Legacy IT refers to the outdated/obsolete computer technology organizations still use, even though better alternatives exist. Examples of Legacy IT may include IT infrastructure (mainframe computers, servers, etc.), software (programming languages, apps, etc.), and data (databases, file formats, etc.).
While there are several disadvantages (security and support issues, maintenance costs etc.) of using legacy IT, and multiple modern alternatives, legacy computing systems are still prevalent. This is primarily because:
Upgrading to a modern solution is expensive.
Organizations rely too heavily on legacy systems.
Implementing newer technology is highly (technically) challenging.
Organizations fail to adapt to the ever-evolving technological landscape.
Here are some common examples of Legacy IT systems:
COBOL Mainframe: COBOL is behind numerous finance and government solutions. However, there aren’t many developers who can work on the legacy code. This makes it hard to maintain the legacy systems. As a result, organizations are working hard to create applications in newer languages for easy maintenance and scalability.
SAP: This is a popular ERP software (limited coding and analytic capabilities) still used by companies like Apple, IBM, Amazon, and HP. Over 90% of the total organizations using SAP are looking forward to migrating in search of modern solutions.