Replatform Migration to AWS

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Replatforming—sometimes called “lift and reshape”—makes targeted optimizations during migration without fundamentally changing application architecture. It’s the sweet spot between pure lift-and-shift and full re-architecture: meaningful benefits with manageable risk.

What is Replatforming?

Replatforming involves strategic changes that leverage AWS capabilities:

Database migration: Move from self-managed databases to RDS or Aurora
Containerization: Package applications in Docker without rewriting code
Managed services adoption: Replace self-managed middleware with AWS equivalents
Operating system upgrades: Modernize OS versions during migration

The application’s core architecture stays intact, but operational burden decreases and cloud benefits increase.

When Replatforming Makes Sense

Replatform migration is ideal when:

Database licensing is expensive: Oracle or SQL Server costs can drop 50%+ with Aurora or RDS
Operational overhead is high: Self-managed databases, message queues, or caches consume team capacity
Containers fit naturally: Applications already use modern deployment patterns
Compliance requires updates: End-of-life OS versions need upgrading anyway

Common Replatform Scenarios

Current State	Replatform Target	Benefit
Oracle on EC2	Aurora PostgreSQL	70% cost reduction, managed operations
SQL Server	RDS SQL Server or Aurora MySQL	License optimization, high availability
Self-managed Redis	ElastiCache	Managed clustering, automatic failover
Self-managed Kafka	Amazon MSK	Reduced operational burden
VMs with manual deployment	ECS/EKS containers	Consistent deployments, better scaling

Database Replatforming

Database migrations are the most common replatform scenario. AWS provides tools to minimize risk:

AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)

Continuous replication from source to target
Supports homogeneous (Oracle → RDS Oracle) and heterogeneous (Oracle → Aurora PostgreSQL) migrations
Minimal downtime cutover

AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)

Analyzes source database schemas
Converts stored procedures, functions, and triggers
Identifies migration complexity and manual conversion requirements

Migration Paths

Oracle to AWS:

Aurora PostgreSQL (best cost savings, requires schema conversion)
RDS Oracle (minimal changes, BYOL or license-included)
Aurora MySQL (for simpler schemas)

SQL Server to AWS:

RDS SQL Server (direct migration, familiar tooling)
Aurora PostgreSQL or MySQL (cost optimization, requires conversion)

MySQL/PostgreSQL to AWS:

Aurora (enhanced performance, managed operations)
RDS (familiar open-source, fully managed)

Container Replatforming

Containerizing applications during migration delivers immediate operational benefits:

Why Containerize?

Consistent environments: Same container runs in dev, test, and production
Improved resource utilization: Higher density than VMs
Faster deployments: Container images deploy in seconds
Portability: Reduced lock-in, easier disaster recovery

AWS Container Services

Amazon ECS: Simpler orchestration, deep AWS integration
Amazon EKS: Kubernetes for teams with K8s expertise
AWS Fargate: Serverless containers, no infrastructure management

Containerization Approach

Assess application fit: Stateless applications containerize easily; stateful apps need careful planning
Create Dockerfiles: Package application and dependencies
Set up CI/CD: Automate container builds and deployments
Deploy to ECS/EKS: Orchestrate containers with managed services

Replatform vs. Refactor

Factor	Replatform	Refactor
Code changes	Minimal	Significant
Timeline	Weeks to months	Months to years
Risk	Lower	Higher
Benefits	Operational improvements	Architectural transformation
Cost	Moderate	Higher upfront, lower long-term

Choose replatforming when you want meaningful improvements without the investment and risk of full re-architecture.

Case Study: Database Replatform

A healthcare company migrated from Oracle on-premises to Aurora PostgreSQL.

Challenge:

$800K annual Oracle licensing
4 DBAs managing infrastructure
Limited high-availability options

Replatform approach:

AWS SCT for schema conversion
DMS for continuous replication
3-month migration with 2-hour cutover window

Results:

65% cost reduction ($520K annual savings)
2 DBAs reassigned to development projects
Built-in multi-AZ high availability
Automated backups and point-in-time recovery

Get Started

Our free assessment identifies which applications benefit most from replatforming and provides specific recommendations for databases, containers, and managed services.