{"id":21248,"date":"2024-08-28T11:04:45","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdev.securin.xyz\/?p=21248"},"modified":"2024-10-22T09:50:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T16:50:48","slug":"unveiling-the-risks-of-legacy-systems-and-how-to-mitigate-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webdev.securin.xyz\/articles\/unveiling-the-risks-of-legacy-systems-and-how-to-mitigate-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Unveiling the Risks of Legacy Systems and How to Mitigate Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A few years ago, a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that <\/span>10 legacy systems<\/span><\/a> belonging to federal authorities were between 8 to 51 years old and cost approximately $337 million annually to maintain. These systems were present in the Departments of Defense, Education, Treasury, Homeland Security, Transportation, and Social Security Administration and included a 14-year-old COBOL system in use by the Air Force and an 18-year-old industrial control system utilized in U.S. dams and power plants.<\/span><\/p>

While most of our federal agencies have made concerted efforts to modernize their technology and move to cloud environments, others have either partial or no technology improvement plans in place. One good example of the successful modernization of legacy systems is the U.S. Air Force, which underwent updates despite the considerable budgetary strain of the contract. <\/span>GAO reports recorded savings reached approximately $34 million annually. <\/span><\/a>Unfortunately, although all federal agencies have been made aware of the risks associated with using legacy systems, many simply lack the funds, skilled personnel, time, and expertise to navigate such large-scale changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

To address this need, the U.S. Government has introduced special initiatives for critical infrastructure entities, such as the<\/span> Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).<\/span><\/a> This legislation addresses pressing technology modernization needs by allocating funding to deserving organizations, aiding them in fortifying their defenses against escalating cyber threats. Early indicators suggest that BIL funding has surpassed <\/span>$448 billion<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>supporting 51,000 projects encompassing road paving, water systems, bridges, and other extensive transit initiatives.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Where are Legacy Systems Still In Use?\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUpgrading legacy systems can be expensive, time-consuming, and operationally challenging for teams to successfully implement. Additionally, bespoke applications may only run on specific legacy platforms, further complicating compatibility issues and the delicate balance between upgrading software and not disrupting critical business operations.\u00a0<\/span>\n