FAQs
Have Questions?
What systems should we worry about most?
The highest-risk legacy systems are the ones running on out-of-support operating systems (Windows Server 2008, 2012, older SQL Server versions), custom applications where the original developer is unavailable, line-of-business tools with no current vendor support contract, and any system that has been excluded from patching for over a year because patching might break it.
Do we have to replace everything at once?
No. The assessment ranks legacy systems by risk and effort so the work runs in waves. The highest-risk, lowest-effort systems move first. Mid-risk systems get a bridge solution (rehost or containerize) while a longer-term plan develops. Only the systems that justify a full rebuild get one, and those are on a 12 to 36 month roadmap.
What does 'rehost' actually mean?
Rehost means moving the existing application from old hardware or an out-of-support operating system to a current platform without rewriting the application itself. Common rehost paths are virtualizing onto current Windows Server, containerizing an older Windows application, or moving the workload to a cloud-hosted environment. The application stays the same; the platform underneath becomes supportable again.
How long does an assessment take?
A typical mid-sized SMB legacy assessment runs four to six weeks. The first two weeks are inventory and dependency mapping. The middle two weeks are risk scoring and path analysis for each system. The final week is the roadmap, the budgeting estimate, and the leadership briefing. Execution work is scoped separately by system.
Can CinchOps run the migrations too?
Yes. CinchOps runs rehost migrations, manages cloud lift-and-shift work, coordinates with commercial application vendors during replacement projects, and partners with development firms on rebuild engagements. The legacy assessment is the front end of the work; the execution is part of the broader managed IT engagement.
