Keys to migrating to a microservices architecture

When an organization that handles large volumes of data works with a monolithic architecture, any change requires deploying its entire transactional system, which increases risks and downtime. 

Instead, with a microservices architecture, each independent service can be scaled and upgraded autonomously. 

In this way, greater efficiency, flexibility and fault tolerance are guaranteed. Which allows for a continuous implementation, avoid interruptions and improve user experience.

Microservices architectures are also a form of Modernize and decompose legacy applications to make them more flexible, scalable and easier to maintain.

In this article we analyze the key factors to consider when choosing between microservices and monolithic architectures, and we delve into the differences between the two.

We also address the challenges of migrating to a microservices architecture and present strategies and recommendations for solving them.

Challenges in migrating to a microservices architecture

Migrating to a microservices architecture can offer many benefits, but it also presents several significant challenges.

Martin Barrio, Software Delivery Manager IT Patagonia, explains that each of these services -or microservices-, handles a specific business functionality and communicates with other services through lightweight APIs, such as HTTP/REST or messaging.

It is often used in combination with other architectural patterns and styles, such as event-driven, CQRS, and service-oriented architecture.

Taking these considerations into account, some of the biggest challenges that companies often face during this process are those we will analyze below.

Decomposition of the monolith

Splitting a monolithic application into independent microservices requires careful planning and a deep understanding of the business domain.

Identifying service boundaries and avoiding tight dependencies can be tricky.

Data management

Partitioning data across microservices can lead to consistency issues and distributed transactions. 

Maintaining data integrity and managing synchronization between different databases is a significant challenge.

Communication and integration

Ensuring efficient and reliable communication between microservices is crucial. This may involve the use of RESTful APIs, messaging, or events. 

Latency and network overhead can impact application performance.

Infrastructure management

Implementing and deploying multiple microservices requires robust infrastructure and orchestration tools. 

Managing the configuration and monitoring of each microservice can be complex.

Cultural and organizational change

Migrating to a microservices architecture is not only a technical change, but also a cultural one. 

Teams must adapt to a more service-oriented and collaborative mindset. And this may require a restructuring of roles and responsibilities within the organization.

Security

Secure each microservice independently can be more complex than securing a monolithic application.

Implementing proper authentication and authorization for each service is crucial to maintaining system security.

Differences between a microservices architecture and a monolithic one 

Monolithic and microservices architectures are two different approaches to software development. Each has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at their fundamental differences:

Structure

• Monolithic architecture: It is a single software unit, whose components are tightly coupled. All modules (user interface, business logic, data access) are developed and deployed together.
• Microservices ArchitectureA microservices application is composed of multiple small, independent services, each responsible for a specific functionality. The services communicate with each other through well-defined APIs.

Development and deployment

• Monolithic architecture: It's easier to get started with a monolithic architecture, as it doesn't require much upfront planning. Upgrades and deployments involve recompiling and deploying the entire application, which can be slow and error-prone.
• Microservices Architecture: Requires more detailed upfront planning and design to identify and define services. Microservices can be independently developed, deployed, and updated, allowing for rapid, continuous delivery of new functionality.

Scalability

• Monolithic architecture: Scalability is limited, as the entire application must scale as a unit. It can be difficult to handle large volumes of traffic or data due to the lack of flexibility in scalability.
• Microservices Architecture: Each microservice can be scaled independently, based on its load needs. This allows for more efficient resource utilization and better responsiveness to peak demand.

Maintenance

• Monolithic architecture: Maintenance can become complicated as the application grows, as any change can affect the entire application. Debugging and monitoring are easier due to the unified nature of the application.
• Microservices Architecture: Maintenance is easier, as small services are easier to update and debug. Requires specialized tools to monitor and manage communication between services.

Monolithic architecture brings initial simplicity, unified deployment, limited scalability, and complicated long-term maintenance. 

Microservices architecture, on the other hand, is characterized by its initial complexity, independent deployment, flexible scalability, and simpler maintenance.

How to choose between microservices and monolithic architectures

The choice between a monolithic and microservices architecture depends on several factors, including project complexity, scalability requirements, and available resources. 

Scenarios for using a monolithic architecture

• Small or simple projects:If you are developing a small application with limited functionality and few users, a monolithic architecture may be easier and quicker to implement. 

For example, an internal application to manage tasks for a team with few members.

• Small teamsWhen you have a small development team, the simplicity of a monolithic architecture can facilitate collaboration and reduce management overhead. 

For example: a startup with a small development team.

• Quick Start: If an application needs to be brought to market quickly, a monolithic architecture can allow for faster and less complex development. 

For example, a prototype or proof of concept.

• Limited scalability requirements: If significant growth in the number of users or workload is not expected, a monolithic architecture may be sufficient. 

For example, applications with predictable and consistent usage.

Scenarios for migrating to a microservices architecture

• Complex and large-scale applications: For applications with multiple functionalities and a large user base, microservices enable better management and scalability. 

For example: e-commerce platforms such as large marketplaces.

• High scalability requirements: If you expect rapid growth and need to scale different parts of your application independently, microservices are ideal. 

For example: streaming services.

• Continuous development and deployment: If new features need to be updated and deployed frequently, microservices allow for independent deployments without affecting the entire application. 

For example, SaaS (Software as a Service) applications that require constant updates.

• Technological flexibility: If you want to use different technologies for different parts of your application, microservices allow for this flexibility. 

For example: a platform that uses Python for data analysis and Node.js for the user interface.

That is, monolithic architecture is ideal for small projects, small teams, rapid releases, and applications with limited scalability requirements. 

While migrating to a microservices architecture is suitable for complex applications, with high scalability, continuous deployment and technological flexibility.

4 Strategies to Overcome the Challenges of Migrating to Microservices

Some actions that can be taken into account as alternatives to manage a successful migration from a monolithic architecture to a microservices architecture are the following.

1. Domain modeling

It uses domain-driven design (DDD) principles to identify and define service boundaries.

2. Automation

It involves the implementation of CI/CD tools to automate the deployment and management of the infrastructure.

3. Monitoring and observability

Consider using monitoring tools to monitor the performance and health of microservices.

4. Training and culture

Foster a culture of collaboration and provide ongoing training to teams to adapt to the new architecture.

Recommendations for adopting a microservices architecture

Migrating to a microservices architecture can be a transformative decision for a business, but it also requires careful planning and meticulous execution.

Some suggestions for a company that is considering the transition from a monolithic architecture to a microservices architecture, can be:

Need assessment

It is crucial ensuring that microservices adoption is the right solution for the specific needs to be covered. 

Not all applications require the additional complexity that comes with microservices architecture.

Planning and design

It should be spend time planning and designing the architectureIn this process, service boundaries must be clearly identified and communication APIs defined. 

The recommendation is to use domain-driven design (DDD) principles to structure microservices around business capabilities.

Automation and CI/CD

The Implementing CI/CD pipelines allows you to automate deployment and testing. This will help Maintain quality and speed in delivering new features.

Additionally, automating unit testing and integration testing provides the ability to detect problems quickly.

Monitoring and observability

Implement monitoring and logging tools to monitor the performance and health of microservices, such as Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK Stack. 

At this point, it is important to make sure that have complete visibility of interactions between services and potential bottlenecks.

Configuration Management

Use configuration management tools such as Consul, etcd, or Spring Cloud Config to centralize and manage microservices configuration. 

This allows configuration to be kept separate from code and makes upgrades and maintenance easier.

Security

Implement appropriate security measures for each microservice, ensuring that each service has the appropriate authentication and authorization. HTTPS can be used for communication between services, and consider using tools such as OAuth2 for token management.

Training and culture

Foster a culture of collaboration and provide ongoing training to teams. 

Adopting microservices requires a cultural and organizational changeThat is why it is important to promote communication between teams and the adoption of agile practices.

Testing and validation

Conduct extensive testing at every stage of development. Includes unit, integration, contract and end-to-end testing.

Also, use staging environments that simulate the production environment to validate changes before deploying them.

Tools for adopting microservices architectures

• Docker: Containerization of microservices.
• Kubernetes: Container orchestration and management.
• Prometheus and Grafana: Monitoring and visualizing metrics.
• ELK Stack: Log management and analysis.
• Jenkins: CI/CD Automation.

Conclusion 

Migrating to a microservices architecture during a process application modernization, not only improves technical and operational efficiency, but also enables companies to be more agile, innovative and resilient. 

This migration facilitates the integration of new technologies and practices, optimizes the use of resources and ensures better alignment with business and market demands.

In addition, it provides benefits such as independent scalability, which allows increasing or reducing resources for each service, depending on specific demand.

It also improves resilience. If one microservice fails, the others can continue to operate without affecting overall functionality. 

This structure promotes agility in development, allowing different teams to work in parallel and accelerate the delivery of new features.

Finally, it optimizes operational efficiency by allowing more precise use of resources and easier maintenance of system components.

If your organization is considering modernizing its systems and migrating to a microservices platform, We invite you to discover our Software Studio.

Our multidisciplinary teams analyze projects with a 360-degree approach to identify opportunities for improvement and boost your digital transformation.