IT Infrastructure Management for Legacy Systems

Exactly a year ago, we embarked on a transformative journey in application modernization, specifically harnessing generative AI to overhaul one of our client’s legacy systems. This initiative was challenging yet crucial for staying competitive: - Migrating outdated codebases - Mitigating high manual coding costs - Integrating legacy systems with cutting-edge platforms - Aligning technological upgrades with strategic business objectives Reflecting on this journey, here are the key lessons and outcomes we achieved through Gen AI in application modernization: [1] Assess Application Portfolio. We started by analyzing which applications were both outdated and critical, identifying those with the highest ROI for modernization.  This targeted approach helped prioritize efforts effectively. [2] Prioritize Practical Use Cases for Generative AI. For instance, automating code conversion from COBOL to Java reduced the overall manual coding time by 60%, significantly decreasing costs and increasing efficiency. [3] Pilot Gen AI Projects. We piloted a well-defined module, leading to a 30% reduction in time-to-market for new features, translating into faster responses to market demands and improved customer satisfaction. [4] Communicate Success and Scale Gradually. Post-pilot, we tracked key metrics such as code review time, deployment bugs, and overall time saved, demonstrating substantial business impacts to stakeholders and securing buy-in for wider implementation. [5] Embrace Change Management. We treated AI integration as a critical change in the operational model, aligning processes and stakeholder expectations with new technological capabilities. [6] Utilize Automation to Drive Innovation. Leveraging AI for routine coding tasks not only freed up developer time for strategic projects but also improved code quality by over 40%, reducing bugs and vulnerabilities significantly. [7] Opt for Managed Services When Appropriate. Managed services for routine maintenance allowed us to reallocate resources towards innovative projects, further driving our strategic objectives. Bonus Point: Establish a Center of Excellence (CoE). We have established CoE within our organization. It spearheaded AI implementations and established governance models, setting a benchmark for best practices that accelerated our learning curve and minimized pitfalls. You could modernize your legacy app by following similar steps! #modernization #appmodernization #legacysystem #genai #simform — PS. Visit my profile, Hiren Dhaduk, & subscribe to my weekly newsletter: - Get product engineering insights. - Catch up on the latest software trends. - Discover successful development strategies.

Legacy systems often stick around longer than anyone plans. At first, they do the job, but over time, they start holding your business back. Many of our clients come to us facing this exact issue — old systems that can't keep up with their growing needs. The big question: how do you modernize without risking major disruptions? The first step is understanding what your legacy system still does well and where it’s holding you back. Not everything needs replacing right away. Focusing on the areas that are creating the most friction in your day-to-day operations will help you target your efforts. We often advise clients against ripping out an entire system all at once. Instead, we help them modernize in manageable steps. This approach spreads the investment over time and allows you to gradually replace outdated components while keeping your core business running smoothly. Moving data from a legacy system to a new platform can be one of the most complex parts of the process. We’ve helped companies navigate this challenge by developing clear migration plans that focus on data accuracy and integrity. Your data is the lifeblood of your operations, and ensuring it transfers correctly — without loss or corruption — is key to a successful modernization. One mistake we’ve seen businesses make is forgetting to prioritize security when modernizing legacy systems. Older systems tend to have vulnerabilities that modern threats can exploit, but simply moving to a new platform isn’t enough. Every upgrade needs to be paired with an evaluation of your security posture. Implementing new encryption methods, improving access controls and conducting regular security audits to protect your data and operations should be a priority in your modernization plan. Legacy system modernization is a journey, but when done thoughtfully, it can unlock new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and innovation. #flexmade #softwaredevelopment #legacysystems #digitaltransformation

Success comes with hidden costs called technical debt. The longer a business operates, the more outdated, unpatched, and vulnerable systems accumulate. These legacy systems create cybersecurity risks that, if left unchecked, can lead to costly breaches and operational failures. The challenge is prioritization: Which risks are the most toxic? How do you “refinance” technical debt and reduce your security exposure? Think of it like bad credit card debt, the highest-interest debt must be tackled first to prevent it from spiraling out of control. In cybersecurity, this means addressing high-risk, externally facing vulnerabilities before they turn into full-blown incidents. How to Reduce Your Cybersecurity Debt: 1. Identify High-Risk Legacy Systems – Audit your infrastructure to locate outdated, vulnerable systems. 2. Prioritize External-Facing Vulnerabilities – Focus first on critical issues that could be exploited remotely. 3. Patch and Upgrade Strategically – Apply security updates and phase out high-risk, unsupported technology. 4. Ensure System Interoperability – Replace or reconfigure systems that don’t integrate securely. 5. Continuously Monitor and Predict Threats – Leverage exploit prediction scoring (like FIRST.org’s EPSS) to assess risk levels. Just as financial discipline keeps businesses solvent, cybersecurity discipline prevents cascading failures. Managing your technical debt now ensures a more secure, resilient future.

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲. 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲. I'm not that old, but I've worked on pneumatic control systems installed in the 1960s and led regional DCS/ICS migrations for some of the world's most complex petroleum, chemical, and power facilities. 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗢𝗧 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆. In this week's edition of The OT CISO, I unpack: - Why shutdowns often aren't an option - How to secure systems that can't be touched - Real-world strategies using compensating controls - How Innovakt hardens networks and raises security maturity—without disrupting production 👇 Read the full breakdown: 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 — 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 #TheOTCISO #LegacySystems #IndustrialCybersecurity #CompensatingControls #StartWithAssessment #CyberResilience #OTSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #OperationalTechnology

Modernizing a legacy platform is like rebuilding an airplane mid-flight. You’ve built something better—maybe even a whole new version of your core product. It’s faster, cleaner, more scalable. But there’s a catch: You’re already serving a large customer base on the old platform. And moving them all to the new one at once? Too risky. You’d be inviting breakage, support chaos, and a hit to customer trust. But not launching the new platform? That’s even riskier long-term. Because while you hesitate, your competitors aren’t waiting. So how do you balance progress and stability at scale? Here are six release strategies we’ve seen work—especially in fintech, where trust is everything and legacy systems run deep: 1️⃣ Let users choose when to switch (like Salesforce Lightning Mode) Allow end users to opt into the new experience. This gives them time to adjust—and gives your team space to gather feedback and make refinements before going wide. 2️⃣ Roll out by user role Start with a specific persona. For example, upgrade your loan officers before your servicing team. This narrows the blast radius and helps your team learn fast in smaller, safer increments. 3️⃣ Route a small % of traffic to the new version Think of it like controlled randomness. Divert a small, randomized slice of users to the new experience (a classic A/B approach), monitor the impact, and refine from there. 4️⃣ Launch for new customers only New customers have no prior expectations—no habits to unlearn. Starting here lets you prove the new platform works without disrupting active workflows. 5️⃣ Let existing customers self-select into early adopter or laggard groups Some customers love to be on the bleeding edge. Invite them to opt in as early adopters—offering advanced access to the new platform and, if appropriate, incentives like preferential pricing. Meanwhile, let your more risk-averse customers remain on the legacy platform until the new experience is fully validated. This creates a natural adoption curve without forcing change on anyone before they're ready. 6️⃣ Start with your simplest customers The bigger and more complex the client, the more edge cases. Begin with smaller, simpler accounts to reduce risk and accelerate learning.