7 big disadvantages of legacy systems that Everyone Should Understand
Let’s be honest: nobody really likes legacy systems. Many company legacy configurations happen when something else is wrong — there’s a compliance problem, or a roll-out is too complex to do all at once, or ongoing projects need older software / hardware or decision-makers who just don’t like change. But while we all know that legacy systems are irritating, they’re actually a lot worse than that: they can do real harm to a company. Here are some disadvantages of legacy systems.
1. Legacy IT Strategies Aren’t Prepared for Change
This is a big one, so let’s just unpack it. A strategy that involves legacy systems is a “stop-start” strategy. It deals with changes in large chunks, followed by long stretches of stagnant, unchanging industry. That was the mainstream way to run a company in the industrial era, and businesses integrated it into their DNA: have a brief adaptation period to make any required changes, then stop before another wave of necessary changes comes along.
2. Legacy Systems Make Security Worse, Not Better
If you’ve worked on computer protection or software upgrades before, it should make a lot of sense. Safety is primarily based on the lean IT principle we described above: constant improvements to meet the most current threats. Legacy structures, by their design, are dealing with this because of their age.
3. Meeting Clients on Their Terms Becomes Impossible
Do you know who doesn’t have legacy systems? Every single B2C client out there. They don’t even understand the concept: When technology moves on, they move with it. When a new generation comes out, they use it. When a new app becomes popular, they download it and start using it.
4. Legacy Systems Are Not Cost-Effective to Manage
On the one side, it may seem that legacy systems should be cheaper. But that becomes less valid over time. Support and enhancements for older systems (if available) are typically much more costly than support for the new model because it takes a lot more time for developers to provide continuous maintenance and updates.
5. Compatibility Issues Threaten Business Interactions
We’ve already addressed the customers, so what about anyone else? Legacy systems usually embrace file and data formats up to a point — and then these formats grow beyond what the legacy system can accommodate, which sometimes takes just a few years or so. This means that companies are stuck using older formats that their customers, partners or suppliers may not be able (or willing) to use.
6. It’s Unhealthy for Employee Training
Let’s go psychologically for a second: what does the acceptance of legacy structures mean about the workforce? Part of it tells them that it’s all right not to change. That’s all right to put off today’s problems and leave them behind tomorrow, because yesterday’s patterns and strategies are still working. Is that really the point of view that every company needs to promote in its workers — particularly when it comes to training them in new skills?
7. Proprietary Tools Aren’t Fun
At this point, older systems tend to be big, bulky, and very proprietary, making it difficult for them to upgrade and customize. In the meantime, the current systems are much more modular and made of smaller parts that are simpler to implement on a required basis. IT staff really enjoy the latter and are really tired of the former. Take care of that.
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