When determining the future of their core systems, organizations are dealing with one of their most vital assets. In order to maintain the company's unique identity and competitive differentiation, the DNA must be preserved. This requires a conservative, proven strategy. But in order to face the new challenges of a fast-changing global marketplace, an organization must be aggressive, innovative, flexible, quick and agile. The DNA must evolve, and this requires a bold strategy. Application modernization is the one approach that enables an enterprise to simultaneously implement a strategy of conservation and a strategy of boldness. So it's a good thing that application modernization is usually the most cost effective approach as well.

This paper will explain what's at stake when organizations contemplate modernization, describe how some vendor solutions portrayed as "modernization" are actually risky and radical substitutes, and then propose a reasonable way forward that is both modern and moderate.