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Author: Rob Reed-Roberts

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In the ever-changing world of technology, staying up-to-date with the latest advancements is a goal we all share. But let’s face it, making that goal a reality isn’t always a walk in the park. Businesses are trying to become experts at juggling upgrades, timing hardware refresh cycles just right, all while squeezing every ounce of value from their tech investments. However, in recent times – think about the seismic shifts caused by the Covid pandemic, the way we work transforming, and the ongoing economic uncertainties – organisations have had to take a more down-to-earth approach to when they revamp their tech. This often means sticking with older parts of their tech foundation that might’ve otherwise been due for a makeover. While there’s a lot to be said for sticking with what you know, the impact of sticking with outdated tech is becoming pretty noticeable.

More and more businesses are teetering on the edge where older tech is becoming a roadblock to their progress. That’s why there’s a growing push to shift priorities, paying more attention to important IT projects that were left on the backburner, like those soon-to-be-unsupported Windows 2012 servers, or that old firewall and network stack you’re sweating out. If you’re wondering whether it’s time to give your tech a facelift, here are some clear signs that your old-school infrastructure might be holding your business back.

Performance Isn’t Meeting the Mark

How well your tech performs depends on how well it serves your business’s needs. As your tech gets older, the bar for what’s considered good enough changes. Tech that used to do the job just fine might now struggle to keep up with modern demands. This becomes even more obvious when you think about the fact that older tech might stop getting updates or improvements. This often happens when it reaches its End of Support date – that’s when it stops getting the updates that would let it do more.

Can your network and connectivity handle remote work and smooth use of online apps?

Are you running into problems with your storage – not enough space?

Are your internal systems slowing down and driving everyone mad?

All these problems are like warning lights for outdated hardware that isn’t serving your current business needs anymore. And that’s affecting how well your teams work and how successful your business is.

More Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

Protecting your people, data, and systems is a big deal for IT teams. With cybercriminals finding increasingly clever ways to exploit weaknesses, relying on old tech puts your business at risk.

Even if you have a top-notch security setup, sticking with old tech can leave you exposed. It could be because a solution has hit its End of Support and no longer gets security updates. Or it might just not play nice with modern security stuff like multi-factor authentication or single sign-on. Whatever the specifics, if you’re spending more time and energy on fixing security issues from your old tech, it’s time to think about an upgrade before things go seriously wrong.

Innovation? What’s That?

Every ambitious business wants to grow and change, and that often means embracing new things. But when you’re stuck with old tech, trying new stuff becomes a lot harder. Maybe your old on-site setup can’t handle the latest software, or slow internet is ruining cloud-based apps and services. Not upgrading your old tech means your business processes and systems fall behind what others are doing.

To really take advantage of change, you need new tech – stuff that can adapt when things suddenly shift, making sure you’re ready for whatever comes next.

The Costs Are Creeping Up…

A lot of businesses keep old tech around because they think it’s cheaper than getting new stuff. And to be fair, replacing core tech isn’t a walk in the park – it can take a lot of time and money. But over time, as old tech gets older, it becomes less cost-effective and starts to pile on new expenses. As performance gets worse, you’re more likely to have tech that’s down more often. Fixing this and managing everything takes time and energy from your IT team, time and energy they could spend on other stuff. Older tech also sucks up more power, which means higher bills. And don’t forget how slow tech makes your workforce less productive.

Sooner or later, every business hits that point where keeping old tech around costs more than getting new stuff – especially when you think about the total cost of ownership.

Ready to Make a Change? Let’s Get Started

No matter which part of your tech setup you’re thinking of changing, remember – it doesn’t have to be a massive overhaul. Our team’s here to help guide you toward the best solution and make a plan that brings in new tech at your speed, without messing up how your business runs.

If you’re curious about how we can supercharge your tech, just get in touch with our team. We’re here to help!