As an IT professional, you understand the workload that a complex infrastructure demands. With developing new strategies or staying current with new protocols, the road map to a secure entity is hard to follow. This is especially true when maintaining a legacy IT system. 

With outdated infrastructures in place, key pillars of management, maintenance, and security suffer. Not to mention, the company as a whole leaves itself vulnerable to a myriad of problems over time. Your legacy IT infrastructures are putting you at risk, and here are a few reasons why switching to new services grants protection:

Stop Playing Catchup with Legacy Strategies

One of the greatest issues that IT teams face with legacy strategies is being stuck in “catchup mode.” Playing “catchup” represents being a step behind industry trends no matter what you do. The worst part is that it always leads you to nowhere. 

Mike Chuba, the Vice President of Research at Gartner offers some sound advice. He encourages IT leaders to develop an enterprise infrastructure that’s agile, scalable and open to change. Staying dependent on data center functions leads to obsolescence. Instead, becoming an asset to a digital business is the new practice that IT departments need to follow. 

Chuba advocates that management styles need to be diverse. IT leaders must use an approach fusing legacy workloads and cloud computing security into a hybrid strategy. For instance, this could mean tackling day-to-day operations with new age technologies or updating data centers with cloud operations that free up space. A celebration of old and new methods is a surefire way to boost security and keep IT teams relevant with industry changes. This also relates to managing IT talent and giving them an innovative culture to expand in. Altogether, strategy and inspiration lead to adaptability. In return, security measures and maintenance efforts are bound to thrive. 

Don’t Fall Behind with Maintenance Updates

Maintaining IT infrastructures includes a variety of technologies, which includes mobile platforms, cloud security systems, servers and extra security features. When things are up to date, they provide excellent barriers against security threats. On the other hand, legacy practices may not include any of these features. For those that don’t, there are many limitations involving repairs, modernization and scalability.

Most legacy methods stay intact because they represent reliability for a company. There is a comfort level born from years of doing something a certain way. Yet, many businesses forget that updating old-fashioned technologies consumes both time and money. Not to mention, the repairs are often pointless. Any changes to legacy systems are always a step behind cutting-edge technologies. This means that infrastructures are out of date as soon as they’re back in action. 

The best way to solve this dilemma is to create a blend of operating systems that prepare for future changes and promote scalability. When you deploy modern IT methods, investments to update them grow with their capacity for progress. Thinking in terms of a single line of defense to cover all angles leaves too much room for error considering how new security threats are constantly underway. With that in mind, It’s better to emphasize maintenance efforts that plan for the future. 

New Security Threats are Always Emerging

2019 already has IT departments needing plenty of help countering possible attacks. New attacks are being developed every day and the most damaging ones are no longer prioritizing channels in-house. Malware infecting mobile phones and ransomeware shutting down POS systems are only just a few of the sophisticated methods hackers are using to jeopardize data. Needless to say, hackers evolve as technologies progress, which makes legacy infrastructures a poor defense. 

Preparing IT teams against advanced threats involve undergoing incidence response planning. Current practices are subject to risk assessments, penetration testing and vulnerability testing. Although if infrastructures aren’t using new technologies, advanced security threats are unstoppable. The pervasive nature of security threats seek ways to access information through network vulnerabilities. These are discovered through AI security tools, business email networks and third-party breaches. Can you imagine trying to uphold law and order with a pea shooter? Essentially, that’s what you’re attempting with legacy IT systems, and the outcome only leads to more problems down the line. 

Keep in mind that the latest IT protocols respond to new security threats, so the ultimate goal is to catch invasions before they leak vital information. Think of it as a give and take process that requires both parties to generate cause and effect. One side launches a strike, while the other lays down preemptive measures. Those with the right strategies in place can rest assured that all areas are covered, but legacy IT infrastructures can’t provide that necessity. 

Overhaul Your Legacy IT Infrastructure with Managed IT Services

In the end, a company’s main focus is to be successful, and legacy IT practices get in the way of continual growth with constant back-peddling, costly updates, and subpar capabilities. Investing in a dated IT infrastructure doesn’t guarantee a solution against an ever-changing threat network, and transitioning to a managed IT service is a simple way to gain the latest security protections at an affordable cost. ArmorPoint is a hybrid and managed SIEM provider that delivers clear solutions to your security challenges. Chat with a representative today and learn how you can transform your antiquated strategies for the better. 

About ArmorPoint

ArmorPoint is a security information and event management solution that provides a cost-effective and reliable way to continually protect your business from emerging threats. Through its customizable service pricing model, ArmorPoint’s cost-effective packages and dynamic levels of expert management support the security strategies of all companies, regardless of available budget, talent, or time. And since ArmorPoint offers 24/7 security support with a team of dedicated specialists, they can provide you with the manpower you need to expertly manage all of your cybersecurity initiatives. See how ArmorPoint can make a difference in your security posture with a risk-free 30 day free trial