Why Australia's outdated IT systems are now a business survival risk
Australian businesses are facing growing pressure to modernise outdated IT systems. These legacy platforms, once built for stability, now create risks in operations, compliance, and strategy. The challenge is no longer just about updating technology—it's about protecting the entire business.
Many regulated and asset-heavy industries—like banking, mining, healthcare, government, and retail—still rely on systems designed decades ago. While these were built to last, they now struggle with real-time reporting, cyber threats, and rapid change. Delays in modernisation lead to higher costs from outages, security gaps, manual fixes, and missed chances to adopt automation or AI.
Boards and regulators are demanding clearer answers on resilience and accountability. Leadership teams must act quickly but carefully—upgrading systems without disrupting daily operations or introducing new risks. A rushed approach could simply transfer old problems into a new environment.
The focus has shifted from just refreshing technology to safeguarding long-term value. Companies must balance speed, governance, and ownership to avoid turning modernisation into another source of risk.
Legacy systems in Australia are now a direct threat to efficiency, compliance, and growth. Businesses must modernise with discipline to avoid repeating past mistakes. The right approach will reduce risk while keeping critical operations running smoothly.
