The Legacy Cyber Threat: Why We Must Prioritize Modernization

This article argues that legacy IT modernization is a critical cybersecurity priority for governments, citing evidence of pervasive outdated systems (e.g., some still running Windows 3.1) and noting that while unsupported tech must be replaced, supported mainframes can be secure with proper assessment. It outlines modernization strategies—rehosting, replatforming, and refactoring—alongside cost and ROI considerations, and highlights how generative AI is accelerating and reducing the expense of modernization, urging leaders to align modernization with cybersecurity and AI priorities.