AThe U.S. government spends $80 Billion a year to maintain legacy technology. Some of these systems are over 50 years old and are critical to essential government functions. It can be difficult to find people, parts, and software to maintain outdated equipment. These systems pose a huge cybersecurity risk and could be used by bad actors to infiltrate other government systems.

ASome technology vendors are pitching code conversions, containerization, and emulators as ways to mitigate the risks associated with legacy systems. But these approaches only delay the inevitable. The world has changed significantly in the last five decades, and agencies need to question whether the processes and assumptions that went into designing these systems are still valid.

Agencies must reexamine processes and engage with citizens to design a system that is relevant today. While some may argue that starting from scratch will be expensive and time-consuming, any alternative will cost more and take longer.

AModernizing technology and processes may require legislative changes – and that takes widespread bipartisan support. Furthermore, every city, county, and state will have unique challenges that require support from both federal and local governments.