Change is hard, especially when asking members of your organization to embrace modern technology. You may hear objections ranging from “Our current tech is easy, the new may be too difficult to learn” or “if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” The thing is, much of the legacy tech that is still in use, such as outdated operating systems, hardware, applications, systems, processes, etc. can be problematic and put your organization at risk. Here are six risks you need to consider.
#1. Unreliability
Holding on to legacy systems because they still work is a risky decision. What happens when they no longer work and there is nothing to take their place? It is better to be updating tech before the inevitable obsolescence happens.
#2. Data Breaches
Older technologies are especially vulnerable to today’s more sophisticated cyberattacks. Outdated software or hardware that is no longer supported by its manufacturer leaves it as low-hanging fruit to be breached. One in four small/medium-sized companies that fall victim to a data breach will find themselves going bankrupt with 10 percent having to close their doors for good as they struggle to recover and address liabilities they may need to cover.
#3. Expense
A major argument that organizations have when it comes to updating their computer systems with modern technology is the expense. However, trying to keep legacy technology running is typically an expensive proposition in itself. Vendors may no longer support the older tech, which can leave tech departments scrambling. Additionally, new technology uses less power to run, so there is the utility savings to consider by updating tech.
#4. Compliance Issues
Different industries are subject to different compliance standards. For example, retailers who accept credit card payments are required to abide by PCI-DSS compliance while healthcare is required to abide by HIPAA rules to protect patient confidentiality. Failure to meet compliance with either could mean severe financial penalties.
#5. Loss of Customer Confidence
Customers are not always so forgiving if your old legacy system is breached and then makes their personal information available to cybercriminals. If your systems are often down because of your outdated tech, your customers may soon be looking elsewhere for more reliability.
#6. Frustrated Employees
It is not just your customers that can become frustrated with your unreliable or limited-capability systems. Your employees may feel limited with the technology and frustrated with productivity issues. This means your organization may be dealing with having to fill job vacancies often as workers seek out employers who invest in current technologies.
Are you willing to continue taking risks with legacy technology? Ask us about our technology solutions to keep your business up and running at peak efficiency!
