As technology advances at a rapid pace, government agencies are under growing pressure to update their Information Technology (IT) infrastructures, especially when it comes to managing outdated legacy systems. “Each year, the U.S. government spends over $100 billion on information technology. Most of that will be used to operate and maintain existing systems, including aging—or "legacy"—systems. These systems can be costly to maintain and vulnerable to hackers.” (GAO). As agencies struggle to address these issues, solutions like the nGAP Open Acquisition System (OAS) offer a promising way forward by facilitating smarter acquisitions and streamlining the transition to more efficient, modern IT systems.
The Critical Challenges of Legacy Systems
According to the GAO, many federal agencies still rely heavily on aging IT systems, some of which are decades old. These legacy systems were not built to handle today’s demands, creating a number of challenges. “According to the agencies, these legacy systems ranged from about 8 to 51 years old and collectively cost about $337 million annually to operate and maintain.” (GAO)
Increased Maintenance Costs: Older systems require more frequent and expensive updates, patches, and troubleshooting.
Security Vulnerabilities: Legacy systems often lack the advanced security features needed to fend off modern cyber threats. “Several of the legacy systems were operating with known security vulnerabilities and unsupported hardware and software.” (GAO)
Operational Inefficiency: These systems are often incompatible with newer technologies, making data sharing and workflow automation difficult. “Each year, the federal government spends more than $100 billion on IT and cyber-related investments. Of this amount, agencies have typically reported spending about 80 percent on operations and maintenance of existing IT, including legacy systems.” (GAO)
Compliance Challenges: Older systems may struggle to meet current regulatory requirements and standards, such as those outlined in the Federal IT Modernization Strategy.
Despite these issues, the transition from legacy systems to more modern IT infrastructures remain a complex and daunting task. Many agencies face limited budgets, resistance to change, and a lack of technical expertise needed to carry out comprehensive system overhauls.
The Open Acquisition System: A Path Forward
The Open Acquisition System (OAS) offers a unique approach to tackling the problems associated with legacy IT systems. This platform is designed to enhance the procurement and management of IT solutions across government agencies, facilitating more effective system modernization. Here’s how OAS addresses the specific challenges posed by legacy systems:
Streamlining the Acquisition Process
One of the primary barriers to modernizing legacy systems is the inefficiency of the acquisition process. The GAO report highlights that outdated procurement processes often slow down the purchase of new technology and the integration of modern solutions. OAS streamlines this process by providing an open, transparent platform that simplifies the sourcing of IT products and services. The system uses a flexible, data-driven approach that allows agencies to quickly identify and procure the right technologies, cutting down on acquisition timelines and costs.
By providing easy access to vetted, pre-approved vendors and solutions, the Open Acquisition System enables agencies to move away from expensive, custom-built legacy solutions and toward more modern, off-the-shelf technologies that can be rapidly deployed. OAS is designed to significantly reduce acquisition cycle times, turning what used to take months and years to hours and days.
Encouraging Interoperability
One of the core weaknesses of legacy systems is their lack of interoperability with newer technologies. This creates data silos and inhibits the sharing of information across departments or agencies. nGAP’s Open Acquisition System fosters a more integrated approach by promoting the procurement of technologies that are built with interoperability in mind. Through the platform, agencies can access cloud-based services, APIs, and other solutions that support seamless data exchange and enhance collaboration across multiple platforms.
By selecting technologies through OAS that emphasize open standards and compatibility, government agencies can future proof their IT infrastructures and ensure that new systems can be easily integrated into existing environments.
Enabling Cost-Effective Modernization
As the GAO report notes, the cost of maintaining legacy systems is an ongoing challenge for many agencies. “Each year, the federal government spends more than $100 billion on IT and cyber-related investments. Of this amount, agencies have typically reported spending about 80 percent on operations and maintenance of existing IT, including legacy systems.” (GAO) This issue is compounded by the fact that aging systems are often inefficient, requiring more resources to operate than newer, more efficient technologies. OAS provides an opportunity for agencies to reduce these costs by facilitating the acquisition of cost-effective, modern IT solutions. “In June 2019, GAO reported that several of the federal government's most critical legacy systems used outdated languages, had unsupported hardware and software, and were operating with known security vulnerabilities.” (GAO)
The system’s open architecture allows for flexible pricing models, including pay-as-you-go and subscription-based models, which reduce upfront capital expenditures and provide agencies with the financial flexibility needed to transition to more modern IT environments. By enabling agencies to purchase and deploy scalable, cloud-based solutions, OAS reduces the burden of maintaining costly on-premises infrastructure.
Improved Security and Risk Management
Another significant issue with legacy systems is their vulnerability to cybersecurity threats. Many older systems are unable to keep pace with rapidly evolving cyber threats, leaving sensitive government data exposed to potential breaches. The GAO highlights this concern, noting that legacy systems often lack the robust security features required to meet today’s cybersecurity standards.
OAS addresses this challenge by ensuring that the technologies available through the platform meet modern security standards. It offers access to solutions that are built with cybersecurity best practices in mind, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and real-time threat monitoring. By modernizing their IT infrastructure through OAS, agencies can reduce their vulnerability to cyberattacks and better protect sensitive data.
Fostering Compliance with Regulatory Requirements
With the growing complexity of IT regulations and compliance standards, legacy systems often fall short in meeting these requirements. Whether it’s complying with the FAR or DFARS or adhering to new privacy regulations, agencies face increasing pressure to ensure their IT systems are compliant.
OAS supports compliance by offering technologies that are pre-vetted for adherence to federal regulations. The platform helps agencies stay ahead of the curve by providing access to solutions that are constantly updated to meet new regulatory requirements. By using OAS to procure modern IT solutions, agencies can ensure that their systems remain compliant without the need for costly and time-consuming overhauls.
The challenges presented by legacy systems are substantial and complex, but the Open Acquisition System offers a pathway for government agencies to modernize their IT infrastructures effectively. By streamlining the acquisition process, enabling interoperability, reducing costs, improving security, and fostering regulatory compliance, OAS provides a comprehensive solution to the problems outlined in the GAO’s report.
As agencies continue to face mounting pressure to modernize their IT systems, the adoption of flexible, open acquisition platforms such as OAS will be crucial to ensuring that government agencies can transition away from legacy systems while improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing service delivery to the public.
Citation
U.S. Government Accountability Office. Information Technology: Agencies Need to Continue Addressing Critical Legacy Systems. GAO-23-106821, 2023, www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106821#:~:text=In%20June%202019%2C%20GAO%20identified,vital%20support%20to%20agencies'%20missions.