A legacy system could be a computer that is outdated, hardware, software, technological advancement or database that is in use by the company. Legacy systems are difficult to work with because they’re built on outdated technologies and have limited capacity for expansion, and are unable to connect to modern applications and systems. They are often installed legacy database systems because they serve a specific functions for a particular business and cannot be easily altered.
The data from the past often contains inaccurate information, referred to as bad data or missing mandatory data. This type of data can be difficult to identify and correct. This can be time consuming especially if the data has been loaded into a new system many times.
Companies should migrate their outdated data into more modern systems, since these tools are much easier to use and more integrated. Utilizing modern technology can help ensure that compliance with legal and regulatory requirements can be met, which is particularly important for businesses that deal with customer data.
There are several ways to move your old data to a more modern system. One option is to run both systems simultaneously for a period of time to learn about the new system and work out any kinks without losing important data. Middleware can be used to connect both systems acting as a translator. This is an economical option however, it requires a lengthy mapping between the systems.