Why "legacy" is no longer a disparaging term

“In information technology, legacy applications and data are those that have been inherited from languages, platforms, and techniques earlier than current technology. Most enterprises who use computers have legacy applications and databases that serve critical business needs.” SearchDataCenter.com

It used to be that when we referred to applications that an organization had invested in over time, and nurtured through the years, that we avoided the term “legacy”. There was a fear the word could convey negative overtones, be construed as a disparaging term for something old and locked in the past.

But if this negative perception was ever true, it certainly isn’t today. In our current economic climate of thriftiness the concept of re-use and extending the life of existing applications has become increasingly attractive. Businesses are looking to make the most of the investment in these often bespoke applications, and to get even greater return on their spend.

Exciting new tools and technologies that integrate with these legacy applications can provide a “best of both worlds” solution. The existing applications that often provide the crucial competitive advantage for an organization can be utilized to the max with the latest initiatives, to provide cutting edge and inexpensive solutions that keep a business agile.

Legacy data and applications have unashamedly become something to be proud of. They have a part to play in the ongoing success of organizations fighting to stay ahead of their competitors.

The term “legacy”, it turns out, is actually very appropriate in a positive way… something valuable is being handed down from the past to continue to enhance the future of the organization.