantageous, balancing the need for innovation with practical business considerations.

It allows organizations to carefully weigh the cost-effectiveness and operational impact of migrating versus retaining certain systems, ensuring that the most beneficial and strategic path is chosen for each application.

This approach not only addresses immediate business needs but also paves the way for future scalability and flexibility.

Retaining applications can offer several strategic benefits to an organization: 

• Cost savings: Assess if the cost of rearchitecting or migrating an application would outweigh the benefits. In some cases, the financial impact of moving complex legacy systems can be significant.
• Risk management: Consider whether retaining applications can mitigate risks associated with disruption to business-critical operations.
• Regulatory compliance: Determine if keeping applications on-premises simplifies compliance with data sovereignty and other regulatory requirements.

📚 Related: Are the Benefits of Application Migration Becoming Cloudy?

Strategies for retained applications

Even when applications are retained, they require ongoing management to ensure they continue to serve the business effectively:

• Regular reviews and updates: Ensure that retained applications still align with evolving business goals and receive necessary updates and maintenance.
• Integration with new technologies: Explore ways to integrate retained applications with new cloud services to enhance functionality without full migration.
• Cost monitoring: Continually assess the cost of retaining each application to ensure it remains a financially sound decision.

📚 Related: Critical Role of Enterprise Architecture in Cloud Migration

Challenges of retaining applications

When retaining applications during a cloud migration, organizations face specific challenges that require careful management to avoid impacting business operations.

• Ensuring compatibility: As you integrate cloud services, you must ensure that retained applications can still communicate effectively with these new environments. For example, an on-premises accounting software must remain compatible with a new cloud-based sales platform.
• Avoiding tech obsolescence: Retained applications may risk becoming outdated. Regular assessments can help decide if an application should be updated, replaced, or retired, like an old email server when most communication has moved to cloud-based platforms.
• Security and compliance: Applications remaining on-premises must maintain robust security measures. This could involve additional investments in security infrastructure to protect legacy systems as the surrounding technology landscape evolves.

Conclusion

Retaining certain applications during a cloud migration can be a strategic move, allowing organizations to maintain stability while reaping the benefits of cloud services.

This guide has outlined how to navigate the decision to retain, manage retained applications effectively, and address potential challenges.

As cloud technologies continue to evolve, the approach to retention should remain flexible and continuously aligned with the organization's changing goals and the technological landscape.