Software Development Blogs

10 Disadvantages of Legacy Systems

Costs are rising and it’s getting harder to fend off a cyberattack. Some top reasons why legacy systems should be upgraded now.

Stuck in the past? 

Feeling nostalgic for simpler times?

The king of horror novels Stephen King said “Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” That may apply to books, films, music, and fashion, but NOT computers.

Let’s examine some reasons your business should make legacy system modernization a top priority.

Sales are down

Sure, there may be a list of reasons why sales are foundering, but legacy software shouldn’t be discounted.

For example, a website that frequently crashes should raise a big red flag. 

Employees are fed up

An unhappy workforce is a recipe for disaster. 

Listen to what people on the ‘frontlines’ are saying about how to day problems are impacting business processes. 

If employees can’t do their jobs, or do things efficiently, productivity plummets.

There is also the risk some frustrated high performers will leave. 

For staff members who would resist a legacy system upgrade, there are some ways to convince them to embrace new tech.

Software systems that aren’t mobile friendly

Not everyone uses a laptop or a desktop computer on a daily basis.

In fact, many people only use a cell phone or a tablet to do everything: work, banking, shopping, and interacting on social media. 

It is vital that every company operate on every platform seamlessly. That includes internal business and business applications for customers/clients.

Mobile capabilities should be prioritized in any tech strategy focused on digital transformation.

Monster security nightmares

Cybersecurity threats are very real and evolving. 

Propping up legacy applications and legacy systems won’t protect you from hackers around the world.

Outdated tech may not be compatible with the latest security patches and adding new security measures may not be possible. 

A ‘virus’ could be hiding in an old program no longer used; a ‘back door’ could be wide open, and passwords used for system access by former employees may not have been deleted.

The training costs are impossible to ignore

Onboarding new employees is a normal part of business, but having to train them on how to use legacy systems is time-consuming.

New employees bring new ideas and new skills, and they can be a key part in bringing new technology into the fold, including artificial intelligence.

Sloooooooow

COVID-19 has shown that businesses need to be able to adapt to sudden changes.

Customers/clients expect quick response times to urgent issues.

Employees need to respond to questions in real time, not having to wait for a slow computer system to catch up.

Maintaining legacy systems that can’t process large amounts of data in an acceptable time frame, may result in lost revenues. 

Can’t support current market tech trends

Chatbots are everywhere these days - including on websites for government, insurance, health care, and retail.

The AI powered digital assistants supplement, or take over, customer service functions. 

Software development may be needed to adapt to changing business requirements.

Updates no longer supported

Still using old software programs? 

Microsoft, for example, always warns people in advance that while your computer may still work, there will be no more bug fixes, security plugs, or any form of support.

Maintaining the system is expensive

IT specialists are not magicians. Replacement parts for outdated hardware can be hard to locate and may come with a big price tag.

Downtime for repairs or unexpected outages also could result in lost revenues.

A cloud-based system is still a dream

Legacy computer hardware takes up a lot of space and increases overhead costs.

Staying outside the cloud also means less flexibility and slower growth.

A custom software development team could upgrade your legacy system to align with business goals.

IT and talent solutions
Intersog is a leading IT solutions provider in the United States and other countries. The company has provided agile software engineering and staffing services for Fortune 500 corporations, tech startups, and SaaS businesses for over eighteen years. Why Intersog.