{"id":62719,"date":"2023-04-04T08:46:37","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T12:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/?p=62719"},"modified":"2024-08-14T17:34:48","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T21:34:48","slug":"legacy-tech-to-zero-trust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/legacy-tech-to-zero-trust","title":{"rendered":"Transitioning From Legacy Tech to Zero Trust? Do These 4 Things"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let\u2019s get one thing straight \u2014 legacy technology isn\u2019t bad<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legacy computer systems and software have withstood the test of time for a reason: they get the job done consistently, predictably, and reliably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many executives run operations from a \u201cif it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it\u201d framework. Why spend money replacing something that works just fine? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is when leadership is under the illusion that things are fine when the house is about to burn down. Unfortunately, unplanned legacy breakdowns often lead to costly downtime, logistical complications, and disgruntled customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mounting server hacks have shown, perimeter-based networks are particularly vulnerable to data breaches. In this article, we\u2019ll look at an industry that could have benefited from reducing its dependency on legacy technology sooner rather than later. We\u2019ll also review the top four things organizations should do to approach Zero Trust<\/a> implementations most pragmatically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Switch from Legacy Tech to Zero Trust <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Working<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In 2016, Southwest Airlines experienced that moment after a single router failure delayed hundreds of thousands of fliers. The airline\u2019s monolithic architecture couldn\u2019t adapt quickly enough to accommodate large fluctuations in the environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As reported by USA Today<\/a>, Southwest\u2019s CEO expected the incident to cost the company up to $10 million. But Southwest isn\u2019t the only airline experiencing IT growing pains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to The Wall Street Journal<\/a>, several U.S. airlines have felt the weight of aging legacy systems in recent years. The infrastructures simply aren\u2019t designed to handle high-server traffic, attempted hacks, and remote work policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security researcher Noam Rotem further exposed the travel industry\u2019s technology shortcomings after hacking into Amadeus<\/a> in 2019. The travel reservation system contained a significant security breach that allowed anyone to access and change private information on bookings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering the system\u2019s integration with 200 airlines, the security oversight left vulnerable the private information of millions of passengers! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Ditch Legacy Technology (With Less Stress) <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to avoid unforeseen legacy letdowns is simple: embrace cloud-based technologies and adopt a Zero Trust (ZT) security model<\/a>. Agile cloud systems, applications, and technologies go hand in hand with ZT best practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest mistake SMEs make<\/a> when making the switch? Not <\/em>planning to complete the implementation in incremental steps. Follow these four guidelines to slowly leave legacy systems behind:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Triple-Check Your Tech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before forging full steam ahead, look under your network\u2019s hood. You may find outdated servers, unused licenses, unsecured assets, and architecture holes that aren\u2019t ZT-friendly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a list of everything you find that isn\u2019t Zero Trust compliant. From there, prioritize both short-term and long-term solutions for tackling items. Depending on circumstances, you may decide some architectural elements are too expensive or complex to cut out right away. Alternatively, you may find various tools in your stack fall short<\/a> in providing the automation you need for Zero Trust implementation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just remember: the longer you sit on noncompliant elements, the further behind the organization becomes in fulfilling evolving security standards. So, seek long-term solutions that upgrade, fix, or replace noncompliant technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n

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The cost of maintaining legacy systems will only increase as they become less relevant. As vendors stop producing parts, inventive repairs will fall on the shoulders of IT staff. Want some help determining what your team should prioritize first? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out JumpCloud\u2019s Zero Trust Assessment Tool (it\u2019s free).<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The automated assessment is designed to reveal your baseline, before providing targeted suggestions for next steps. It took us months to build, but it will only take you about 5 minutes to complete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Safeguard the Important Stuff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you update anything in the legacy environment, it\u2019s essential to protect organizational data. Schedule time to complete the following tasks: <\/p>\n\n\n\n