ArticlesData suggests that 31% of the technologies used by enterprises are legacy applications or systems. Though they were designed using outdated operating systems, in most cases, they still perform critical tasks important for the business to run smoothly.
This article will delve deep into the core essentials of legacy applications, its use cases, challenges and solutions. But before we get into the details of legacy applications, let’s look at the differences between legacy applications and modern applications.
| Criteria | Legacy Applications | Modern Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Built on monolithic architecture | Utilizes modular architecture |
| Technology Stack | Typically built on outdated technology and programming languages | Built on contemporary technologies such as cloud-native, microservices, etc. |
| Flexibility | They are mostly designed for the specific platform (on-premises development) | Modern apps can be run on cloud platforms |
| Deployment | Relies on manual deployment processes | Automated deployment using CI/CD pipeline |
Old software or applications that are still used today are called legacy applications. Even though they are not modern, many companies still use them because they are important for business operations.
In most cases, they were built years or even decades ago. These applications fulfill their original purpose, but they are behind the times when you compare them to new tech. They often run on old hardware, use old coding languages, or rely on old systems to work.
For example, legacy applications like OpenVMS, Tru64, MPE, and Solaris operate on vintage hardware such as VAX, Alpha, HP 3000, PDP-11, SPARC and others – and they still run mission-critical applications for some of the biggest names in government and industry.
As they are important for critical tasks, many organizations are looking for ways to boost their efficiency and reliability by moving legacy applications to the cloud.
Here are the key characteristics of a legacy application:
Legacy applications have been there for decades. Although they were developed using cutting-edge technology at the time, they are now becoming obsolete, that is why they are considered legacy systems.
These apps often rely on legacy hardware, software, or operating systems that vendors no longer supported by vendors. This causes headaches by making them work with new tech, keeping them safe, and fixing problems.
Despite their age, legacy applications often help mission-critical applications to run. For many organizations, these applications are deeply embedded in the workflow and processes of the business. That’s why it’s hard to get rid of them without disrupting the operations.
From the public sector to private enterprises, legacy applications are used in different sectors. Below are six examples that illustrate the complexities and consequences of continuing with legacy applications.
In 2015, hackers broke into the U.S. National Background Investigations Bureau. The bureau’s old system was an easy target. They had not even had IT security professionals for two years.
Even NASA uses legacy applications. Their Orion spacecraft, which launched in 2022, runs on processors from 2002. That’s space-age tech from 20 years ago! NASA thinks it is reliable enough for deep space. This highlights the challenges of integrating new technology into long-standing projects.
The IRS faced an issue in 2017. A computer glitch stopped it from handling online tax returns for almost five million people. Over ten years, they had spent little investment on legacy modernization. Meanwhile, taxes got more complex, and more people filed online. The aging infrastructure just couldn’t keep up.
Retail shops spend a lot to keep old systems running – about 58% of their IT budget. Many still use vintage Intel 286 computers at the cash register. Because they are skeptical about legacy modernization out of potential cybersecurity threats.
When COVID-19 hit, it showed how bad unemployment systems were across the US. Many of these systems are over 40 years old and still using COBOL. When 13% of workers lost their jobs, the systems crashed. There weren’t enough COBOL experts to fix things.
Banks are stuck in the past too. Many still use COBOL. Take the Royal Bank of Scotland. They have had a ton of IT problems. People couldn’t get into their accounts. Payments got messed up. Why? The problems stem from the bank’s aging IT infrastructure which was never designed to handle the modern workloads of mobile banking.
Legacy applications are categorized based on several parameters, starting from the status to their relevance. Let’s quickly look at them:
First, there’s the “End of Life” problem. Many legacy applications just get abandoned by their makers. No more updates, no more fixes, no help if things go wrong. Companies keep using these outdated systems because getting new ones is expensive or complicated.
Then there’s the growth issue. Most of the legacy applications were built at a time when the current scale of operations was unimaginable. They weren’t built for today’s data loads or user numbers.
Old programs get fixed and updated repeatedly. Each fix might solve one problem but cause another. After a while, these systems become unstable. They’re more likely to crash or get hacked.
Another type is related to knowledge problems. Legacy applications often use outdated programming languages. The specialists who built these systems may have retired or moved on. Finding people who know how to keep old tech running is tough and expensive. When the last expert leaves, companies can be left scrambling.
Legacy there is the most common type of legacy application. They are working fine and running critical workloads. Most legacy applications fall under this category because they are very robust. Also, these classic applications are extremely valuable in terms of the knowledge they contain about organizations’ business processes.
Now that you understand the use cases of legacy applications, let’s look at the reasons for using them:
When it comes to mission-critical legacy applications and modern data centers, don’t make the mistake of keeping the bad along with the good. It does not have to be an “either or” decision. Your aging hardware may be causing you problems. But the operating systems and applications in which you have invested thousands of man-hours and millions of dollars are still performing at a mission-critical level.
On the contrary: while the value of these legacy applications is clear, the hardware they run on presents significant challenges. Legacy hardware is giving IT teams big headaches. Keeping these machines running is getting pricier by the day. It’s not just about finding spare parts – that’s hard enough. When you do find them, they often don’t work well.
Moreover, fewer people know how to fix these old systems. The experts who used to handle them are retiring. Young professionals are learning about new technology, not this outdated hardware.
The outdated hardware also introduces inefficiencies into data center operations. It may require specific configuration, like outdated cooling methods that don’t align with modern infrastructure standards. This misalignment leads to wasted space and increased operational costs.
Furthermore, older hardware are less energy-efficient, which raises power bills and contributes to higher environmental impact. If vendor support is still available, it often comes at a premium, adding another layer of expense.
The application modernization market is projected to reach $24.8 billion by 2025. This trend shows that organizations will extensively follow this path. Modernizing your legacy application is simple if you have a step-by-step plan. This ensures that you execute the strategies in the right order.
Take a closer look at your existing legacy system. Before making any changes, identify what’s working for you and what’s not. This will serve as the foundation for all your modernization efforts.
Next, figure out what’s causing trouble. Is the system slow? Are there security holes? Does it just not do what you need any more? Make a list of these problems.
Once you have identified the problems, it’s time to create a shared vision for what the modernized application should achieve. The decision-makers of your organization should be on the same page. Importantly, think about how it fits into your bigger business plans.
Next, prioritize your needs and set clear goals. What’s most important? What has to be fixed right away, and what can wait? And most importantly, decide how much you are willing to spend on the project. Make these choices clear because it helps you focus on what matters most.
There are several ways to modernize legacy applications, such as application rewriting, buying a new application, rehosting or lift and shift, etc. But you must carefully consider the risks and benefits before making a decision.
Set up a timeline but be realistic. Break the big job into smaller pieces as this will help you keep track of how things are going.
How can you gauge that the legacy modernization project has yielded favorable results? This is where KPIs come into the picture. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to set KPIs. It depends on your specific needs. For some, it can be just the speed of the particular task performed; for another business, it can be the number of users.
Finally, the most important step. Choose a partner with proven experience and expertise in legacy modernization, and a deep understanding of your industry.
With over 20 years of experience, Stromasys has completed more than 7000 successful projects in legacy modernization. We at Stromasys, take pride in being acclaimed by the Gartner Group as the leader in “processor emulation.”
Stromasys provides a simpler and more budget-friendly solution: Charon® emulation software for legacy VAX, Alpha, PA-RISC, and Sun SPARC systems. With Charon, you can easily move your existing software to modern servers, whether they are on-premises or in the cloud. This transition brings significant performance gains, reduces maintenance costs, and leverages the latest security and disaster recovery practices—all within just a few days.
Our lift-and-shift approach has already been proven in numerous use cases. Curious to know how you can boost your ROI with Charon?
Legacy applications built on platforms such as Solaris, OpenVMS, HP-UX, Tru64, and MPE remain crucial for many organizations. These systems handle specific, mission-critical tasks that newer applications might not replicate easily.For many businesses, these applications fulfill their purpose reliably, and the thought of replacing them brings uncertainty, especially without a guarantee that the new solution will work as effectively.Support your legacy application stack with an emulated hardware solution to improve performance, increase reliability, save money, reduce the data center footprint, and fall in line with today’s data center transformation strategies—all in a single move.
1. What is a legacy application?
A legacy application is classic software created using old operating systems. Companies still use them because they can perform specific crucial tasks for businesses.
2. What are the examples of legacy applications?
Lotus Notes is a classic example of a legacy CRM application. Another popular example can be Microsoft Office 2007, which was designed a long time ago and is considered a legacy application.
3. What are legacy software examples?
Examples of legacy software include Solaris, HP-UX, OpenVMS, Tru64, and MPE.
4. What is an example of a legacy device?An example of a legacy device could be point-of-sale (POS) systems that rely on outdated hardware and software.
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