Modernization Targets
Overview
The Modernisation Target Mapping page is where you decide how each discovered technology will evolve as part of your cloud journey. Rather than simply “lifting and shifting” workloads, you use this page to plan the future state of your technology stack – aligning it with business objectives, modern cloud capabilities and your migration pathway preferences. The choices you make here directly influence 6R treatment assignments, cost modelling and wave planning.
Modernisation Mapping Workflow
Use the following workflow to get the most from the Modernisation Target Mapping page:
- Review AI recommendations: Start by viewing the suggested targets generated by the AI Assistant. This gives you a baseline based on workload characteristics and migration pathway.
- Explore categories and filters: Group technologies into categories (Data, Web, Middleware, etc.) and apply filters to focus on high‑impact technologies first.
- Set guardrails: Define guardrails to enforce consistent target choices across your estate, ensuring alignment with business, compliance and technical requirements.
- Assign targets and notes: For each technology, confirm or override the suggested target and document any rationale or special considerations.
- Integrate with 6R planning: When satisfied, move to 6R planning where these targets drive treatment assignments and migration sequencing.
- Iterate and refine: Revisit this page regularly as new discoveries are ingested or business needs change to keep your modernisation plan up to date.
Understanding Modernization Target Mapping
Modernization Target Mapping is the process of defining where each discovered technology in your environment will be modernized during your Azure migration. Rather than simply lifting and shifting existing workloads, this approach allows you to strategically transform your technology stack to take advantage of Azure’s managed services, improved scalability, and enhanced security features.
The system analyzes your discovered technologies and presents intelligent recommendations based on your migration pathway preferences. These recommendations consider factors such as workload characteristics, Azure service compatibility, and industry best practices for modernization.
AI Assistant Integration
The AI Assistant feature provides intelligent automation for your modernization target selection process. By analyzing your environment and migration goals, the AI can automatically suggest appropriate target technologies for each discovered workload. This automation significantly reduces the manual effort required while ensuring consistency across your modernization strategy.
Modernization Target Summary
The Modernization Target Summary provides a high-level overview of your technology landscape and modernization opportunities. This visual representation helps you understand the scope and impact of your modernization decisions.
Technology Detection Overview
The summary displays key metrics that give you insight into your modernization potential:
- Detected Technologies: The total number of technologies that could benefit from modernization
- Server Count: The number of servers running these technologies across your environment
- Modernization Categories: Visual breakdown of technologies by their proposed target platforms
Visual Technology Distribution
A comprehensive donut chart visualizes your technology distribution across different modernization targets. This chart categorizes detected technologies by their proposed Azure service destinations, making it easy to understand the scope of your modernization effort.
Common target categories include:
- Azure VM (IaaS): For workloads requiring full control over the operating system
- Azure App Service: For web applications and APIs
- Azure Database Services: For database workloads (SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.)
- Azure Cache Services: For caching and session management
- Azure Security Services: For identity and access management
Technology Categories and Filtering
The Modernization Target Mapping interface organizes technologies into logical categories to help you focus your review and decision-making process. Each category represents a different type of technology with specific modernization considerations.
Available Technology Categories
Data Technologies Database systems, data warehouses, and ETL processes form the foundation of your data architecture. Modernization targets for these technologies focus on managed database services, improved scalability, and enhanced security features.
Web Technologies Web applications, APIs, and web services represent your digital presence and customer-facing systems. Modernization targets emphasize cloud-native development patterns, auto-scaling capabilities, and global distribution.
Middleware Integration platforms and messaging systems that connect your various applications and services. Modernization focuses on cloud-native integration patterns and managed messaging services.
COTS & IT Services Commercial off-the-shelf software and internal IT services that support your business operations. Modernization targets consider Azure Marketplace solutions and managed service alternatives.
Security & Compliance Identity management, access control, and compliance tools that protect your environment. Modernization emphasizes Azure’s comprehensive security ecosystem and compliance certifications.
Modern Workplace Collaboration tools and productivity applications that enable your workforce. Modernization targets focus on Microsoft 365 integration and cloud-based collaboration platforms.
Detailed Technology Review
The core of the Modernization Target Mapping process involves reviewing each discovered technology and selecting appropriate modernization targets. This detailed review ensures that your modernization decisions align with your business objectives and technical requirements.
Technology Information Display
Each technology in the review table provides comprehensive information to support your decision-making:
Discovered Technology The specific technology identified in your environment, including version information and any relevant details that impact modernization decisions.
Category Classification The technology type classification helps you understand the broader context and identify similar technologies that might benefit from consistent modernization approaches.
Server Count The number of servers running each technology provides insight into the scope and impact of modernization decisions. Higher server counts may indicate critical business systems requiring careful consideration.
Target Technology Selection Editable dropdown menus allow you to select the most appropriate modernization target for each technology. The system provides intelligent defaults based on your migration pathway and AI analysis.
Key Benefits Concise descriptions of the advantages offered by each target technology, helping you understand the value proposition and business impact of your modernization choices.
Setting Modernization Guardrails
Modernization guardrails establish the boundaries and guidelines for your technology transformation. These guardrails ensure consistency across your modernization decisions and help maintain alignment with your overall migration strategy.
Guardrail Configuration Process
Dr Migrate utilizes your selected target technologies during the 6R Planning phase to automatically assign modernization targets that align with your established guardrails. This automation ensures that your modernization decisions are consistently applied across your entire technology portfolio.
The guardrail system considers:
- Technology Compatibility: Ensuring selected targets are appropriate for the source technology
- Migration Pathway Alignment: Maintaining consistency with your chosen modernization level
- Business Requirements: Considering factors such as compliance, performance, and cost
- Operational Impact: Evaluating the impact on existing processes and workflows
Customizing Modernization Targets
While the AI provides intelligent defaults, you have full control over your modernization decisions. You can:
- Override AI Recommendations: Select alternative targets based on specific business requirements
- Add Implementation Notes: Document special considerations or implementation guidance
- Set Migration Priorities: Establish which technologies should be modernized first
- Define Success Criteria: Specify what constitutes successful modernization for each technology
Implementation Process
The guardrail implementation process ensures that your modernization decisions are consistently applied and maintained throughout your migration journey:
- Automated Application: Guardrails are automatically applied during 6R planning and target selection
- Validation Checks: The system validates that your selections align with established guardrails
- Exception Handling: Processes for handling cases where guardrails may need to be adjusted
- Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing validation that your modernization decisions remain aligned with your strategy
Implementation and Planning
Modernization Target Mapping is not just about selecting target technologies—it’s about creating a comprehensive plan for transforming your technology landscape. The decisions you make here will guide your 6R planning and ultimately determine the success of your modernization efforts.
Integration with 6R Planning
Your modernization target selections directly influence the 6R treatment assignments for each workload. The system uses these targets to:
- Automate 6R Assignments: Apply appropriate rehost, refactor, or rearchitect strategies
- Optimize Resource Planning: Align resource requirements with target technology capabilities
- Streamline Migration Execution: Provide clear guidance for migration teams
- Ensure Consistency: Maintain alignment across your entire technology portfolio
Ongoing Review and Updates
Modernization target mapping is not a one-time activity. As your business needs evolve and new technologies emerge, you should regularly review and update your modernization decisions. The system preserves all your decisions and notes for future reference, enabling you to track the evolution of your modernization strategy.
Best Practices for Modernization Target Selection
Successful modernization target selection requires careful consideration of multiple factors. Consider these best practices when making your modernization decisions:
Align with Business Objectives
Ensure that your modernization targets support your overall business strategy and migration goals. Consider factors such as cost optimization, performance improvement, and operational efficiency.
Evaluate Technology Maturity
Assess the maturity and stability of target technologies. While cutting-edge solutions may offer advanced features, they may also introduce additional risk and complexity.
Consider Operational Impact
Modernization affects not just your technology stack, but also your operational processes and team capabilities. Ensure that your target technologies align with your team’s skills and operational requirements.