Cloud migration for legacy software – From legacy to SaaS with we-IT
Modernizing and migrating legacy software to the cloud is a complex process that requires careful planning and strategic decisions. Choosing the right application for cloud migration is essential to efficiently support business processes and maximize the benefits of the cloud. With we-IT, companies can transform their legacy systems into modern SaaS solutions and benefit from increased flexibility and scalability.
What are legacy applications and why do they need to be modernized?
Legacy applications are outdated software solutions that are often based on older technologies and can become a significant obstacle for companies. These applications are often difficult to maintain and scale, resulting in high operating costs and security risks. They can also impair a company's efficiency and competitiveness because they are not compatible with modern IT landscapes and cloud technologies. Modernizing these applications is therefore essential in order to leverage the benefits of modern technologies such as cloud-native approaches. By transforming legacy applications, companies can optimize their IT infrastructure, reduce operating costs, and increase their ability to innovate.
Azure-certified framework for software providers – Modernize your applications and take advantage of the cloud
Legacy software poses major challenges for many software providers: outdated technologies, high maintenance costs, and a lack of flexibility hinder innovation and growth. With our Azure-certified framework, we make your existing applications future-proof.
we-IT enables you to migrate your legacy applications securely and efficiently to the cloud without costly redevelopment. This allows you to benefit from platform-independent access, improved security, scalability, and the ability to offer your software as SaaS. Discover how our solution can transform your IT and strengthen your business in the long term.
Your solution for legacy software – SaaS enablement with we-IT
Software providers often face the challenge of integrating older applications into modern IT environments. Outdated systems tie up resources, require intensive maintenance, and limit opportunities for innovation. With our Azure-certified cloud migration solution, we provide a remedy and enable you to deliver your applications as SaaS (Software as a Service) – without costly redevelopment.
Our framework was developed specifically for the requirements of legacy software. It enables seamless integration into the cloud, allowing your applications to be used independently of the platform—whether on Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile devices. By using modern technologies, you benefit from a flexible, secure, and future-proof IT environment that both optimizes your internal processes and increases customer satisfaction.
Migration involves more than just transferring data to the cloud. Our approach allows you to take full advantage of modern IT infrastructures: automated updates, centralized management, and the scalability you need to respond to volatile market demands. With minimal effort, you can make your applications accessible to a wide audience—securely, reliably, and efficiently.
Your advantages with cloud migration for legacy software
Platform independence and flexibility
Our solution makes your applications usable across platforms. Your customers can access your software anytime, from any device—whether in the office, at home, or on the go.
Security and compliance at the highest level
Our framework enables you to meet all relevant security and compliance requirements, including ISO 27001 and GDPR. Encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular vulnerability assessments protect your data and applications from cyber threats.
Scalability and cost efficiency
Flexibly adapt your IT resources to your current requirements. You only pay for the resources you actually use, which reduces operating costs and creates room for growth at the same time.
No new development required
You can keep your existing legacy software and still enjoy the benefits of the cloud. The lift-and-shift method enables easy migration, but has long-term disadvantages as specific cloud benefits are not exploited and operating costs can be unexpectedly high. This saves time and money without compromising on functionality.
Rapid deployment and centralized updates
New versions and features can be rolled out centrally without the need for local installations. This improves customer satisfaction and reduces IT support costs.
Better user experience and competitive advantages
Cloud migration allows your customers to benefit from faster, more stable, and more intuitive software, especially when legacy software is migrated in a targeted manner. This strengthens your position in the market and ensures long-term customer loyalty.
white paper
Fill out the form with your details and download the white paper immediately. You will gain valuable insights into cloud migration, cost efficiency, cross-platform compatibility, security, and much more—everything you need to simplify the migration of legacy Windows applications to the cloud.
Cloud-native approaches to modernization
Cloud-native approaches offer an effective way to modernize legacy applications and fully leverage their benefits. These approaches enable applications to be developed specifically for the cloud, making them more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective. Cloud-native architectures use microservices, containers, and orchestrated services to deliver applications quickly and reliably. This allows companies to develop their software faster and respond to market changes. By implementing cloud-native approaches, companies can not only improve the performance and reliability of their applications, but also reduce total cost of ownership and increase customer satisfaction.
Challenges and solutions
Modernizing legacy applications is a complex undertaking that poses both technical and organizational challenges. One of the biggest challenges is integrating legacy applications into modern IT landscapes without disrupting ongoing operations. Technical hurdles such as incompatible interfaces and outdated legacy code can further complicate the process. A proven solution is to use cloud-native approaches that offer a flexible and scalable architecture. These approaches make it possible to modernize applications step by step while ensuring operational continuity. By using modern technologies and proven methods, companies can overcome the challenges of modernization and future-proof their IT landscape.
Strategies for cloud migration
A successful cloud migration requires a well-thought-out strategy that is tailored to the specific requirements and goals of the company. One proven strategy is to use cloud-native approaches that offer a flexible and scalable architecture. These approaches make it possible to migrate applications to the cloud efficiently and take full advantage of its benefits. Another important strategy is the implementation of DevOps practices, which enable fast and secure application deployment. By automating development and operational processes, companies can shorten time-to-market and improve the quality of their software. A well-thought-out migration strategy ensures that companies can reap the benefits of cloud technologies without compromising security or performance.
Transform your legacy software into a modern SaaS solution with our Azure-certified framework. Our experienced team of specialists will guide you through every step of the migration, from planning to implementation, ensuring that your applications are integrated into the cloud securely, efficiently, and with future-proof capabilities.
For over 20 years, we have been helping software providers modernize their IT and tap into new business opportunities. Contact us now for a no-obligation consultation and find out how we can transform your applications too.
FAQs - frequently asked questions
What is meant by legacy software in software companies?
Legacy software refers to outdated applications that are based on older technologies and often no longer meet current requirements. Although they can still handle important business processes, they are difficult to maintain, do not integrate well with modern systems, and therefore slow down the provider's innovation and growth.
Why should software providers modernize their legacy applications?
Because outdated software entails high costs and risks—it is prone to errors, difficult to expand, and often fails to meet current security or performance requirements. By modernizing or migrating to the cloud, providers can offer their customers new features, respond more quickly to market changes, and remain competitive in the long term.
How does cloud migration of a legacy application work?
First, the existing application is analyzed and a strategy is developed—such as "lift and shift," where the software is moved to the cloud with virtually no changes, or a gradual conversion of components. we-IT plans the migration in such a way that downtime is kept to a minimum: databases are transferred, services are set up in the cloud and tested extensively before switching to the new system.
Is it necessary to completely redevelop legacy software in order to move to the cloud?
No, existing software can often be migrated with manageable adjustments. Thanks to approaches such as "lift and shift," your application is transferred to the cloud environment without having to rewrite the entire code—saving you time and money and allowing you to reap the benefits of the cloud more quickly.
What are the advantages of offering a legacy application as SaaS?
Provided as SaaS (Software as a Service), your application can be used platform-independently via the browser, which increases its reach. Updates and new features can be rolled out centrally for all customers without on-site installations. In addition, users today expect seamless access from anywhere—so a SaaS version improves the user experience and gives your product a modern competitive advantage.
How does we-IT ensure security and compliance during cloud migration?
We use a proven framework that meets all relevant security standards (such as ISO 27001) and data protection requirements (e.g., GDPR). This means that your application is operated in a protected cloud environment with data encryption, strict access control, and regular security checks—so both your data and that of your customers remains in good hands.
What cost advantages does cloud migration offer software providers?
In the cloud, you only pay for the resources you actually use, which reduces running costs compared to operating your own servers. In addition, there are no expenses for hardware updates and maintenance, as these are handled by the cloud provider. Overall, software providers can better scale their IT costs and invest in new features instead of infrastructure.
How does cloud migration improve the user experience of software?
Users benefit from cloud-based software through higher availability and faster updates. There are no more complicated installations or version conflicts—every customer automatically uses the latest version. In addition, cloud-based applications often perform better on different devices, as the computationally intensive processing takes place on powerful servers.
What challenges can arise when modernizing legacy software?
There are often technical hurdles, such as outdated programming languages or monolithic architectures that do not fit directly into the cloud. The transition is also a challenge from an organizational perspective: employees must adapt to new processes, and ongoing operations must continue with as little disruption as possible during the migration. we-IT identifies these stumbling blocks in advance and develops solutions to overcome them.
What strategies are there for successful cloud migration?
There are several approaches: from simple porting (lift and shift) to refactoring individual components to completely redeveloping the system in a cloud-native form. It is important to have a strategy tailored to your product. we-IT will work with you to develop a plan that takes into account aspects such as data migration, interim testing, and a step-by-step rollout to ensure a smooth transition.
Will we-IT continue to support the new SaaS solution after the migration?
Absolutely. We won't leave you on your own after go-live: on request, we can take care of the operation, monitoring, and regular updates of your SaaS application. If adjustments or scaling are necessary, we-IT will provide you with advice and technical support to ensure that your cloud-based software runs successfully in the long term.