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Jumpstart a modern legacy in federal IT

Modernization can breathe new life into legacy apps, resulting in future-ready applications that deliver with greater efficiency and security.

Overview

At one time, the word “legacy” was associated with a strong, proud heritage. Today, federal executives may have a negative perception about their legacy applications as outdated, inefficient, and difficult to fix. However, not all legacy applications must be replaced. The right application modernization strategy can uncover unrealized potential.

Something’s gotta give
The reasons?
42%
Security

31%
Inflexibility

36%
Time required to manage/maintain

31%
Integration issues

Key Findings

Clock is ticking

Today just 48% of Federal IT managers say their legacy applications are completely capable of delivering on today’s agency mission.

But only one in four (28%)
has developed a business case to review or replace applications.

And only 32%
say they’ll be able to deliver the mission five years from now.

And only half (53%)
have a formal application modernization strategy.

Assets not anchors
The good news: Federal IT managers say more than half (55%) of existing IT systems could be modernized (e.g. remediated, renewed or replatformed).

Digital Recognition

Two out of three (66%)
Federal IT managers say application modernization efforts will increase in the next 18 months:

Are considering replatforming existing applications
Will evolve existing applications
Increasing efficiency

Three out of four (77%)
Federal IT managers say application modernization will improve the end-user experience at their agency.

Modernization benefits:

Increasing efficiency
Increasing security
Improving mission and/or business effectiveness

Recommendations

Three steps to jumpstart modernization of federal applications:

Conduct an application inventory of your existing portfolio to form a vision for change.

Assess the applications most in need of modernization—prioritizing security needs and mission-critical applications.

Embrace the legacy. Old doesn’t mean outdated. Validate the technical feasibility, then execute incrementally to achieve future-ready applications that deliver with greater efficiency and security.

DOWNLOAD THE INFOGRAPHIC [PDF]

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Research

Accenture Federal Services, working with MeriTalk, conducted an online survey of 150 Federal IT managers familiar with their agency’s applications portfolio in September 2015 to find out how application modernization can breathe new life into legacy apps and deliver much-needed efficiency and security.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT [PDF]

"Just like roads and bridges or any other kind of infrastructure, [app modernization] is an important part of how any agency delivers on its mission, but sadly [it] has been neglected over the years."

TONY SCOTT

Federal CIO

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