The document discusses the need for application modernization in response to competitive pressures and outdated technology, emphasizing Mphasis's mainframe modernization services. It defines application modernization and the cloud-native approach, outlining benefits such as faster feature delivery and flexibility but also addressing challenges like high costs and complex integrations. Mphasis employs various tools and methodologies like microservices and AI to facilitate this modernization, offering measurable benefits including reduced project delivery times and costs.

1. Application Modernization with Cloud-
Native Approach: An In-depth Guide
The present world provides a lot of hurdles for any business to grow in their desired
direction. These companies' research and development departments face fierce
competitive pressure from the industry and the changing times. It becomes their
immediate need to innovate and bring in new technology or ideas that give them
an edge over others.
This is all done to meet the demands of the changing market, reduce their technical
debt and increase the overall productivity of such companies. Outdated technology
and IT support are of no use to this endeavor, and they limit the innovation ability
of the companies. Mphasis continuously strives to help such organizations with
their mainframe modernization services to focus on the company's operations
better.
What Is Application Modernization?
Taking outdated applications and upgrading its platform infrastructure, internal
systems, and the way of using is known as application modernization. The
advantages of application modernization can be summarized as increasing the
speed with which new features are delivered, exposing the functionality of existing
applications to be consumed via API by other services, and re-platforming
applications from on-premises to cloud-native application modernization.
On the other hand, the most common issues are cost and complexity. Moving an
application from on-premises to the cloud without considering the implications
may gain significantly from re-platforming. However, it is so tightly tied to old
systems and infrastructure that the difficulties of modernization may outweigh the
benefits.

2. Challenges of Modernization
Mphasis offers mainframe modernization services so that your legacy systems
with outdated technology gains the upper hand in the present, but there are
challenges like:
● Outdated Design
Data, workflows, and embedded rules are tightly coupled in existing core
systems. This limits their flexibility and necessitates system-wide regression
testing after any modifications, preventing them from supporting new
business process models that take advantage of technological
improvements.
● Lack of understanding
Due to attrition or workforce aging, work done on applications by various
subject matter experts over many years is lost. The business logic, data flows,
and dependencies are difficult to derive from previous documentation or
code.
● Complicated integration
The legacy monolithic applications and programs feature complex module
integrations, which have become outdated for the present market. Such a
thing necessitates extensive testing and production implementation along
with a more extended time-to-market transformation.
● High maintenance costs
The modernization and maintenance of outdated applications become too
expensive, owing to decreasing expert resource pools.
Therefore modernization is required for business houses to fight the industry's
fierce competition.

3. What Is Cloud-Native Approach?
Cloud-native is a new way to develop and run software applications that use cloud
computing's flexibility, scalability, and resilience. It refers to the many tools and
methodologies used by software developers today to create applications for the
public cloud instead of traditional data center infrastructures.
A set of firms known as "Born In The Cloud" pioneered the cloud-native application
modernization approach to designing and running software, including streaming
giants, Netflix and Spotify, ride-hailing start-up, Uber, and accommodation booking
site, Airbnb.
Other firms searching for similar digital agility and disruptive competitive
advantage have adopted the cloud-native approach. Microservices, cloud
platforms, containers, Kubernetes, immutable infrastructure, declarative APIs, and
continuous delivery technology are commonly used in cloud-native app
development, as are methodologies such as development operations and agile
methods.
How does Mphasis Apply It?
Mphasis uses various ways to apply cloud-native application modernization, such
as:
● Microservices Composer
It aids in the development of a foundational platform for any microservices-
based application that can be deployed on a variety of container systems.
The associated application composer portal is a web-based tool that allows
you to select the services you need for your application quickly.
● Microservices Testing Framework (MSTF)
This enables end-users to test microservices in only three clicks and allows
for the discovery of SOAP (Simple Object Access Portal) based web services
and other things. It also provides backend application programming interface

4. services and connectivity using on-premises and cloud setup models that are
flexible, scalable, and secure.
● AutoCode.AI
It has been a clear understanding that AI is a deep learning framework that
automates the design-to-code front-end GUI development process, saving
time, money, and effort. To host and manage the code for speedy validation,
it uses cloud formation templates and containers, making it easier for the
modernization process.
Layers of Cloud-Native Approach
These are the layers to the mainframe modernization service that are present
under the cloud-native approach:
● Application Development Layer
This is where the cloud-native focuses on the tools and methods used by
developers to create the applications like the databases, messaging systems,
integration, and delivery pipelines.
● Infrastructure Securing Layer
This develops and creates the environment where the application will
repeatedly be working. The process of cloud-native modernization involves
the automation of critical programs, addressing security concerns, and
authentication tools.
● Runtime Layer
This involves the checking, and anything associated with the runtime of the
application, including storage and networking.
● Management Layer
This layer brings together the tools and developments made in the previous
layers into the applications and scale operations, including scheduling and
orchestration.

5. ● Observatory Layer
Any project needs to be monitored and checked if they are fulfilling the
requirements of the current organization. Proper monitoring and auditing
are required to keep problems at bay.
Conclusion
Modernization is vital for any organization that functions in the present world. The
modernization of the cloud-native application requires development on a different
scale than any traditional approach. It offers some advantages like no programming
language barrier, the flexibility of operations, and automation.
Application Modernization provides real measurable benefits to the customers.
According to statistics, Mphasis services have given up to 55% acceleration in
modernization project delivery. More than 40% reduction in modernization costs,
helped reduce implementation pressures through experienced phased processes
and approaches that ensure seamless application migrations. They service clients
worldwide with a robust set of tools, and combinations of techniques in
modernization, including rehost, re-platform, replace, refactor, re-architect,
rebuild, retain, and retire. So, try them now.