ArticlesDecision-makers often consider replacing legacy systems with modern alternatives. But there is one common mistake they repeatedly make. It’s not the time they spend on the project. No, it’s not the budget either.
What they really lack is the right knowledge. Because choosing the right solution comes from knowing the nitty-gritty of the entire legacy modernization process.
There are numerous ways of replacing legacy systems and limiting yourself to a popular solution is not a smart move. The simplest way to handle this is to find a solution that is cost-effective, fast, fits the specific architecture and doesn’t disrupt your operations.
In this article, you will get to know everything related to replacing legacy systems. Most importantly, you will uncover how to replace legacy systems the right way.
Why replace legacy systems? IT leaders must understand that it’s not necessarily the operating systems. In fact, the operating system is executing essential applications that are vital to the business. Chaning them puts your business continuity at stake.
Typically, the issue stems from the hardware. It causes serious risks and leaves your system vulnerable to breakdowns.
Recent data shows that unplanned downtime results in a staggering 11% loss of yearly turnover for Fortune Global 500 companies, amounting to nearly $1.5 trillion. And legacy hardware is the major contributor to this.
Older hardware usually consumes a lot of power. This results in higher electricity costs and increased cooling requirements. Additionally, there is a shortage of spare parts. Finding replacement parts for end-of-life hardware is nothing short of a challenging endeavor. Even if you found one, the price is excessive.
Finally, Legacy hardware often requires more physical space compared to modern, compact alternatives. This can lead to inefficient use of valuable floor space in data centers or office environments, leading to higher maintenance costs.
Engineers who are well adverse with the legacy servers are retiring in numbers. Young engineers are not likely to spend their time mastering outdated technology. This leads to a shortage of skilled professionals. The absence of expert maintenance can result in significant system failures.
Has your system been running slower? It’s common for hardware to degrade over time. This can affect not just the system’s performance, but also how efficiently your team gets work done. When employees are stuck waiting for slow systems to respond, valuable hours are wasted, and overall productivity takes a hit.
On average, 60-80% of the IT budgets are allocated to legacy system maintenance. Allocating such a large portion of the budget to legacy systems maintenance severely affects an organization’s ability to invest in new technologies and innovative projects.
Replacing legacy systems with modern solutions offers numerous advantages.
Modern systems are designed to be stable and reliable. For example, migrating your Solaris applications from SPARC to modern x86-based infrastructure means there is an increase in reliability. With this reliability, businesses can avoid costly interruptions and downtime
Obsolete systems are also more vulnerable to cyber threats such as hacking, data breaches, and malware. Newer systems protect sensitive data and reduce expenses by preventing costly security incidents.
Older systems are expensive to keep inline. They need constant maintenance, consume more energy and are usually highly dependent on trained personnel to remain operational. This reduces the overall cost as modern systems use less energy, require less cooling, and are easier to maintain.
Spending money on legacy systems keeps you from investing in areas that could boost productivity. Modern systems allow for better resource allocation, so you can focus on improving efficiency and increasing revenue.
This is because they operate at greater speeds concerned are more responsive to commands, a result of which causes reduced downtime and speeds up the rest of the processing workflow. So that workers have more time to work on what they need to do, instead of waiting for the system to catch up.
New systems make it easier to establish connectivity and other setups via cloud solutions. Businesses looking to update their IT infrastructure, therefore, scale up or down during periods of high traffic from interested users attending events need a solution that offers scalability and cost-efficiency.
Two key aspects stand out when it comes to replacing legacy systems: selecting the appropriate strategy and getting your business ready for the implementation.
For IT leaders and decision makers, feeling overwhelmed by numerous legacy system modernization approaches is a common thing. What they truly need to focus on is analyzing the risk, cost, time, and determining if the strategy is affecting the continuity of the business.
When discussing the strategies, multiple experts refer to the 5 R’s: rehosting (lift and shift), refactoring, rearchitecting, rebuilding, and replacing legacy systems.
Refactoring, rearchitecting, rebuilding, and replacing options demand extensive retraining of both administrators and end users.
They often generate significant challenges in change management for organizations—especially when individuals are already packed with their daily tasks.
In contrast, lift and shift emerges as a cost-effective, less risky and time-efficient alternative. This approach requires no modifications or changes whatsoever. The end user will remain completely unaware of the changes made to the aging architecture. This ensures that the current process remains uninterrupted, with no need for retraining – everything will operate as usual on a more efficient and reliable infrastructure than ever before.
After you finalize the legacy system replacement strategy, there are some essential considerations you must adhere to. For example, if it’s a cloud migration, you must undergo the 5 Phases of Legacy System Migration to Cloud. Similarly, if it’s an on-premises migration, the considerations will differ.
But in general, these are the things that you should keep in mind before replacing legacy systems:
Successfully replacing legacy systems depends on establishing a clear goal—both for the long-term and short-term—and selecting the right modernization strategy.
If you’re thinking about replacing legacy systems, Stromasys might be an ideal choice. Charon by Stromasys emulates SPARC, VAX, AlphaServer, and PA-RISC servers on modern x86 based architecture or in cloud.
Charon operates on the fundamental principles of Lift and Shift migration. This indicates that the applications do not require any changes. The original hardware will be replaced in just a few days. There is no need to write or modify any code. Essential applications will operate seamlessly on a new and reliable platform.
If you manage the IT systems of an enterprise that depends on legacy hardware, this is an excellent opportunity to breathe life into your mission-critical applications with minimum alternations, cost and time.
1. What are Legacy Systems?
Legacy systems are outdated software, hardware, or technology that continue to be utilized in several companies, even though they have been surpassed by more advanced solutions.
2. What is the Danger of Legacy Systems?
Legacy systems, particularly the hardware, are exposed to downtime that affects overall productivity. This is the primary reason businesses consider replacing legacy systems.
3. How to Get Rid of Legacy Systems?
Various strategies include rehosting, replacing, refactoring, rearchitecting, and rebuilding. Companies must thoroughly evaluate all strategies to ensure they make a well-informed decision.
4. What is that one very important thing to look at when replacing legacy systems?
If you are replacing a legacy system, it is critical to be aware of the limitations of your existing system and develop a list of requirements of your new system. This involves a comprehensive assessment of the existing system to identify what works well and what does not, which will set the clear requirements for the modernized system.
The Challenge: Aging Hardware Limits M&A Activities Businesses are managing more data and IT systems...
Read More
Many businesses still rely on legacy systems. This may be due to an investment in...
Read More
Despite their age and obsolescence, many organizations still cling to SPARC systems for their operations....
Read More