Last week, we discussed legacy software and may or may not have insulted a major home improvement retailer. We detailed ways to potentially update your legacy programs, and touched on the most pressing issue, which is security. What we didn’t discuss is why your legacy software may cause security issues. So, why is legacy software a security issue?
“The biggest issue with legacy software is generally a lack of support,” says MacguyverTech CEO Steve (Mac) McKeon. “When a company stops sending security updates, it becomes more and more exposed to vulnerabilities that attackers have found. Hacking versus cybersecurity is a never-ending back and forth, and if one side stops playing, the other side is going to win.”
So, what are some other security issues created by legacy software?
Outdated Coding Practices: Legacy software may be written using outdated coding practices and programming languages that are no longer considered secure. These outdated methods may contain inherent vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited by attackers.
Incompatibility with Modern Security Tools: Legacy software may not be compatible with modern security tools, making it difficult to implement effective security measures. This can leave systems unprotected against emerging cyber threats.
Limited Visibility and Control: Legacy systems may lack the necessary monitoring and logging capabilities, making it difficult to identify and respond to security incidents. This lack of visibility can also make it easier for attackers to cover their tracks and remain undetected.
Technical Debt: Legacy software often carries a significant amount of technical debt, which refers to the accumulated costs and consequences of postponing software maintenance. This technical debt can make it challenging and expensive to implement security patches and updates.
Integration Challenges: Integrating legacy systems with modern applications and infrastructure can be complex and time-consuming. This can create additional security gaps that attackers can exploit.
Limited Scalability: Legacy systems may not be able to handle the increasing volume and complexity of data and traffic in today’s digital world. This can lead to performance bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities.
Compliance Challenges: Legacy systems may not comply with current data privacy regulations and industry standards, increasing the risk of legal and reputational damage.
Lack of Expertise: Organizations may lack the in-house expertise to maintain and secure legacy software, particularly with custom-built software. This can lead to delays in addressing security vulnerabilities and implementing effective security measures.
“Lack of expertise is common,” says McKeon. “We’ve identified client security problems with our PVA service, and helped clients update their legacy systems, fix their security vulnerabilities, and even give them new, faster dashboards for their existing systems.”
Regardless of the reasoning for updating your legacy programs, your software’s security is paramount to your company’s functionality, profitability, and reputation.
For more information about legacy software and all things cybersecurity, visit the MacguyverTech web site.
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