Breaking Free from Legacy: Migrate AS400 to the Cloud for a Future-Ready Business

AS400 is a mid-range server introduced by IBM around three decades back. AS400 systems have stayed relevant to this day, powering core operations in sectors like banking, retail, and manufacturing. While they are reliable, robust, and secure, they lack the capabilities present-day users expect. AS400 applications feature green-screen interfaces and a complex codebase. Besides, they are incompatible with modern systems. Also, there is little to no documentation for these applications, as individuals who developed them have either retired or will do so in the near future. Not surprisingly, organizations using them are contemplating migrating them to the cloud.

Why Businesses Migrate from AS400 to the Cloud?

The cost of maintaining AS400 applications has become so high that most businesses using them are considering moving them to the Azure or AWS Cloud. However, there are factors beyond cost that have pushed the need for migration. These include:

Obsolete Technology: Like most legacy systems, AS400 also restricts the ability of an organization to leverage the latest technologies—think AI-ML, data analytics, or RPA. AS400 applications aren’t as easy to integrate with third-party solutions as well. This puts your business at a disadvantage, hindering its innovation.

Limited Scalability: AS400 applications are mostly hosted on on-premises hardware. It is not possible to dynamically provision hardware resources during periods of high demand. This inability to flexibly scale in response to changing requirements impacts user experience. It may also affect your organization’s bottom line.

Lack of Qualified Talent: Specialized resources are needed to make an application function smoothly. The talent pool of AS400 specialists continues to dwindle. Experienced AS400 developers have either retired or shifted to other roles. Younger programmers are no longer interested in learning languages like COBOL or RPG which the AS400 systems have been built on. Reliance on a small talent pool makes your business susceptible to operational inefficiencies.

Security Risks: Often, AS400 applications run on unsupported software versions. They may lack timely patching and adequate security controls. That’s why they are likely to become targets for data breaches or cyberattacks. This puts your organization’s critical data at risk. It also jeopardizes your compliance.

Migrating AS400 to the Cloud: A Step-by-Step Approach

Migrating AS400 applications to the cloud is a resource and time-intensive activity. It entails a well-thought-out plan. Here is a step-by-step approach businesses should adhere to when moving AS400 to the cloud.

Evaluate Legacy Systems

To start with, conduct an in-depth assessment of your existing AS400 infrastructure. This will help determine which applications and workloads can be easily migrated to the cloud and which ones require more preparation. At this stage, it is also essential to identify dependencies and compatibility issues that may impact the duration and complexity of migration.

Choose a Suitable Migration Approach

After assessment, choose the right approach for moving the AS400 systems to the cloud. The approach chosen should be aligned with your business and IT goals. Here are some of the approaches to consider:

Rehost: Here, the AS400 application is shifted to a cloud environment with no change to its code or functionality.

Replatform: The application is migrated with minimal changes to its codebase. Features and functionality remain unchanged.

Refactor: The codebase is optimized to remove technical debt.

Rearchitect: The code is modified considerably. It is also moved to a new application architecture.

Rebuild: A new application is built from the ground up. Its scope and specifications remain unchanged.

Some migration approaches like rehosting or replatforming involve moderate risks and complexity. Others such as refactoring and rearchitecting incur much higher risks. However, if done right, they provide more tangible benefits to your business.

Create a Migration Plan

Depending on the approach chosen, create a migration plan. The plan should include a detailed timeline outlining the steps involved, deliverables, resources required, and stakeholders involved. It is during this stage that you should define the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for the migration process. These KPIs could be in the form of improved user experience, increased uptime, or cost savings.

Choose the Right Cloud Platform

It is essential to select a cloud model and cloud platform for the migrated AS400 applications. Among cloud models, you may choose from public, private, and hybrid clouds. The choice depends on your budget and privacy requirements.

When selecting a cloud platform, you have the option to migrate AS400 to Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud. The choice is dictated by your requirements for scalability, uptime, security, customer support, and price. It is also possible to set up a multi-cloud environment where two or more cloud platforms are combined.

5) Select the Right Migration Tools

There are various tools that automate processes during migration and post-migration support. This helps businesses fast-track migration and minimize the risks and costs involved. All three cloud platforms mentioned above provide their own services for this purpose. While AWS offers AWS Server Migration Service, Azure offers Azure Migrate. Likewise, Google Cloud has Google Migrate for Compute Engine. In addition, there are several platform-agnostic solutions such as Turbonomic and Carbonite Migrate you could choose from.

6) Implement the Migration as Planned

Once you’re done with the required preparation, move your AS400 applications and data to the cloud. Cloud migration is an intricate undertaking and requires the right expertise. It is, therefore, vital to have qualified people in place to manage each aspect of migration—development, testing, and support. If you’ve partnered with an iSeries migration services specialist, they will handle everything on your behalf.

7) Analyze and Optimize

After the application has been shifted to the cloud, it is crucial to monitor the cloud environment continuously. This makes sure the cloud remains optimized for performance and scalability. It also helps resolve issues as and when they arise. Equally important is to gather user feedback and identify areas for improvement. By doing so, organizations are able to reduce their operational costs. They also ensure maximum returns from their cloud investment.

Conclusion

AS400 migration to Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud is a complex endeavor. It requires a well-planned approach along with attention to detail. Even experienced businesses may not be able to implement all aspects of the process on their own. Collaborating with a trusted iSeries migration services provider simplifies the task, allowing them to forge a path to sustained growth and innovation.