Legacy IT’s Hidden Costs — Why Outdated Systems Drain Budgets and Performance

Legacy IT systems often appear stable on the surface, but they hide significant costs that grow over time. Outdated infrastructure increases maintenance expenses, requires scarce specialist skills, and exposes organisations to security and compliance risks. Performance limitations, lack of scalability, and integration challenges further slow down digital transformation initiatives. This article explores the true financial impact of legacy systems, highlighting indirect costs such as downtime, audit complexity, and missed innovation opportunities. It explains why simply “keeping systems running” is rarely cost-effective and shows how strategic archiving, modernisation, or decommissioning can reduce operational risk, improve efficiency, and unlock long-term savings.