Revolutionizing Higher Education through Application Modernization
Ensuring a sleek and updated application portfolio is crucial for several reasons. Technologies that enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency are typically not integrated into previous software versions, along with advancements in digital accessibility and user-centric design. To reap the benefits of modernization, organizations must adopt a holistic approach.
Higher education institutions face unique challenges when it comes to application modernization, particularly due to the decentralized ownership of applications across campuses. The array of applications for a typical institution is vast, ranging from core systems for students, HR, and academic purposes to specialized systems for infrastructure management, security operations, event planning, healthcare records, and more.
Research universities encounter additional complexities with specialized research systems and tools that may lack clear upgrade paths or adequate support structures. Furthermore, embedded systems and IoT devices pose challenges in terms of upgrading vulnerable software versions.
However, beyond just risk mitigation, a strategic evaluation of the application portfolio can reveal redundant functionalities or overlapping tools used by different campus departments. Implementing shared licensing agreements and centralized support systems can optimize costs and enhance user experience.
5 Key Strategies for Advancing Higher Education Application Modernization
Gartner highlights five primary tactics that educational institutions can employ to modernize legacy applications:
- Rehosting: This “lift and shift” approach involves migrating a legacy application to new infrastructure without significant modifications. While tempting, this method may not be ideal when transitioning legacy applications to cloud environments, as it can inflate costs and diminish cloud benefits.
- Replatforming: Transitioning an application to a new runtime platform entails updating key components without altering its functionalities. While it can address vulnerabilities, it often overlooks technical debt issues.
- Rearchitecting: Restructuring an application may involve reimplementing certain sections without major functional changes. Rearchitecting is a prevalent strategy for migrating legacy applications to the cloud effectively.
- Rebuilding: Rebuilding or rewriting an application presents an opportunity to align with evolving business requirements and enhance functionalities. This approach allows for the improvement of outdated features without complete replacement.
- Replacing: Substituting a legacy application with a newer or commercially available solution is a common modernization method. However, ensuring that the new application addresses all business needs can pose significant challenges.
WATCH: Discover how Utah State University leveraged ServiceNow to streamline campus operations.
Regardless of the chosen modernization strategy, a structured and systematic approach is essential. Enterprise architecture tools like Sparx Enterprise Architect or The Essential Project‘s EA tool can provide insights into application portfolios, aiding in remediation prioritization and obsolescence planning.
Collaborating with the right partners is crucial for successful modernization initiatives. While the allure of the cloud for cost savings and flexibility is appealing, a lift-and-shift approach is often insufficient. Engaging a partner with expertise in assessing legacy application migration pathways can optimize the process and enhance the future-state environment.
