What is Legacy Technology?

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month in Australia - a national initiative to raise awareness of the everyday steps organisations can take to stay secure. Each week highlights a different theme, and this week the focus is on legacy technology.

Older systems and software may feel dependable, but they often come with hidden risks. You might not be able to patch old software, outdated hardware can struggle to meet modern security standards, and older applications can create blind spots in defences. Meanwhile, for attackers, legacy technology is low-hanging fruit, and a single compromised vulnerability can put an entire organisation at risk.

The Risks of Legacy Technology?

Just because a system isn't actively used anymore, or because it was once considered safe, doesn't mean it can't still expose your organisation to risk.  In fact, the longer systems are kept running beyond their intended lifespan, the more problems they can create. Some of the most common risks include:

• Security vulnerabilities: Unsupported software can't be patched, leaving open doors for attackers to exploit.
• Operational disruptions: Ageing hardware and applications are more likely to fail, causing downtime that impacts productivity.
• Reputational damage: A breach linked to outdated technology can erode trust with customers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Financial costs: Maintaining old systems often becomes more expensive over time, whether through higher support fees, workarounds, or recovery from incidents.

These risks don't just fade away with time; in fact, they only get worse. This is why legacy technology requires proactive management; you need to know what's in your environment, assess the risks, and plan for upgrades or replacements before weaknesses are exploited.

National Guidance for Managing Legacy IT

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), through the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), plays a leading role in helping organisations strengthen their cyber security. In the case of legacy technology, ASD has published clear guidance to support business leaders and security teams in understanding and managing the risks.

The key recommendations from the ASD guidance are for organisations to:

• Identify and assess legacy systems: Understand where they are in your environment and the specific risks they present.
• Apply the Protective Security Policy Framework: Ensure security governance, risk management, and assurance processes are applied consistently, even to older systems.
• Plan for replacement or mitigation: Where systems can’t be retired immediately, put compensating controls in place (such as network segmentation, access restrictions, multi-factor authentication, or enhanced monitoring) and establish a roadmap for transition as soon as possible.

The ASD's guidance aims to inform and guide organisations on how to proactively manage the security, operational, and business risks of legacy IT. By following these recommendations, you can address vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience before attackers, or system failures, force the issue.

How Infotrust Can Help

ASD's recommendations make it clear that legacy IT needs proactive management. As we’ve discussed, that means identifying what's in your environment, assessing risk, putting controls in place, and planning for the future.

Infotrust can help you turn those steps into practical action. We offer several services that can help you manage legacy risks while strengthening your overall security posture:

• Continuous visibility: Through Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), we help you map out ageing systems, validate where vulnerabilities exist, and prioritise the most effective mitigations.
• Security operations: Our Managed Security Operations Centre delivers around-the-clock monitoring, analytics, and threat intelligence. This enables you to detect signs of compromises, including attacks targeting legacy systems, before they escalate.
• Data protection: Our Data Security services cover classification, governance, and protection measures that support compliance and reduce the risks associated with outdated platforms.
• Governance & Compliance: Our governance, risk and compliance (GRC) expertise helps you embed clear policies, manage and prioritise risk consistently, and ensure your legacy IT decisions are backed by strong governance.

By combining these services, we can help you not only meet ASD's guidance but also build long-term resilience, turning legacy IT from a hidden liability into a managed risk.

What Will You Do With Your Legacy Technology?

Legacy systems may feel familiar, but they carry very real risks, from security vulnerabilities and operational disruptions to financial and reputational damage. The ASD's guidance makes it clear that organisations can't afford to ignore these older technologies. Managing them proactively is essential to protecting both your business and your customers.

If you'd like to find out how to reduce operational and cyber security risks from your legacy technology, contact the experts at Infotrust to book a consultation.

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