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Modernize any application in the cloud

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Modernizing your applications can rapidly transform how people interact with your business or organization. The goal of application modernization is to enhance your applications to meet the needs of internal users and external customers. Adopting platform-as-a-service (PaaS) solutions lets you modernize any application or framework and enables your business to scale.

PaaS solutions:

PaaS gives you the flexibility to modernize any application or framework. Your applications running .NET, Java/Spring, Python, or multiple frameworks have a home in a PaaS solution. You can choose three variations of PaaS technologies depending on the balance of control and productivity you want.

Diagram that shows the application platform options, moving from control to productivity. The bottom of the graphic shows on-premises solutions. Moving up, you see container platforms, application platforms, and low-code and no-code platforms.

  • Container PaaS - Contains PaaS solutions use container technologies to run your workloads. You provide code and manage agent nodes. The platforms manage health, maintenance, and deployment. Azure Kubernetes Service and Azure Red Hat OpenShift are examples of container PaaS solutions. They give you the most control over your workloads.

  • Application PaaS - Application PaaS solutions use virtualization to run your workload without containers. You provide code and select configuration options. The platform manages health, availability, and deployment. There's less management than with Container PaaS. Azure App Service, Azure Spring Cloud, and Azure Functions are examples of application PaaS solutions. They give you a balance of control and productivity.

  • Low/No Code PaaS - Low code PaaS and no-code PaaS solutions let you build apps with little to no coding required. You can rapidly build applications and focus more time on your business. Power Apps and Power Automate are low/no code PaaS solutions that maximize your productivity.

Step 1 - Use a decision tree to narrow options

Use a decision tree to narrow your modernization options. The goal is to narrow the options, not to decide which option is right for you. After you have your options, continue to step 2.

Step 2 - Find the right implementation guidance

Find the right implementation guidance. You'll have a general idea of the service you want to use after working through the decision tree. You still want to make sure the solution gives you the right balance of control and productivity. Finding the right balance is a main consideration in application modernization.

Use the following table to find a solution that meets your needs. When you find the right solution, follow the implementation guidance to modernize your application.

Control vs. Productivity Solution Your needs Implementation guidance
Most control Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure Red Hat OpenShift
  • Infrastructure control
  • Less administrative burden orchestrating clusters and nodes
 Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure Red Hat OpenShift
Balance Azure App Service

Azure Spring Apps

Azure Functions
  • Focus on developing customer code
  • Automated infrastructure
 Azure App Service

Azure Spring Apps

Azure Functions
Most productivity Power Apps

Power Automate
  • Fastest time-to-market
  • Applications and automation built with little to no coding experience
 Power Apps

Power Automate

Next steps

Get more guidance with the Azure Migration and Modernization Program

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