In today’s technological environment, companies face the challenge of modernizing their legacy applications while ensuring service continuity. Many organizations still rely on legacy systems, traditional software that operates locally on desktop computers, which, although important, hinder scalability, remote access, and integration with new technologies.

The good news is that, thanks to digital transformation tools, it is possible to migrate these legacy systems to the cloud, transforming them into web applications and ensuring more flexibility and security. In this article, we will delve into the details of how this transition works and the best strategies to execute this process efficiently.

What are legacy systems?

Legacy systems are old software or technologies that are now outdated but are still in use due to their importance in the company’s daily operations.

Although they perform critical functions, these systems can be difficult to maintain and often are incompatible with newer technologies. As a result, they hinder the company's ability to meet growing market demands.

In other words, over time, legacy systems can become a tangle of outdated solutions, making it hard to integrate with new technologies and increasing operational costs.

Why is it important to transform legacy systems into web-based solutions?

As you can see, maintaining legacy systems can be costly and time-consuming, as well as exposing the company to security risks and compatibility challenges.

As new demands emerge and technology advances, the pressure to modernize these systems increases. Migrating to the cloud offers several advantages, such as:

Cost Reduction

With less need to maintain local servers and infrastructure, the cloud reduces costs related to hardware and maintenance, making it a more economical alternative than traditional legacy systems.

Greater Flexibility and Scalability

The cloud allows for quick adjustments in usage capacity, supporting the company's growth in a more agile manner.

Additionally, web-based legacy systems can be easily scaled to meet the company’s needs.

Remote Accessibility

With cloud-based systems, the team can access applications from anywhere, at any time, simplifying remote work and mobility.

Improved Security

Web-based legacy systems can be more secure than traditional legacy systems. This is because the cloud offers a range of security features, such as encryption and backup.

Providers like Oracle offer robust security with automatic updates, protecting systems from threats.

Therefore, migrating to the cloud not only modernizes your infrastructure but also enables your company to stay aligned with market demands.

How to Migrate Desktop Legacy Systems to the Cloud?

The transition of legacy systems to the cloud requires a structured approach and specific tools to ensure a successful migration. These are the main steps involved in this process:

1. Legacy System Analysis

Before making any changes, it is essential to understand how the current system operates and its complexity.

For this reason, the first step is to conduct a detailed analysis, identifying the features, integrations, and dependencies that need to be updated and understanding how they integrate with current processes.

2. Migration Strategy Selection

There are several strategies for moving a legacy system to the cloud, including:

• Replatforming: Adapts the legacy system to the new platform, maintaining most of the code but modifying the infrastructure.
• Refactoring: Rewrites the code to improve compatibility with the cloud.
• Replacement with SaaS Solutions: In some cases, replacing the legacy system with a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution may be the most viable option.

3. Selection of Virtualization Tools

To migrate legacy systems, it is important to use tools that virtualize the desktop environment and transform the system into a web application. These tools make it possible to access the old system through the cloud, enabling modernization and remote access.

4. Testing and Adjustments

After the migration, it is important to conduct rigorous testing to ensure that all system functionalities are operating correctly. Adjustments may be needed to ensure that the user experience is maintained.

5. Monitoring and Maintenance

After the launch in the cloud, monitoring performance and performing preventive maintenance are crucial steps. This function should be carried out periodically to ensure the system's security and efficiency.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: The Right Tool for Migrating Legacy Systems to the Cloud

To facilitate the process of migrating legacy systems to the cloud, some tools and technologies stand out, such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Oracle offers a robust and secure framework for companies that want to modernize their operations. Designed to provide high-performance cloud infrastructure, this tool allows legacy systems to be migrated and run with the same level of efficiency, security, and control they had on physical servers.

Additionally, Oracle combines its solutions with advanced automation and management tools, simplifying the migration process and reducing the risks associated with it. This enables companies to keep their systems up to date without disrupting business continuity.

Another advantage of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is its full support and monitoring capabilities, which simplify the management of cloud systems. This makes the tool a reliable option for companies looking to scale their operations in the cloud without sacrificing security and control.

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Migrating desktop legacy systems to the cloud represents an important step for companies looking to modernize their operations, increase flexibility, and reduce costs.

By using virtualization and cloud migration tools, it is possible to maintain the functionalities of legacy systems while benefiting from the scalability that only the cloud can offer. With partners like Oracle Cloud and a well-planned approach, your company will be prepared to face the technological challenges of today.

If you want to understand how migrating to the cloud can transform your legacy systems, contact our team and learn about our solutions!