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Microservices consulting

Microservices Consulting for Java Systems

We look at where service boundaries would help, where tighter modules inside one application are enough, and what each option costs to run. A fixed-fee architecture review ends in a target architecture and the order to get there.

Discuss your systemSee the process

Results from systems we have built and improved

80%
lower infrastructure cost after separating hotel search from the databaseSearch moved to an in-memory data gridHotel search case study
1,000,000,000
financial transactions in under an hour on a modular platformFastPost accounting platform · developed for LegerityFastPost case study
Nearly 10 years
of FastPost's modular architecture evolved by our teamLegerity accounting platform · from 2013FastPost case study
For
Java systems with coupled releases, uneven scaling needs or teams that block each other.
Architecture review
Usually 2 to 4 weeks, depending on system size, scope and access to code and runtime data.
Pricing
A fixed fee for the agreed review, which stands on its own with no commitment to implementation.
Output
A target architecture, the order of changes and a prioritized plan your team can use on its own.
What we assess

What the architecture review looks at

We start from evidence in your code and runtime, not from a preferred architecture.

  • Domain and data ownership

    Business workflows, transactions and dependencies: where a component can own its data, and where separating it would add consistency or integration cost.

  • Runtime and scaling

    Call traces, traffic patterns and bottleneck measurements, to see which components need their own capacity or release cycle, and which do not.

  • Team ownership and operations

    Deployment, testing, monitoring and support compared for each option, because every new service needs a team that owns and maintains it.

  • Migration and recovery

    A first change that can be validated on its own, with interface compatibility, data changes and recovery planned before the migration grows.

Architecture options

Possible outcomes of the review

Microservices are one possible answer, and the review can also recommend fewer services.

  • Strengthen existing modules

    Often the simplest fix: clearer boundaries inside the application you already run, when one deployment still fits your workload and your team.

  • Extract selected services

    Move out only the parts that need to scale, change or be owned separately, when that is worth the extra interfaces and running costs.

  • Consolidate unnecessary services

    If an earlier split brought more coordination and failures than benefits, merging some services back can make the system easier to change.

    Performance engineering

  • Plan a broader transition

    When several services are worth it, we set the order, the dependencies and the operating skills needed to introduce them one at a time.

    Platform engineering

  • Stratoflow was a great partner, challenging as well as supporting our customer projects for the best outcome. They have a great pool of talent within the business - all very capable technologists, as well as being business-savvy and suitable for consultancy engagements.
    Chris GoodallManaging Consultant, CG Consultancy (UK) Limited
Delivery process

How our microservices architecture consulting works

Each step ends with your decision, so you stay in control of scope and cost.

  1. Agree the question

    We begin our cooperation by discussing your delivery constraints and scaling needs, then agree the review scope, fee and access with you.

  2. Review code and runtime

    In the second phase, we map module coupling, transactions, data ownership and operational evidence together with your engineers.

  3. Compare architectures

    Then we document the benefits, risks and running costs of each suitable option, and review the recommendation with the people who will build it.

  4. Define the first phase

    Finally, we hand over the target architecture and migration order. You decide whether to start a scoped first phase with us or use the report alone.

Case studies

Our projects

All case studies

Practical questions

Questions about microservices

Will you recommend microservices?

Only when independent deployment, scaling or ownership justifies the operational cost. Improving modules or consolidating services can be a better fit. The report explains the tradeoffs and the evidence behind the recommendation.

What does the architecture review cost?

We quote a fixed fee after understanding the codebase, integrations, available evidence and decisions in scope. The review stands on its own, like Technical Due Diligence. Implementation is a separate engagement, billed time and materials against a written ballpark once the review establishes its boundaries.

Can you help when an existing split is going badly?

Yes. We review current service boundaries, data dependencies and release coordination. The recommendation may be to continue extraction, adjust boundaries or consolidate parts of the system.

Can you implement the recommendation?

Yes. We can deliver agreed changes through application modernization phases, or work alongside your team. The review remains useful whether or not you commission implementation from us.

Go deeper

Architecture guides from our engineers

All articles

Written by , Co-founder and CTO, Stratoflow. Published . Updated .

Next step

Choose the next step for your architecture

Tell us where delivery or scaling has become difficult. We will discuss what an architecture review should establish.

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