Data Center Evacuation and Enterprise Modernization

A large public sector enterprise operating a complex hybrid IT landscape launched a strategic data center evacuation to reduce risk, curb long-term cost, and modernize critical workloads. Earlier transformation efforts had slowed due to inconsistent asset records, undocumented dependencies, and the unacceptable likelihood of service disruption. The organization engaged mLogica to execute an evacuation program designed for continuity, compliance, and modernization at scale.

The initiative was driven by a combination of operational urgency and modernization imperatives:

• Unreliable enterprise data: Asset and application records were largely inaccurate and scattered across tools, spreadsheets, and informal knowledge, undermining planning and governance
• Hidden dependencies: Mission-critical services relied on tightly coupled relationships across apps, databases, batch jobs, interfaces, and infrastructure, with no dependable dependency map
• Mainframe modernization barrier: Monolithic workloads (Assembler, COBOL, batch) impeded cloud adoption without automated replatforming
• Execution risk from manual coordination: Spreadsheet-driven cutovers elevated outage exposure and reduced repeatability
• Cost and reinvestment pressure: Data center CAPEX/OPEX and mainframe economics constrained innovation funding

mLogica delivered an application-centric evacuation program combining automated discovery, dependency intelligence, orchestrated execution, and modernization tooling, structured in phases that mirror a proven operating model used in modernization programs.

Establish a Single Source of Truth

Using an automated evacuation orchestration platform, we ingested authoritative data from DCIM/CMDB sources, scans, and inventories into a unified system of record, then normalized and cleansed it to remove duplication and “ghost” assets. This created a shared, trusted baseline across technology and business stakeholders and enabled automated disposition and cloud-fit scoring.

Dependency Intelligence and Wave Planning

The mapping application’s visual dependency mapping exposed upstream/downstream relationships across applications, data stores, batch processes, interfaces, and infrastructure, surfacing hidden coupling and identifying obsolete components that inflated risk and spend. mLogica applied an application-first prioritization model to sequence migration waves around business constraints (uptime, regulatory requirements, operational windows) while balancing technical complexity.

Automated Mainframe Modernization and Replatforming

For non-cloud-ready mainframe workloads, mLogica deployed automated modernization toolsets:

• LIBER*DAHLIA for automated assessment and documentation across Assembler/COBOL/Easytrieve/JCL/CICS.
• LIBER*M to convert legacy code into modern languages (e.g., Java, C#) while preserving functional equivalence and business logic.
• LIBER*Batch to modernize batch execution and scheduling.
• STAR*M to automate database migration (e.g., DB2/Sybase to PostgreSQL/Aurora).

This automation compressed an estimated multi-year timeline into an accelerated delivery window while maintaining integrity of mission-critical logic.

Orchestrated “Move Day” Execution

Cutover execution was governed through automated runbooks and real-time dashboards, replacing static plans with minute-by-minute orchestration of human and system tasks. The approach included rehearsals/dry runs, tool integrations for migration and testing, and command-and-control visibility to manage waves confidently inside approved maintenance windows.

The completed evacuation delivered measurable outcomes and a repeatable operational model:

• Zero unplanned outages during migration and cutover.
• Upwards of 80% reduction in outage windows, minimizing disruption.
• Approximately 70% faster access to consolidated, actionable data for decision-making and governance.
• Up to 50% TCO reduction versus on-prem operations, with approximately 90% annual compute reduction for migrated mainframe workloads (where applicable).
• CAPEX avoidance tied to facilities, power, cooling, and hardware refresh cycles.
• Staff redeployment from infrastructure maintenance to higher-value cloud and analytics initiatives.
• Cloud-agnostic flexibility across major cloud providers and hybrid environments, reducing lock-in risk.

This engagement demonstrates how a data center evacuation can become a durable modernization engine, when discovery, dependency intelligence, automated runbooks, and mainframe modernization are engineered as one system. By combining automated orchestration with mLogica’s automated modernization and replatforming capabilities, the organization moved from fragmented visibility and high cutover risk to disciplined execution, improved resilience, and a scalable foundation for continuous transformation.