A Metrics-based Model for Estimating the Maintainability of Cloud-Based Enterprise Information Systems for Kenyan SMEs

Abstract

In Kenya, both big corporations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are progressively embracing cloud technology due to its flexibility and on demand accessibility. SMEs, crucial for national development, are shifting their monolithic applications to the cloud to leverage its benefits, often choosing microservices architecture (MSA) for an optimal transition. Microservices are praised for their ability to address the challenge of decomposing monolithic business systems into smaller, cohesive, and loosely coupled services. The migration is driven by challenges in maintaining legacy applications and adapting to rapidly changing business requirements. To make informed decisions about improving maintainability through microservices, designers need to thoughtfully examine the key factors behind this shift in software architecture. This paper presents a hierarchical quality model based on multivariate linear regression models to evaluate attributes of Microservices Architecture, with a specific focus on maintainability. Aligned with the ISO/IEC 250nn standard SQuaRE, the model assesses microservices maintainability on three levels: low, medium, and high. The model undergoes demonstration and evaluation using open-source MSA applications, offering practical assessments of maintainability for SME applications in the cloud.