Modernizing Legacy Systems: Prevent Vulnerabilities in Government

The federal government spends over $100 billion to manage its IT systems, and about 80% goes to maintaining existing and legacy systems. However, there’s an urgent need to modernize to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Many federal agencies are facing significant challenges, though. For example, the FAA requires urgent action to modernize its aging systems. A 2024 analysis showed that fifty-one of its 138 systems are unsustainable yet critical for safety.

The Department of Defense has struggled in this area: Its business systems have been on the Government Accounting Office's (GAO) “High Risk List” since 1995.

Risks Posed by Legacy Systems

“Cybersecurity and privacy risks are escalating as agencies' IT infrastructures continue to age and threats and vulnerabilities become more difficult to defend.” —The GAO, March 2025

Legacy systems, many of which span decades, pose considerable risk. A separate GAO analysis of sixteen IT programs critical to agency missions, including national defense, uncovered seven with “significant risks” regarding cybersecurity and privacy. These risks are defined as having the potential for “severe or catastrophic effects.”

Unpatched software and outdated technology expose systems to cyber threats, and many now lack support from vendors and are well past end-of-life. This significantly increases the risk of data breaches, cyberattacks, and espionage. In fact, it’s estimated that as much as 70% of security problems come from legacy code in government systems.

Beyond cybersecurity, there are other risks, including the following.

Decreased Performance and Efficiency

Factors include:

• Slow processing speeds due to aging hardware and software
• Increased risk of system downtime and service interruptions
• Difficulty in integration with modern systems and technologies

Lack of Compliance

Despite best efforts, some systems fail to meet evolving cybersecurity standards and regulations, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), FedRAMP for cloud services, and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (which is from 2002).

The 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act was passed during President Trump’s first term, mandating agencies to update their digital services. However, not all have been able to make the transition. A GAO report released in late 2024 revealed that only about half of the requirements have been met.

High Maintenance and Operations Costs

The ten legacy systems that most need modernization cost about $337 million a year to operate and maintain by themselves, and they continue to get more expensive. Many rely on customized legacy platforms that are wieldy, and finding qualified personnel to support these aging technologies is increasingly difficult. The ongoing costs for patches and fixes take time, tie up resources, and still don’t fully address the underlying issue.

Benefits of Modernizing Legacy Systems

The problem and its scope are well-defined. Fortunately, modernizing legacy systems has a long list of advantages (many of which are mission-critical), starting with improving cybersecurity.

Enhanced Cybersecurity

Nation-state attacks are increasing in volume and sophistication. The US Homeland Security Committee reported a 30% increase in cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. AI tools and Cyberattacks-as-a-Service are also making it easier for threat actors to scale.

For the most part, these legacy platforms were designed well before these types of attacks existed. Add-on solutions may or may not provide the protection required to secure the nation’s critical systems. Modernization is essential to better protect against cyberattacks, deploying advanced threat detection and mitigation tools and eliminating the attack vectors in older tech.

Increased Performance and Operational Efficiency

Across the government sector, there is a significant need to improve processing times with newer technologies, especially regarding battlefield decisions and other areas where seconds matter.

Modernization can also significantly reduce downtime, a consistent problem in many agencies. For instance, a power outage at the Patent and Trademark Office shut down the electronic filing system for nearly a week before it could be restored. One study found that 70% of federal workers reported that network outages of longer than thirty minutes were common.

Additionally, modern tools, platforms, and cloud services provide greater interoperability. This is crucial to provide a seamless experience across databases and agencies. Too much data still resides in siloes, preventing inter-agency sharing. Some government agencies have been forced to pay to get access to data from other agencies.

Cost Savings

Upgraded systems can result in significant cost savings. Modernization efforts at the Department of Homeland Security saved $30 million a year in operational costs alone.

Solutions aren’t always complete overhauls. Simply migrating to the cloud at the Department of Energy eliminated sixty-four separate legacy email systems.

Scalability

Scalability has been an issue for years in government. Many legacy systems are already bursting at the seams and unable to grow. Modernization can provide future-proofing, enabling the scaling and accommodation of new technology as it emerges.

Compliance and Risk Management

Modernization can help government entities and contractors meet compliance obligations to reduce risk.

How Agencies Can Begin the Modernization Journey

Before embarking on modernization efforts, there are several key steps along the way.

Assessing Current Systems

First, evaluate the current state of your infrastructure. A comprehensive audit will identify outdated systems, security vulnerabilities, and inefficiencies. Doing this is essential for prioritizing which systems require immediate attention and determining the most effective modernization strategies.

Action items include:

• Conducting a full inventory of all IT assets, including hardware, software, and network components
• Identifying security vulnerabilities and compliance gaps within existing systems
• Assessing performance issues, such as slow processing speeds and frequent system failures
• Prioritizing modernization efforts based on mission-critical functions and risk exposure
• Engaging stakeholders across departments to understand operational challenges and needs

Selecting the Right Technology Partners

Government agencies often lack the internal expertise or resources to handle modernization alone. Choosing trusted vendors and co-contract partners with expertise in government-specific needs is crucial for efficient and secure modernization

Key considerations include:

• Selecting vendors with a proven track record in government IT modernization
• Ensuring compliance with federal security standards, such as FedRAMP and NIST guidelines
• Leveraging public-private partnerships to access innovative solutions and reduce costs
• Evaluating the long-term support capabilities of technology partners
• Seeking modular solutions that enable phased implementation to minimize disruptions

Setting Clear Goals and Milestones

Without clear objectives, modernization projects can face delays, budget overruns, or scope creep. Agencies must establish well-defined goals and a structured timeline to guide the transformation process.

Your action plan should include:

• Defining specific security, performance, and cost-saving objectives
• Developing a phased implementation plan to minimize disruptions to daily operations
• Establishing key performance indicators to measure progress
• Allocating budget and resources strategically to ensure sustainability

Implementing a Secure Cloud Strategy

Cloud migration is a critical component of modernization, offering scalability, cost efficiency, and improved security. However, government agencies must adopt a compliant cloud strategy that meets regulatory requirements while integrating with existing infrastructure.

Best practices include:

• Choosing FedRAMP-authorized cloud service providers to ensure compliance
• Implementing a hybrid cloud approach for a balanced transition from legacy systems
• Enhancing data encryption and access controls to prevent unauthorized breaches
• Ensuring interoperability between cloud solutions and on-premise infrastructure
• Establishing backup and disaster recovery protocols to protect against data loss

Enhancing Cybersecurity Measures

As modernization efforts progress, agencies must fortify their cybersecurity posture. Legacy systems often have outdated security protocols that leave them vulnerable. Integrating modern security solutions is essential to protect sensitive government data.

Recommended measures include:

• Adopting a zero-trust architecture to minimize the risk of unauthorized access
• Implementing continuous monitoring and real-time threat detection systems
• Regularly updating software and patching vulnerabilities to reduce attack surfaces
• Training employees on phishing awareness and other cybersecurity best practices
• Establishing incident response protocols to mitigate potential breaches

Ensuring Workforce Readiness

Technology upgrades alone are not enough. Government entities must also ensure that their workforce is equipped to operate new systems effectively. Training programs and change management initiatives can help employees adapt.

Invest in Scalable, Secure, and Future-Proof Systems

By taking a structured approach to modernization, government agencies can reduce reliance on legacy systems and adopt more secure and efficient solutions, ensuring mission readiness and government service. Investing in safe, scalable, and future-proof systems is vital in order to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s needs.

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