“Cloud is not the destination, it’s the journey, and modernization is part of the cloud.”
— Chris Townsend, Senior Director, EPI-USE Services for AWS
EPI-USE, in partnership with AWS, recently hosted an Executive Dinner in Atlanta to explore one of the most pressing challenges facing enterprise IT leaders today: How do we adopt cloud in a way that meets us where we are, and helps us grow from there?
At the center of that conversation: modernization. Not as a mandate, but as a mindset.
Chris Townsend helped frame the real issue: It’s not how fast you modernize, but whether your cloud partner supports your business, wherever it happens to be on its journey.
Cloud First. Modernization When It Makes Sense.
Too often, organizations treat “modernization” like a gate they must pass through to succeed in the cloud.
But that’s simply not true.
Not every application is ready for replatforming. Not every workload benefits from serverless. And not every business needs to refactor from day one.
What matters more is getting to the cloud and then deciding how and when to modernize from there.
As Chris notes:
“Some organizations are five years away from modernization, but that doesn’t mean they should wait five years to migrate. Cloud adoption can still deliver meaningful gains even without transformation.”
In other words: You don’t have to modernize before you migrate. You only have to move with intention, but getting to the cloud is prize number one.
Why “Modernization-Only” Thinking Falls Short
Many early adopters fell into the trap of seeing the cloud as the finish line.
Rushing in, they checked the migration box and expected innovation to simply happen.
But without rethinking architecture or operations (or acknowledging when not to), those benefits never came.
That’s why today’s smarter cloud strategy is more pragmatic.
It's about:
- Moving to the cloud using the best-fit method, whether that’s lift-and-shift or rearchitecting
- Acknowledging legacy systems where modernization isn't feasible
- Creating optionality instead of forcing transformation
Sometimes, the “right way” is simply the way that works.
And the “right way” should never feel forced or coercive.
A Mindset, Not a Mandate
EPI-USE champions a mindset-first approach — not a one-size-fits-all method.
Here’s what that mindset looks like:
- Putting business goals above technical buzzwords
- Tailoring strategies to your unique environment, not templates
- Partnering with a trusted advisor who helps you balance risk and reward
- Choosing when, where, and how to modernize, if and when it’s right for you
As Chris shared:
“We’re in the business of helping clients turn lemons into lemonade, even if a few oranges are added to the mix. Every cloud journey is different, and our job is to make the most of yours.”
Barriers to Change Are Often Psychological, Not Technical
Legacy infrastructure isn’t always the problem. Fear often is.
Fear of disruption. Fear of downtime. Fear that regulations will outpace compliance.
All of these keep organizations tied to systems that no longer serve them.
That’s why a strong migration partner helps with more than architecture. They help shift your mindset. Because without guidance, these barriers become walls, but with the right support, they become gates.
Let’s take a look at the two primary barrier categories:
| Psychological Barriers | Structural Barriers |
| Fear of breaking what already works | Legacy systems deeply embedded in business operations |
| Hesitation due to lack of internal consensus | Complex approval chains and decision bottlenecks |
| Emotional attachment to "how it's always been done” | Significant past investment in aging tech infrastructure |
| Anxiety over the unknown | Regulatory environments outpacing legislative clarity |
Without the necessary cohort of trusted advisors and internal champions, inertia creeps in and holds organizations back.
So, how do we break free from the fear of innovation, from the fear of regulation that outpaces legislation?
This is a question that remains at the heart of the modernization challenge.
Modernization as a Cultural Priority, Not a Siloed Project
You don’t modernize through IT alone. It takes organizational commitment.
One of the most effective tools to create that alignment is the Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE), a cross-functional team that brings IT, finance, operations, and leadership into strategic alignment around cloud adoption and long-term innovation.
Why a CCoE matters:
- Aligns tech with business outcomes
- Promotes shared ownership across departments
- Normalizes continuous change, rather than resisting it
- Encourages structured experimentation and innovation
With a CCoE in place, modernization becomes a cultural behavior, rather than a rushed (or worse, inapplicable) checkbox.
From Adoption to Evolution: The Journey That Works for You
There’s no one single way to do cloud “right.” But there is one wrong way: thinking you have to do everything at once.
That’s why we always start by understanding your needs: from needing to get out of your data center in six weeks to planning a three-year transformation.
Perhaps a lift-and-shift is the best (or only) first step.
Or maybe you can start refactoring as you move.
Sometimes, third-party applications can’t be modernized at all — and that’s okay.
The right cloud partner helps you know the difference.
But more importantly, they help you make the right decisions.
Mindset First, Migration Next: To the Cloud and Beyond
In modernization, overconfidence is as dangerous as ignorance.
Success demands humility, adaptability, and a willingness to rethink assumptions, because in cloud, as in business, rigidity is the real risk.
To come back to Chris’ astute assertion: Modernization doesn’t start with technology, it starts — and soars — with the right mindset.
And that means doing what works best for your organization, not just pre-, but also post-migration.
If you're considering moving to the cloud or are already on the path, you've taken the best first step.
We’re here to walk this journey with you and help you migrate and/or modernize for the best possible outcome for your organization, always.
Unsure of Where Your Cloud Strategy Stands?
The W.H.A.L.E Assessment offers a fast, focused way to evaluate your cloud readiness, identify barriers, and map out a modernization path that works.
We don’t just help you get to the finish line; we help you prepare for the next race.
Explore the W.H.A.L.E. Assessment to get started.
