application decommissioning checklist

1. Pre-Decommissioning Assessment

Identify the application to be decommissioned.

Gather documentation related to the application (architecture, dependencies, etc.).

Assess the impact of decommissioning on business processes and operations.

Notify stakeholders about the planned decommissioning.

Determine data retention requirements and compliance considerations.

Here are some additional steps that could be included in the "1. Pre-Decommissioning Assessment" section of your application decommissioning checklist

Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the necessity of decommissioning the application

Identify and assess any active users and their roles in relation to the application

Review service level agreements (SLAs) associated with the application to understand commitments

Analyze integration points with other systems and applications to understand potential impacts

Evaluate existing support and maintenance contracts related to the application

Determine any training requirements for users affected by the decommissioning

Schedule and conduct a risk assessment to identify potential issues arising from the decommissioning

Document any legacy issues or concerns related to the application that may affect decommissioning

Create a timeline for the decommissioning process, including key milestones and deadlines

Establish a process for feedback from stakeholders regarding the decommissioning plan

2. Data Migration and Backup

Identify data that needs to be migrated to other systems.

Create a data migration plan and timeline.

Perform data backup to ensure data integrity.

Validate the successful migration of data to the new system.

Obtain approvals from relevant stakeholders on data migration.

3. User Communication

Inform users about the decommissioning timeline.

Provide training or resources for users transitioning to new systems.

Collect feedback and address concerns raised by users.

Ensure users have access to necessary support during the transition.

4. System Decommissioning

Disable user access to the application.

Remove application components from production environments.

Uninstall application software from servers and endpoints.

Ensure proper disposal of any hardware associated with the application.

Document all actions taken during the decommissioning process.

5. Post-Decommissioning Review

Conduct a review to confirm the application has been decommissioned successfully.

Evaluate the impacts of decommissioning on business operations.

Collect feedback from stakeholders and users regarding the decommissioning process.

Update documentation and records to reflect the changes made.

Archive relevant documents for future reference.

6. Compliance and Reporting

Verify compliance with data retention and regulatory requirements.

Generate a decommissioning report summarizing the process.

Submit the report to relevant stakeholders and compliance teams.

Ensure all lessons learned are documented for future decommissioning projects.