According to Gartner forecasts, by 2026, over 80% of enterprises will transition to hybrid or multi-cloud IT infrastructure management strategies. Migrating legacy systems to such environments requires a deep transformation of architecture, processes, and security approaches to ensure business continuity.
Challenges and strategies for migration optimization
Transitioning from legacy on-premises systems involves architectural incompatibility, high code refactoring costs, and security risks. The following approaches are used for successful integration:
- Refactoring and containerization: rebuilding monolithic applications into a microservices architecture using Docker and Kubernetes to improve scalability.
- Phased migration: migrating systems using the lift-and-shift approach, followed by gradual optimization.
- Automation and DevOps: implementing CI/CD practices to accelerate deployment and minimize errors.
- Data management and cybersecurity: ensuring data integrity between on-premises and cloud storage, as well as securing infrastructure in compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 Type I standards.
Benefits of a hybrid approach
A hybrid infrastructure enables dynamic workload distribution, cost optimization through FinOps methodologies, keeping sensitive data on-premises, and ensuring high availability with disaster recovery (DR) scenarios.
Technological solutions from the Ukrainian market
Association members offer comprehensive tools to facilitate these transitions. Specifically, Softengi provides custom software development, AI/IoT system integration, and edge computing implementation to reduce cloud workloads. SL Global Service delivers cloud migration, DevOps/CI/CD, FinOps, and network infrastructure building services with guaranteed SLAs. System integrator Softline specializes in business automation and establishing comprehensive information security systems (KSZI) for the public sector. AZIOT offers an IoT platform to integrate physical devices and industrial protocols into a unified hybrid architecture.
How this affects the sector
The mass transition to hybrid and multi-cloud strategies by 2026 means enterprises must urgently address legacy architectural incompatibility and high refactoring costs to remain competitive. Successfully managing this shift allows businesses to achieve dynamic workload distribution and cost optimization via FinOps, while failure to adapt risks operational disruption and security vulnerabilities.
Where to start
To optimize your legacy system migration, consider the following practical steps:
- Rebuild and automate: Transition monolithic applications to microservices using Docker and Kubernetes, and implement CI/CD practices to minimize deployment errors.
- Secure and manage data: Ensure infrastructure compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 Type I standards while maintaining data integrity.
- Leverage Ukrainian expertise: Partner with local specialists like Softengi for custom AI/IoT integration, SL Global Service for cloud migration and FinOps, Softline for public sector security (KSZI), or AZIOT for industrial hybrid architectures.
Prepared by a Software Ukraine member. Original publication.