ERP migration without rewriting code: how it works

It is possible to migrate an ERP or legacy application (Client-Server) to the cloud without rewriting a single line of code, using a "smart lift-and-shift" approach: the application runs on cloud servers exactly as is, accessed remotely via a browser, while a management layer takes care of the infrastructure, database, and security. This is the model behind Skyone Autosky, which has already migrated applications from more than 400 different ERPs, fully preserving the original business logic.

Why is rewriting code often the biggest risk in a migration?

Modernization projects that involve rewriting or "adapting" the source code of an ERP system to run in the cloud often run into three problems: timeframe (months or years of development), risk (old business rules are lost or misinterpreted during rewriting), and cost (a dedicated development team just for the migration). This is even more critical in desktop client-server applications, common in older Brazilian ERP systems, which were not designed with the cloud in mind.

How does migration without code changes work?

1. The application runs as is, without changes to the source code, hosted on cloud servers.
2. Access is now via a web browser (Web Access) or through a lightweight plugin, without the need to install the application locally.
3. Authentication occurs before accessing the company's environment, completely isolating the user's device from the application and database servers.
4. The infrastructure automatically adjusts to demand (auto-scaling), with no limit on the number of servers or simultaneous users.
5. The entire operation — database, backup, security, and performance — is now managed by the platform, no longer by the internal team.

Read also: Cloud Computing: what it is, how it works, and practical examples in the cloud.

What does this change in practice for those who use the system?

Since the user experience remains the same as that of a locally installed application on the machine, employees do not need additional training, and the adoption curve is practically zero. Furthermore, because it runs directly in the browser, the solution does not require high processing power or memory from the user's device, allowing its use on simple machines with a stable bandwidth connection starting from just 100Kbps.

Which databases are supported?

How is security affected in this type of migration?

The platform that executes this migration model, Skyone Autosky, is ISO 27001 certified and applies a Zero Trust architecture: each application is isolated in its own virtual network, access is via secure ports (HTTPS on 443 and TCP 491), and features such as MFA, Single Sign-On via SAML 2.0, and real-time brute-force attack attempt monitoring are included in the authentication layer.

You might also be interested in: Is the cloud really secure or is it still risky for businesses?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it possible to migrate an old ERP system without losing the customizations made over the years? 
   
   Yes. Since the application's source code is not altered, customizations and specific business rules are fully preserved; the change occurs in the infrastructure behind the application, not in the application itself.
   
   
2. How long does a migration without code changes take? 
   
   Since there is no development involved, the timeline is usually significantly shorter than in rewrite projects; most of the time is dedicated to testing, infrastructure sizing, and planning the cutoff window, not programming.
   
   
3. Does this model work for any programming language? 
   
   Client-server applications in various languages ​​can be migrated this way, since what changes is the execution infrastructure, not the language in which the system was originally developed.
   
   
4. After migration, who takes care of infrastructure maintenance? 
   
   Infrastructure management — including auto-scaling, backups, patching, and security — becomes the responsibility of the contracted platform, freeing up the internal IT team for more strategic activities.

Written by Skyone