The Move to OCI: Lift & Shift vs Replatforming

As the cloud has matured, Government organizations are trying to determine the best way to move their applications and infrastructure to take advantage of the benefits the cloud can bring. Customers moving their mission-critical systems to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) have many choices as they decide how to migrate. Two similar migration approaches involve the Lifting and Shifting of applications "as is" to the cloud and the Replatforming of applications to take advantage of new capabilities within the cloud. Have you heard of the Autonomous Database capabilities in the cloud, and you want to take advantage of it? Or the auto-scaling and advantages of containers that come with Oracle Kubernetes Engine? Those are just a few of the options when you are re-platforming. Let's explore the differences in each approach, the benefits, and challenges, as well as the considerations associated with each, and why a government organization might choose one over the other. 

What does it mean to “Lift and Shift” your application? 

A Lift and Shift migration involves moving an application or system "as-is" (as much as possible!) from one environment to another, usually from on-premises to the cloud. Essentially, you are doing your best to duplicate what you have on-premise in the cloud. This method is often considered a straightforward, more rapid, and less disruptive approach.   

Benefits of Lift and Shift Migration   

1. Minimal disruption to existing systems: You are moving everything as it is today. A Lift and Shift migration retains the core architecture and functionality of the existing system, resulting in minimal changes to the application or associated databases. If you were running standalone databases on servers before, you're doing it the same way in the cloud. Frequently, this approach ensures a smooth transition, reducing the risk of potential disruptions during the migration process.   
2. Faster time to migration and a quick win: A Lift and Shift is typically the fastest way to migrate their applications to the cloud. Need to exit your data center quickly? Have a compelling need to move fast? A Lift and Shift enables faster deployment and allows agencies to leverage the scalability and agility offered by the cloud platform.   
3. Some Cost savings and resource optimization: Lifting and shifting can provide a lot of benefits, including taking advantage of more resources on demand, only paying for what you use, and not having to worry about hardware upgrades. But at the end of the day, it's the same system in the cloud, and additional benefits may not be realized. 

Challenges of Lift and Shift Migration   

1. Compatibility issues: Sometimes, it may not be possible to Lift and Shift. If your environment runs on a proprietary platform, it just may not be possible – or you may have other restrictions that could be technical or licensing-related.  
2. Not realizing the full benefits of the cloud: While Lift and Shift can provide immediate benefits in terms of cost savings and speed, it may not fully leverage the scalability, elasticity, or new functionality available in the cloud. For example, the security benefits and reduced resource requirements for maintenance may not materialize if you take everything "as is" and move it.   
3. Potential technical debt accumulation: If the existing system has significant technical debt or outdated architecture, migrating it as-is could lead to the accumulation of technical debt in the cloud environment. It's crucial to assess and address any underlying issues before migrating to avoid future challenges. 

What is Replatforming, and how is it different?  

Replatforming involves migrating an application to the cloud and taking some opportunities to take advantage of some of the new capabilities offered by the target platform. For example, move from a standalone, customer-managed database to the Autonomous Data Warehouse. Or you may move from a self-managed Kubernetes Cluster to Oracle Kubernetes Engine to take advantage of the auto-scaling, self-healing, and other capabilities.  

Benefits of Replatforming Migration  

1. Access to modern features and capabilities: Replatforming can allow organizations to tap into the advanced features and tools provided by the target platform. For example, customers migrating to Oracle E-Business Suite or PeopleSoft may take advantage of Database Cloud Service to reduce their maintenance requirements. Other customers may take advantage of machine learning capabilities, serverless computing, auto-scaling, or advanced analytics, boosting innovation and increasing capabilities.  
2. Cost savings: While replatforming an application might involve an initial investment, it can result in long-term cost savings. For example, migrating to Database Cloud Service may reduce your maintenance requirements for your databases, reducing required personnel resourcing and allowing existing resources to work on higher value-added activities.  
3. Enhanced performance and scalability: Replatforming provides an opportunity to modernize the underlying infrastructure, enabling businesses to leverage the enhanced performance and scalability offered by the new platform. This can lead to improved user experience, reduced response times, and increased capacity to handle growing workloads. 

Challenges of Replatforming Migration  

1. Increased complexity and effort: Replatforming may involve making modifications to the application code, configurations, or dependencies to align them with the target platform. You may need to test and ensure compatibility and validate that everything works properly.  
2. Vendor support and compatibility: Does your application vendor support some of the advanced Cloud features? While Oracle supports many of the advanced features of OCI for their applications like E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft, Customer Care and Billing, and Primavera, not all are supported. Make sure you validate the specific features you'd like to use and whether they are supported.  
3. Potential disruptions during the migration process: As replatforming often changes the application or database system, there is a greater risk of disruptions during the migration process. It's crucial to plan and execute the migration carefully, considering rollback strategies and ensuring proper testing and validation to mitigate potential issues.  
4. Need for retraining and knowledge transfer: Replatforming to a new platform might require the development team to acquire new skills or knowledge. Different processes may need to be built to take advantage of the new or modified capabilities. Adequate training and knowledge transfer should be provided to ensure a smooth transition and to fully leverage the benefits of the new platform. 

How do I choose the right approach?  

When deciding between Lift and Shift and Replatforming, there are several factors to consider:  

1. Organization goals and objectives: Understand your organization's specific needs and objectives. Why are you moving to the cloud? How long will the system remain in place? If the system is considered strategic moving forward, it may make more sense to consider future factors such as scalability requirements, desired performance improvements, and cost reduction, which may come with refactoring.  
2. Current system architecture and infrastructure: Assess the compatibility of your existing system with the target platform. Many systems like PeopleSoft and E-Business Suite have built-in capabilities and tools to help you refactor to new technologies. Identify any architectural limitations, dependencies, or technical debt that might impact the success of each migration approach.  
3. Time and budget constraints: Evaluate the available time frame and budget for the migration project. Lift and shift migration often requires less time and effort, making it a suitable option for organizations with tight deadlines and limited resources. Replatforming, on the other hand, might require more upfront investment but can yield long-term benefits. 

Comparative Analysis of Lift and Shift and Replatforming Approaches  

To help you make an informed decision, let's compare the benefits and challenges of Lift and Shift and Replatforming approaches side by side:  

Best Practices for Successful Migration  

To ensure a successful migration, follow these best practices:  

1. Assess the readiness of existing systems: Perform a comprehensive analysis of your current systems, identifying any potential compatibility issues, technical debt, or performance bottlenecks that need to be addressed before migration. Understand the vendor support for any new features you'd like to uptake.  
2. Develop a comprehensive migration plan: Plan the migration process meticulously, considering factors such as resource allocation, data transfer, testing, and rollback strategies. Assign dedicated resources and establish clear communication channels to streamline the migration process.  
3. Mitigate risks and address potential issues: Identify potential risks and challenges associated with your chosen migration approach. Implement risk mitigation strategies and establish contingency plans to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition.
    

Summary   

Choosing the right migration approach is crucial for organizations seeking to modernize their systems and infrastructure. But there is no one-size-fits-all answer for every government agency. By considering factors such as business goals, current architecture, time and budget constraints, and future scalability needs, you can make an informed decision between Lift and Shift and Replatforming. Remember to follow best practices, mitigate risks, and address potential challenges to ensure a successful migration.  

If you're ready to embark on your migration journey or have any questions regarding lift and shift or re-platforming your Oracle applications and databases, we're here to help. Contact us today to discuss your specific requirements and explore how our expertise can assist you in achieving a seamless and efficient migration experience.