Application modernisation is essential for businesses looking to grow and develop in a rapidly changing digital environment.   

Accesa’s Greener Application Modernisation Solutions (GAM) take this further by focusing on sustainability and cost efficiency. By cutting operational costs, optimising Cloud costs, and promoting sustainability, GAM empowers businesses to achieve a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious digital transformation.

This approach supports your business’s growth and promotes a more sustainable digital future.  In this article, industry experts such as Eric Jochum and Ovidiu Negus will share their insights into achieving sustainable and cost-efficient application modernisation.  

Eric Jochum, Co-author of the Green IT model MMIGIT and Management Consultant Green IT at metafinanz, will delve into Green IT practices, highlighting how organisations can leverage the MMIGIT model to achieve cost efficiency and sustainability. His expertise highlights the crossing between environmental responsibility and digital transformation.  

Furthermore, Ovidiu Negus, Portfolio Service Owner at Accesa, will focus on sharing more details about the modernisation strategies, Rehost, Refactor, and Rearchitect, and their impact on Cloud cost savings or operational efficiency.     

Part 1: Green IT and the MMIGIT Model Understanding Green IT and Cost Efficiency 

How can Green IT practices help organisations significantly cut down operational costs? 

Green IT is more than only coding; therefore, it is not a synonym of Green Coding. The focus is to create more efficient applications, which use less energy and less resources and as a next step, hosts these applications more efficiently. 

There are three areas to increase the efficiency of an application: 

• Green Coding to improve the code structure of applications with an estimated saving potential of 20% only by improving the code structure. 

• Green Architecture, with an increase of up to 50% efficiency, is potentially possible. In specific cases for applications managing vast amounts of data in the order of petabyte it is possible to save up to 60% of energy and server costs. 

• Hardware processors is another potential area. In most cases the typical von-Neumann architecture processor is used for all kinds of applications. Using domain specific processor technology or tuning the software to the hardware it runs to opens the potential of 90% of energy cost savings. 

In the case of data centers, efficient usage of each single server, as well as dynamic load balancing for the resource allocation could bring significant energy cost savings.  

What are the most common areas where businesses waste resources and how can the MMIGIT model address these inefficiencies?  

MMIGIT (Maturity Model Integrated Green IT) is a model developed by metafinanz, in collaboration with Munich University of Applied Sciences, to represent the maturity level of IT processes concerning sustainability aspects. The MMIGIT model focuses on organisational change, involving not only the IT area but also the business, management, and C-level executives.

The cost-saving initiatives can only be successful if the entire organisation engages in the change, and that is precisely what MMIGIT aims to achieve. The purpose of MMIGIT is to help and equip organisations with knowledge, practices, and tools so that they can identify and address areas of concern regarding inefficiencies. 

MMIGIT Maturity Levels 

Could you elaborate on how the MMIGIT framework helps organisations progress towards cost-efficient and sustainable IT operations?  

The MMIGIT model outlines the following solution areas:  

• Technical Solution which focuses on topics of how to change the software and the hardware through green coding, green architecture, hardware, and infrastructure. 

• Social Solution covers the organisational wide awareness creation for all relevant layers like developers, IT managers, business, and department managers, and up to C-level. If necessary, the users of the systems are also included in the process. 

• Environmental Solution emphasises the importance of using green energy. 

• Paradigm Shift encourages rethinking processes, such as integrating continuous energy consumption measurement into the DevOps pipeline, or intelligently scheduling tasks considering priority, energy rates and other dynamic factors. 

Part 2: Sustainable Application Modernisation and Cloud Costs Choosing the Right Modernisation Strategy 

How do you determine the most cost-effective modernisation strategy for an organisation?  

Determining the most cost-effective modernisation strategy for an organisation begins with a thorough evaluation of feasible options. The first step is to identify the key quality attributes that the modernised solution should possess, such as performance, reliability, security, and cost efficiency. These attributes will ultimately guide the selection of the most suitable modernisation strategy.  

Once potential strategies are identified - such as rehosting (lift-and-shift), replatforming, refactoring, or rebuilding - a comprehensive cost analysis becomes essential. This involves evaluating all foreseeable expenses, including labor costs for implementation and support, licensing fees for software, and hosting expenses related to Cloud services. By conducting a cost-benefit analysis, organisations can weigh the expected benefits of each strategy against these costs, ensuring they choose an approach that maximises value.  

Finally, adopting an iterative approach is crucial. As the modernisation project unfolds, continuously monitoring key performance indicators allows organisations to assess whether the modernised solution meets the desired quality attributes and aligns with business objectives. This dynamic evaluation ensures that modernisation efforts are not only effective but also cost-efficient in the long run.  

What factors should companies consider when deciding between ‘Rehost’, ‘Replatform’, or ‘Rebuild’ strategies?  

Organisations can create scenarios to analyse each architectural approach. This involves examining trade-offs: for instance, rehosting offers a quick migration with minimal changes, while replatforming provides some cloud benefits without a complete overhaul. Rebuilding allows for full optimisation, but requires significant time and resources.  

It's also essential to identify sensitivity points - areas where each strategy might impact performance or cost - and consider the associated risks. Rehosting might lead to inefficiencies, replatforming could introduce complexities, and rebuilding carries the highest risk due to its extensive changes.   This decision-making process is iterative.

By continuously refining strategies through repeated analysis cycles, organisations can address risks and make informed choices that align with their modernisation goals and desired quality attributes.  

Best Practices for Cloud Optimisation 

What are some common pitfalls businesses encounter in Cloud cost management and how can they be avoided?  

Businesses often encounter several common pitfalls in Cloud cost management that can lead to unexpected expenses. Here are some key challenges and strategies to avoid them: 

• Overprovisioning Resources: Many organisations overestimate their resource needs, leading to unnecessary expenses. Implementing right-sizing techniques and dynamic scaling can help ensure that resources align with actual requirements. 

• Lack of Visibility into Cloud Spend: Without the right tools, companies may struggle to understand their cloud spending, leading to hidden costs. Investing in comprehensive cloud management tools can provide better visibility and insights into expenditures. 

• Inaccurate Budget Forecasts: Estimating Cloud costs can be challenging, especially with fluctuating resource demands. Using historical data and trends for forecasting can improve accuracy and help avoid budget overruns. 

• Application Modernisation: Failing to modernise legacy applications can lead to inefficiencies and higher operational costs. By transforming applications into more efficient, cloud-native architectures, organisations can reduce resource consumption and minimise their environmental impact. 

 How does sustainable application modernisation balance cost efficiency with performance needs?  

By adopting Cloud-native architectures - such as microservices, serverless computing, and containerisation - businesses can optimise resource utilisation. These modern architectures allow for more granular scaling, meaning that applications can dynamically adjust resources based on demand. This not only reduces operational costs but also improves responsiveness and performance, as resources are allocated precisely when and where they are needed.  

The interlinkage between cost efficiency and performance is a cornerstone of sustainable application modernisation. By focusing on both aspects concurrently, organisations can drive innovation while maintaining a competitive edge in the market.  

Conclusion  

Finally, sustainable and cost-efficient application modernisation is no longer a choice but a necessity for businesses. Our experts are there to help you discover and learn more about GAM and its extensive benefits for your business’s growth. 

Book a demo with our experts today and explore how GAM can empower your organisation to achieve its goals while embracing a greener, more cost-effective future.