You are on page 1of 4

1 2

Migrating Into the Cloud: The Brownfield vs. Greenfield Opportunity

Introduction
As cloud computing gains more ground, early-

Abstract
The IT world is a complex space and companies may not have the money to completely replace all of their systems. Therefore we need solutions to optimize what we already have. This white paper examines the differences between Greenfield and Brownfield environments particularly as it pertains to cloud migrations.

adopters that are moving their infrastructure into the cloud are achieving cost savings and improved access to IT systems. The migration of server workloads from on-premise environments (physical or virtual) to the cloud is a key driver of technology spending. Morgan Stanley interviewed 300 IT decision-makers in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific for their global survey on cloud migration. Survey respondents cited server hardware as the primary area of savings from the migration to cloud computing.

In their efforts to transition to the cloud, companies may decide to develop new cloud- applications or to migrate their existing infrastructure to a platform provided by a cloud service provider. The real challenge is that the second approach becomes an unknown process, with a lot of workarounds and changes. Systems and applications can be newly created, but businesses need compatibility and continuity of existing infrastructure. This raises the debate between greenfield and brownfield cloud development.

In software development, greenfield is a project which doesnt have to obey constraints imposed by prior work. In a greenfield environment there is no need to remodel or demolish an existing structure. Brownfield describes the deployment of existing physical and virtual servers workloads into new cloud environments.

GREENFIELD
20% of applications are delivered on Greenfield sites, while the rest of 80% are Brownfield. There are many challenges when performing Greenfield migrations and any Greenfield development is to become a Brownfield one in couple of months. Greefield development dont need to go through a lengthy IT process to locate available enterprise resources and lay claim to them, or for that matter endure a corporate procurement process. Greenfield is a popular way to describe all-new infrastructure built with no regard for legacy compatibility. In deployment networking, is the a greenfield and installation

Although it may seem easier to ripp out and replace existing systems, companies would see the benefit in continuity with existing infrastructure, which means redevelopping applications.

Brownfield
Most businesses already have a

significant and complex IT environment. Many already have some type of server or cloud infrastructure in place, meaning they fall into the Brownfield category. A Brownfield deployment is an upgrade or an addition to an existing structure. Brownfield development refers to the deployment of systems, servers and applications in the presence of other existing software applications/systems. This implies that any new architecture must take into account and coexist with already existent software. This requires a detailed knowledge of the systems, services and data in the immediate vicinity of the application under construction.

configuration of a network where one did not exist before. Greenfield developments happen when you start a brand new project; no legacy code to maintain and you are able to start fresh, with no restrictions.

Into a cloud environment, Brownfield developments happen when a business decides to improve upon an existing application infrastructure. As an upgrade is implemented into an existing solution, the development is said to be Brownfield. A couple of months after any type of IT asset or project is new (Greenfield), it eventually becomes a Brownfield.

How Cloud Migration Helps Greenfield and Brownfield Environments


Moving an application or server to a cloud environment requires the appropriate tools and resources necessary for a smooth transition. Each cloud provider has their own unique cloud stack with a set of base level attributes. Migrating existing physical and virtual workloads into clouds can be complex and time-consuming without the right solutions. Utilizing C-MaaS solutions (Cloud-Migration-as-a-Service) can help companies migrate their servers into the cloud. And when it comes to Brownfield server workloads the key is utilizing a migration solution that is seamless, hyper-visor agnostic and able to migrate physical, virtual and cloud-based servers into and between any cloud - as-is.

Conclusions
No matter what your industry, businesses today are tightening budgets and looking for ways to save. IT projects in particular, can have cost, time and resource implications that are challenging to not only IT, but management and operations as well. Having the ability to avoid such implications can be of great value and convenience. For cloud service providers, a seamless and automated migration solutions would help minimize professional service costs and allow for faster more cost effective onboarding of customers; effectively increasing market share and minimizing cost and complexity. Cloud computing promises reduced IT infrastructure assets and processes through lower operational expenses. With C-MaaS solutions, server workload migrations are completed in a fraction of the time that is typically needed for a physical to virtual conversion. About River Meadow
RiverMeadow Software Inc. develops industry-leading SaaS that automates the migration of physical, virtual and cloud based servers (live and as-is) into and between public, private and hybrid clouds. Our RiverMeadow cloud migration SaaS is a rapid cloud migration solution developed specifically for Carrier and Service Provider Cloud IaaS platforms. Without having to install agents or quiesce servers, the RiverMeadow SaaS dramatically reduces the cost and complexity of cloud migration, enabling Carriers and Service Providers to quickly, easily and cost-efficiently deliver the benefits of cloud elasticity to enterprise and SMB customers. If you have any questions regarding your potential use of this solution, contact: River Mea dow Sof twa re, Inc. E ast C oa st 239 Littleton Road, Unit 4D Westford, MA 01886 Wes t Co as t 25 Metro Drive, Suite 525 San Jose, CA 95110 P: (978) 467-4090 F: (978) 923-8673 E: sales@rivermeadow.com

You might also like