How are you future proofing your IT?

Avoiding legacy status

By Jon Collins, 20th November 2008

Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery

Mini Poll Following on from the discussion of legacy systems and platforms occurring as part of our platform optimisation workshop here, we're trying to work out the best way to avoid having your expensive IT systems degrading to legacy status. So, if you have a couple of spare minutes, let's have your views on this in our mini-poll below:

READER POLL

1. How much legacy of the following kinds exists in your organisation?

	A helluva lot	A significant amount	Little or none	Unsure
Old custom applications running on old platforms
Old packaged applications running on old platforms
Old packaged applications running on old platforms
Old custom applications running on modern platforms
Old packaged applications running on modern platforms
Modern applications running on older platforms
Old server technology in general
Old networking technology in general
Old desktop technology in general

2. What would you say are the tell-tale signs that a system has joined the ranks of legacy?

	Primary indicator of legacy	Secondary indicator	Not an indicator
Full support no longer available from suppliers for the system or a major component of it
Skills required to maintain and support have become difficult or expensive to obtain/retain
Cost of replacement is less than the cost of supporting and maintaining when calculated over a relatively short period
Proprietary or obsolete interfaces hamper current and future integration with other systems
Knowledge of system lost with previous generations of IT staff making changes costly, risky or effectively impossible
Inflexibility undermining the ability to support critical business requirements
Spending too much time keeping it running which should be spent on newer systems that add more value

3. How important would you say the following are in future-proofing systems and delaying their transition to legacy?

	Critical 5	4	3	2	Not at all important 1
Use the latest tools, middleware and other relevant technology
Apply the right design and architectural principles
Maximise the use of external components - don't build if you can buy
Maximise the use of outsourcing and or hosted services
Keeping staff trained up on systems knowledge
Ensuring documentation is comprehensive and up to date
Other - please specify

4. Are there any pieces of advice you would like to pass on in the area of future-proofing and legacy?

BEFORE YOU GO

Which of the following best describes the organisation you work in?

Educational establishment
Public Sector (non education)
IT products or services vendor
Company with more than 5000 employees
Company with 250 to 4999 employees
Company with 50 to 249 employees
Company with 10 to 49 employees
Company with less than 10 employees
None of the above - please specify

Which of the following best describes your role?

Business management
Business professional
General IT management
Management of development/integration
Management of operations function
Systems architect or designer
Developer
Operations specialist
Other - please specify