Cloud Computing: Application modernization is a top federal priority

Grazed from Tech Page One. Author: Ann Braley Smith.

Over the past five years, legacy modernization has been a hot topic in federal government IT discussions. Modernization makes application environments more efficient and responsive, and puts them in a stronger position to address new requirements and technology. And federal agencies are especially poised to reap benefits and cost savings, which is why it was included in the 2010 25-point plan for IT reform (PDF).

Truth in numbers

The need for agencies to transform old, cumbersome systems, eliminate data silos, reduce redundancy and usher in new technology is an urgent one. The numbers are compelling. In June 2013, MeriTalk and VMware surveyed 152 federal IT leaders to determine what steps agencies are taking in that direction and what kind of benefits they have seen. Agencies are spending 79 percent of their IT budget, or an average of $62 billion annually, just to maintain legacy IT systems…

Moreover, a study called "The Federal Application Modernization Road Trip" (PDF) showed that:

• Nearly half of existing agency IT applications are based on legacy technologies in need of modernization.
• Four out of five decision-making IT executives say that mission-critical capabilities will be threatened if their agency does not modernize legacy applications…

Read more from the source @ http://techpageone.dell.com/technology/cloud-computing/application-modernization-remains-top-federal-priority/#.Ux3wiPRdWRM

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