The IT world is a complex space and companies may not have the money to completely replace all of their systems. Therefore we need solutions to optimize what we already have. This white paper examines the differences between Greenfield and Brownfield environments – particularly as it pertains to cloud migrations.

1. Abstract
The
IT
world
is
a
complex
space
and
companies
may
not
have
the
money
to
completely
replace
all
of
their
systems.
Therefore
we
need
solutions
to
optimize
what
we
already
have.
This
white
paper
examines
the
differences
between
Greenfield
and
Brownfield
environments
–
particularly
as
it
pertains
to
cloud
migrations.
Introduction
As
cloud
computing
gains
more
ground,
early-­‐
adopters
that
are
moving
their
infrastructure
into
the
cloud
are
achieving
cost
savings
and
improved
access
to
IT
systems.
The
migration
of
server
workloads
from
on-­‐premise
environments
(physical
or
virtual)
to
the
cloud
is
a
key
driver
of
technology
spending.
Morgan
Stanley
interviewed
300
IT
decision-­‐makers
in
the
US,
Europe
and
Asia-­‐Pacific
for
their
global
survey
on
cloud
migration.
Survey
respondents
cited
server
hardware
as
the
primary
area
of
savings
from
the
migration
to
cloud
computing.
In
their
efforts
to
transition
to
the
cloud,
companies
may
decide
to
develop
new
cloud-­‐
applications
or
to
migrate
their
existing
infrastructure
to
a
platform
provided
by
a
cloud
service
provider.
The
real
challenge
is
that
the
second
approach
becomes
an
unknown
process,
with
a
lot
of
workarounds
and
changes.
Systems
and
applications
can
be
newly
created,
but
businesses
need
compatibility
and
continuity
of
existing
infrastructure.
This
raises
the
debate
between
greenfield
and
brownfield
cloud
development.
1
Migrating Into the Cloud:
The Brownfield vs.
Greenfield Opportunity
2

2. In
software
development,
greenfield
is
a
project
which
doesn’t
have
to
obey
constraints
imposed
by
prior
work.
In
a
greenfield
environment
there
is
no
need
to
remodel
or
demolish
an
existing
structure.
Brownfield
describes
the
deployment
of
existing
physical
and
virtual
servers
workloads
into
new
cloud
environments.
GREENFIELD
20%
of
applications
are
delivered
on
Greenfield
sites,
while
the
rest
of
80%
are
Brownfield.
There
are
many
challenges
when
performing
Greenfield
migrations
and
any
Greenfield
development
is
to
become
a
Brownfield
one
in
couple
of
months.
Greefield
development
don’t
need
to
go
through
a
lengthy
IT
process
to
locate
available
enterprise
resources
and
lay
claim
to
them,
or
for
that
matter
endure
a
corporate
procurement
process.
Greenfield
is
a
popular
way
to
describe
all-­‐new
infrastructure
built
with
no
regard
for
legacy
compatibility.
In
networking,
a
greenfield
deployment
is
the
installation
and
configuration
of
a
network
where
one
did
not
exist
before.
Greenfield
developments
happen
when
you
start
a
brand
new
project;
no
legacy
code
to
maintain
and
you
are
able
to
start
fresh,
with
no
restrictions.
Although
it
may
seem
easier
to
ripp
out
and
replace
existing
systems,
companies
would
see
the
benefit
in
continuity
with
existing
infrastructure,
which
means
redevelopping
applications.
Brownfield
Most
businesses
already
have
a
significant
and
complex
IT
environment.
Many
already
have
some
type
of
server
or
cloud
infrastructure
in
place,
meaning
they
fall
into
the
Brownfield
category.
A
Brownfield
deployment
is
an
upgrade
or
an
addition
to
an
existing
structure.
Brownfield
development
refers
to
the
deployment
of
systems,
servers
and
applications
in
the
presence
of
other
existing
software
applications/systems.
This
implies
that
any
new
architecture
must
take
into
account
and
coexist
with
already
existent
software.
This
requires
a
detailed
knowledge
of
the
systems,
services
and
data
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
application
under
construction.

3. Into
a
cloud
environment,
Brownfield
developments
happen
when
a
business
decides
to
improve
upon
an
existing
application
infrastructure.
As
an
upgrade
is
implemented
into
an
existing
solution,
the
development
is
said
to
be
Brownfield.
A
couple
of
months
after
any
type
of
IT
asset
or
project
is
new
(Greenfield),
it
eventually
becomes
a
Brownfield.
How
Cloud
Migration
Helps
Greenfield
and
Brownfield
Environments
Moving
an
application
or
server
to
a
cloud
environment
requires
the
appropriate
tools
and
resources
necessary
for
a
smooth
transition.
Each
cloud
provider
has
their
own
unique
cloud
stack
with
a
set
of
base
level
attributes.
Migrating
existing
physical
and
virtual
workloads
into
clouds
can
be
complex
and
time-­‐consuming
without
the
right
solutions.
Utilizing
C-­‐MaaS
solutions
(Cloud-­‐Migration-­‐as-­‐a-­‐Service)
can
help
companies
migrate
their
servers
into
the
cloud.
And
when
it
comes
to
Brownfield
server
workloads
the
key
is
utilizing
a
migration
solution
that
is
seamless,
hyper-­‐visor
agnostic
and
able
to
migrate
physical,
virtual
and
cloud-­‐based
servers
into
and
between
any
cloud
-­‐
as-­‐is.

4. About
River
Meadow
RiverMeadow Software Inc. develops industry-leading SaaS that automates the migration of
physical, virtual and cloud based servers (live and as-is) into and between public, private and
hybrid clouds. Our RiverMeadow cloud migration SaaS is a rapid cloud migration solution
developed specifically for Carrier and Service Provider Cloud IaaS platforms. Without having to
install agents or quiesce servers, the RiverMeadow SaaS dramatically reduces the cost and
complexity of cloud migration, enabling Carriers and Service Providers to quickly, easily and
cost-efficiently deliver the benefits of cloud elasticity to enterprise and SMB customers.
If you have any questions regarding your potential use of this solution, contact:
RiverMeadow Software, Inc.
East Coast
239 Littleton Road, Unit 4D
Westford, MA 01886
West Coast
25 Metro Drive, Suite 525
San Jose, CA 95110
P: (978) 467-4090
F: (978) 923-8673
E: sales@rivermeadow.com
Conclusions
No
matter
what
your
industry,
businesses
today
are
tightening
budgets
and
looking
for
ways
to
save.
IT
projects
in
particular,
can
have
cost,
time
and
resource
implications
that
are
challenging
to
not
only
IT,
but
management
and
operations
as
well.
Having
the
ability
to
avoid
such
implications
can
be
of
great
value
and
convenience.
For
cloud
service
providers,
a
seamless
and
automated
migration
solutions
would
help
minimize
professional
service
costs
and
allow
for
faster
more
cost
effective
onboarding
of
customers;
effectively
increasing
market
share
and
minimizing
cost
and
complexity.
Cloud
computing
promises
reduced
IT
infrastructure
assets
and
processes
through
lower
operational
expenses.
With
C-­‐MaaS
solutions,
server
workload
migrations
are
completed
in
a
fraction
of
the
time
that
is
typically
needed
for
a
physical
to
virtual
conversion.