Independent Research
Software Modernization Services
Evaluate vendors and plan migrations with independent cost data, failure analysis, and strategy research from 200+ verified implementations.
Research by Category
Cloud Modernization
15AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, Serverless
Mainframe
8COBOL, AS/400, Core Systems
Legacy Systems
17VB6, Delphi, PowerBuilder, .NET
Legacy Apps
23AngularJS, React, Microservices
Data & AI
7Snowflake, Databricks, ETL, Pipelines
DevOps & Platform
6CI/CD, Platform Engineering, Observability
Security
6Zero Trust, IAM, Identity
ERP Modernization
1SAP, Oracle, Dynamics 365
AI Modernization
0AI-Assisted Migration, AI Readiness
Strategy & Governance
0Program Planning, Portfolio Rationalization
API & Integration
0ESB, iPaaS, Event-Driven Architecture
Frontend & UX
4Framework Migration, Design Systems
Cost Benchmarks
COBOL to Java
$1.2M - $2.8M
2.5M LOC · 14-18 months
Mainframe to AWS
$3.5M - $8M
Enterprise · 18-30 months
AngularJS to React
$180K - $450K
50K LOC · 4-8 months
EC2 to Serverless
$150K - $600K
Mid-size · 6-12 months
Oracle to PostgreSQL
$200K - $1.2M
Enterprise · 8-18 months
Heroku to Kubernetes
$80K - $350K
Startup/Mid · 3-8 months
Based on verified projects · Updated Q1 2026
Our Methodology →Start Here
Cloud Readiness Assessment
Evaluate your infrastructure, team skills, and migration complexity before you start.
Legacy System Assessment
Calculate technical debt, modernization ROI, and build a business case for leadership.
Modernization Strategy Framework
Phased migration planning, risk mitigation, and vendor selection criteria.
Latest Research
10 IAM Modernization Best Practices for Enterprise Architects
A definitive guide to IAM modernization best practices. Explore actionable strategies for Zero Trust, passwordless auth, and API-driven identity for CTOs.
A Practical Guide to SIEM to Cloud SIEM Migration
Thinking about a SIEM to cloud SIEM migration? This guide covers the critical costs, technical pitfalls, and decision frameworks for modernizing security.
A Definitive Mainframe Assessment Methodology for CTOs
Execute a flawless mainframe modernization with our definitive mainframe assessment methodology. Learn to scope, analyze, and build a data-driven business case.
Application Modernization Consulting Rates: 2026 Benchmark Guide
Application modernization consulting rates range from $75 to $850/hour in 2026. Breakdown by firm size, seniority, region, service type, and pricing model — with red flags on inflated proposals.
Identity Provider Migration Planning: A 2026 Guide
A practical guide to identity provider migration planning. Learn to execute a seamless IdP switch with expert checklists, risk analysis, and cutover strategies.
Linux Versus Windows Server: A Data-Driven Infrastructure Guide
A CTO's guide to the linux versus windows server debate. We compare TCO, security, performance, and workload suitability for modern infrastructure.
Vendor Intelligence
Compare implementation partners with real data
Browse cost data, specializations, and verified project outcomes for 170+ implementation partners. Our vendor profiles include pricing ranges, technology focus areas, and team composition data.
About Our Research
What is Modernization Intel?
Modernization Intel is an independent research publication covering software modernization. We publish cost data, migration strategies, failure analysis, and vendor intelligence from 200+ real implementations. Our research helps engineering leaders make informed decisions about legacy system modernization, cloud migration, and platform engineering.
How is your research funded?
We are funded through featured vendor placements and sponsored research. Vendors can pay for enhanced visibility on our platform - but they cannot influence our editorial process, rankings, or published cost data. Our methodology and editorial independence are documented at /methodology.
How do you collect cost and timeline data?
We analyze 200+ verified implementation projects across cost structures, delivery timelines, technology specializations, and documented failure modes. Data is verified through reference checks, project post-mortems, and vendor disclosure reviews. See our full methodology at /methodology.
How current is your research?
We update cost ranges and vendor capabilities quarterly. Research articles reflect current technology stacks and pricing. When practices change (e.g., new cloud pricing tiers, framework deprecations), we flag outdated sections and update within 30 days.
What makes you different from Gartner or Clutch?
We publish what others hide: real cost ranges, timeline bands, and failure modes. Gartner charges enterprises $50K+ for analyst reports. Clutch sells premium placement to vendors. Our research is freely accessible - funded by transparent vendor placements, not paywalled subscriptions.
Can vendors influence your research?
No. Vendor placements are clearly labeled as 'Featured' and are separated from our editorial content. Paying for a featured placement does not change a vendor's ranking, cost data, or failure analysis in our research. We refuse pay-to-play rankings.
What are software modernization services?
Software modernization services help organizations migrate, re-platform, or rebuild legacy systems using current technologies. Common services include cloud migration, mainframe modernization, legacy application re-architecture, data platform modernization, and DevOps transformation. Engagements typically range from $150K for targeted application migrations to $8M+ for enterprise mainframe transformations, with timelines from 3 months to 3+ years depending on scope and complexity.
How much do software modernization services cost?
Costs vary significantly by modernization type. Cloud migrations typically run $150K–$1.8M. Mainframe modernization ranges from $1.2M–$8M+ for enterprise scale. Legacy application re-architecture costs $80K–$450K per application. Data platform modernization runs $200K–$1.2M. We publish verified cost benchmarks from 200+ real projects - see our full cost data for detailed breakdowns by technology, scale, and vendor.