Legacy systems are a headache for IT professionals around the world. These outdated computer hardware and software persist in organizations mainly because there might still be someone who uses them. The struggle to keep them running and integrate them with newer technologies is a constant battle for IT pros.
However, the problem with legacy systems goes beyond just productivity issues. They also pose a significant risk to cybersecurity. This article explores three additional areas of concern related to legacy systems: legacy identities, legacy data, and legacy processes. It highlights the specific issues associated with each area and offers strategies to mitigate the security risks they bring.
Legacy identities refer to accounts that exist in an organization’s identity store, such as Active Directory or Azure AD, even though they are no longer needed. Examples include user accounts for contractors or third-party suppliers who are no longer associated with the organization. These legacy identities pose a significant risk because they are a preferred method for attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data. Adversaries target legacy accounts because using them is less likely to raise alerts compared to creating new accounts. Furthermore, former employees whose accounts were not promptly removed can misuse the access they still possess, stealing content for the benefit of their new employer or causing harm to the organization out of ill will or malice. Highly privileged legacy accounts are particularly targeted because they provide access to valuable data and critical IT systems. To mitigate these risks, organizations should regularly review their identity store and remove inactive accounts that are no longer needed. This effort should be part of a comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) strategy that includes enabling data owners to review and update access rights regularly.
Legacy data refers to any outdated or obsolete data that an organization stores. It can be a challenging task to determine whether a certain data set should be considered legacy, especially in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance where regulations often require data retention for a specific period. Legacy data can pose cybersecurity risks because using outdated threat intelligence feeds or outdated address data can leave an organization vulnerable to more recent threats or confidential information being sent to the wrong recipient. Additionally, legacy data may lack encryption or other access controls, making it more susceptible to data breaches and theft. Organizations need to have a thorough understanding of the data they store, including its type, purpose, and relevance to the organization. Regular reviews of data should be conducted to identify areas that need improvement and prioritize the updating of high-value datasets.
Legacy processes are procedures and practices that have not been kept up to date through regular review and practice. They often result from a lack of resources, time, diligence, or expertise. Legacy processes pose security risks because they may not address current threats and issues. For example, a vulnerability scan conducted once a quarter might have been adequate in the past, but it is insufficient in today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape. Similarly, legacy processes can hinder an organization’s ability to respond quickly to cybersecurity incidents if incident response plans are not regularly rehearsed and revised. To mitigate these risks, organizations should regularly review their processes, involve all stakeholders, and modernize or replace legacy processes. Updating legacy processes can also result in significant cost savings as it streamlines operations and improves productivity.
In conclusion, legacy systems in all forms present cybersecurity risks. To mitigate these risks, organizations should identify and address legacy identities, data, and processes in their IT ecosystem. Regular inventory processes should be conducted, and whenever possible, legacy systems should be updated, removed, or replaced. Steps should also be taken to minimize the risk posed by any legacy systems that need to be retained. By prioritizing cybersecurity and modernization efforts, organizations can reduce the vulnerabilities associated with legacy systems and protect their valuable data and systems from potential threats.