Let’s face it, every industry is currently undergoing a major paradigm shift. And the benefits of cloud migration couldn’t be more promising.
Technology is growing at a rapid and unfathomable rate, realigning and readjusting our views on the massive impact that it has on every facet of our existence.
The incredible advances in healthcare (improved diagnostics, targeted treatment), customer experience (chatbots, hyper-personalisation) and education (tutoring, content creation) only give us a mere glimpse into the astounding future headed our way.
But in order to fully embrace the new, a re-evaluation of the old needs to take place. Most companies still have antiquated IT systems and are dependent on technology that can no longer serve them.
The big problem with relying on outdated and obsolete technology is that you fall behind. You end up slower than your competition, unable to keep up with the race and far more susceptible to threats.
To avoid this, it’s crucial to understand the differences between outdated and modern technology, practices and approaches. The benefits of Cloud, as well as why it’s important to consider adopting a modern approach to IT.
What Are Legacy IT Systems?
The term ‘legacy’ describes outdated and inefficient technologies, systems or infrastructures.
Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a legacy product or system is one that is no longer available to buy or no longer used very often, but that is still used by some people or companies”.
So how does it relate to IT systems?
Traditional (or legacy) IT systems ultimately act as a threat to the longevity and potential growth of any business that makes use of them. With outdated technology, you run the risk of falling behind, losing out on missed opportunities and laying waste to resources.
Legacy technology simply doesn’t work. And the advantages that come with Cloud don’t compare.
Firstly, the traditional IT approach can be expensive. Investing in systems (infrastructure, servers, hardware and software) that are self-managed, hiring the correct staff to operate and maintain those systems and leasing a space or property to house everything are necessary requirements.
Capital expenditure (CAPEX) becomes a huge problem, as the costs tend to be large and consistent. To top it off, hardware and equipment also needs upgrading every few years.
According to Digital Cloud Training, “This model requires large amounts of capital expenditure (CAPEX) to pay for data center costs, equipment purchase, software licensing, maintenance contracts, staff wages and more. Typically equipment is then depreciated over the course of 3-5 years, and must then be replaced.”
With such large expenses, it makes it much harder to scale. Getting access to capital for further growth (salaries, equipment, training, licensing, etc.) becomes a huge challenge and can end up straining the entire company. Even worse, if there’s less demand, the costs to manage, operate and maintain the current system still exist.
What is the Cloud and Cloud Migration?
The cloud is essentially a collection of IT services (servers, software, databases) that exist on the internet. These servers are located in data centers across the world and can be accessed at any given time and in any given place.
According to Cloudflare, it’s essentially “servers that are accessed over the Internet, and the software and databases that run on those servers… By using cloud computing, users and companies don’t have to manage physical servers themselves or run software applications on their own machines”.
Simply put, cloud migration is the decision to move away from outdated and impractical technology towards relevant and more efficient technology; from traditional IT systems and infrastructures to modern ones.
Comparing legacy infrastructure to the cloud is like comparing your iPhone 3 to an iPhone 12 Pro. Why bother?
You’re essentially taking your data, software and IT infrastructure to an online platform that offers unlimited storage, flexibility, security and secure backup.
(Want to know more about why you should choose Cloud Migration? Click Here.)
The benefits of Cloud (The Pitfalls of Legacy)
So how exactly does legacy differ from cloud? Other than the fact that legacy technology is older, pricier and requires a lot more effort to maintain, there are a number of key differentiators.
These differences are rooted in the improvements that cloud computing can make on existing and traditional IT:
Cost Reductions
CAPEX costs end up putting huge strain on companies, especially where scalability is concerned. The costs associated with operation, maintenance, salaries, etc. are all heavily reduced by use of a third-party provider. You essentially pay according to your needs.
With a variable expense model, where you pay for what you use, the financial savings are a huge motivator. Cloud computing allows you to scale according to demand and pay for the compute power, storage and any added services that you require.
Security
It’s safe to assume that most organisations are concerned about how secure their data is. So it might seem like a good idea to keep it legacy and have it on-premises. That way, you have control of its safety. Right?
Wrong. Having your servers on-site can be dangerous. You risk breaches (by hackers), hardware failure and damage to property (disasters, riots, etc.). And paying extra for security isn’t cheap. With the best cloud providers available (AWS, Azure, GCP), high-level professionals that specialise in cyber-security and data encryption secure your data. You can also rely on the fact that the equipment will always be up-to-date and always improving.
Backup/Recovery
Traditional IT systems run the risk of malfunctions or failure. So does the cloud. However, the approach that each of them take is quite different.
When an on-premises legacy system fails or crashes, pandemonium ensues. Entire organisations shift into panic mode, as money is lost by the minute. Customers are driven towards resentment and the time it takes to find the problem only makes matters worse.
Compare that to a cloud infrastructure. If any problems, bugs or crashes threaten your operations, a fresh virtual server with everything backed up and recovered is available in an instant. Redundant backups created in data centers across multiple regions, and always accessible through cloud servers, ensure effective recovery.
So with better security, greater cost reductions and improved backup/recovery to offer, cloud seems to come out the victor in every possible way. But is that all that it can improve when in comparison to legacy systems?
Still not convinced? Then Tectra Technologies offers some great comparisons between the two:
Scalable & Flexible
Traditional IT systems depend on resource availability and pricey software. If your company requires more storage space, compute power, or software versatility, then greater expenses are inevitable. New hardware, additional staff, extra space and even software licenses need to be paid for and maintained.
Compare that to cloud. You have access to endless server resources, unlimited storage capacity and a large selection of quick and easy-to-use software. Best of all, it’s flexible and scalable. Not only can you choose the exact resources that you require, but you also only pay for what you use. Saving you time and money.
Resilient & Elastic
Legacy IT approaches lack resilience. Quality can often be an issue, as server performance can be inconsistent and often leads to downtimes. The lack of versatility results in failures and error, ultimately threatening the overall productivity and efficiency of operations.
With the cloud’s ability to adapt and overcome hurdles and error, there’s far more elasticity and resilience that this technology has to offer. Server failure and limited compute power will remain unaffected by downtime, meaning faster, more efficient operations and results.
And Cloud Is the Victor!
It’s simple. Cloud technology is far better than legacy technology. Traditional IT systems, along with on-premises infrastructure and antiquated business practices are fast becoming a thing of the past. And that’s where it should remain.
The existing era of technology is a gateway to exciting new horizons and by working with it, rather than against it, we’re bound to achieve incredible things.
What’s there to think about? Huge cost savings, powerful security, efficient backup and recovery. Unlimited storage, too? It’s simple: Cloud is superior. Legacy is obsolete.
Interested in CloudOps for your business? We have a team of highly certified professionals that specialise in Cloud Migration. Click Here for more info.
