Assessing Your Legacy Systems: Identifying the Need for Modernisation

Introduction: Why Assessment Comes First

Before you modernise, you need to know what you’re working with. Legacy systems can be deeply embedded in daily operations, but not all of them need to be replaced immediately. The key lies in identifying what’s outdated, what’s limiting your growth, and where the greatest risks or inefficiencies exist. An honest assessment is the foundation of any successful IT modernisation strategy.

Start With a Full IT Infrastructure Evaluation

Begin by documenting every system, application, and tool currently in use. Categorise them by function, age, integration capabilities, vendor support, and risk exposure. This helps identify areas where your IT infrastructure is misaligned with business goals.

Action Point: Conduct a system audit across departments to evaluate software age, performance, and dependency.

Look for Common Red Flags

There are clear signs of outdated systems:

Inability to integrate with cloud platforms or APIs

Unsupported operating systems or hardware

High support and maintenance costs

Slow performance or frequent downtime

Manual workflows where automation is possible

Action Point: Engage department heads to flag pain points and systems frequently causing delays or errors.

Assess Security and Compliance Risk

Older systems often lack modern encryption, access controls, and compliance readiness. This could lead to data breaches or regulatory fines—especially in industries like finance, healthcare, and public services.

Action Point: Include a cybersecurity risk assessment as part of your legacy system evaluation.

Evaluate Business Impact, Not Just Technology

A system might still “work” but be slowing down time-to-market or affecting customer satisfaction. Consider how each system contributes to—or hinders—overall business agility.

Action Point: Score each legacy system against business-critical criteria like scalability, user experience, and innovation readiness.

Conclusion: Clarity Before Action

You can’t modernise what you haven’t assessed. A thorough, business-aligned evaluation allows organisations to make smarter upgrade decisions, avoid unnecessary spending, and reduce disruption. Think of it as drawing the map before starting your digital journey.

Need help identifying what to modernise first? Talk to Brilyant about conducting a legacy system readiness review tailored to your enterprise.