FOI release

FOI2020-11028 Legacy applications and systems

Updated 6 January 2021

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Dear

I am writing in response to your email dated 30th September 2020 requesting the following information:

Definition of a legacy system or legacy applications in this inquiry: “A legacy system or application, in the context of computing, refers to computer systems, programming languages or application software that are used instead of available contemporary alternatives e.g. cloud. It also may be associated with terminology or processes that are no longer applicable to current contexts or content, thus creating confusion.

  • What approximate percentage of your IT services and infrastructure is in the cloud today? [Select one answer only]
    • 0-10%
    • 11-20%
    • 21-30%
    • 31-40%
    • 41-50%
    • 51-60%
    • 61-70%
    • 71-80%
    • 81-90%
    • 91-100%
  • And what is a realistic, achievable target of migrating legacy applications to the cloud over the next 3years? [Select one answer only]
    • 0-10%
    • 11-20%
    • 21-30%
    • 31-40%
    • 41-50%
    • 51-60%
    • 61-70%
    • 71-80%
    • 81-90%
    • 91-100%
  • Approximately what volume of data is held in legacy systems? [Select one answer only]
    • 0– 10 Terabytes (TB)
    • 11 – 50TB
    • 51 – 100TB
    • 101 - 500TB
    • 500TB+

  • What are your organisation’s/department’s top five priority reasons for migrating to the cloud and enhancing your data strategy? Cross [x] up to five answers that apply best to your current situation:

    • Data security and compliance
    • Improved services and functionality (both internally and for citizens)
    • Improved operating-cost control and flexibility of service
    • Cheaper data storage
    • Improved data and service access for remote workers
    • Reduced admin
    • Service providers help share the load in managing the infrastructure
    • Improved organisational agility
    • Improved insights and opportunities for gathering data
    • Improved testing environments for app/service development
    • Faster implementation and time-to-value/service (i.e. can roll things out faster)
    • Easier to stay up-to-date with latest technologies
    • Other(s), please specify:

  • Which are the biggest challenges you face in implementing your IT strategy? Cross [x] up to five answers that apply best to your current situation:

    • Estimating potential lifetime costs and making the case for investment in modern IT solutions
    • Moving vital data and applications from legacy systems to modern architectures without service interruption
    • Lack of an overall/clearly defined strategy
    • Change management
    • Our IT budgets mean we have to upgrade systems in a piecemeal fashion – i.e. one instance at a time
    • Culture change
    • Education / knowledge of available solutions and services
    • Skills shortage (for installing & utilising new systems)
    • Knowing where to use public, private, or hybrid cloud services
    • Vendor lock-in from long-term, existing contracts
    • Fear of future technical or commercial vendor lock-in from new contracts
    • Procurement processes
    • Length of migration process of IT systems
    • Other(s), please specify:

I am treating your correspondence as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In response to your queries, I have completed a search for the information within the Defence Electronics & Components Agency (DECA), and I can confirm that we do hold information in scope of your request.

Under Section 16 of the Act (Advice and Assistance) you may find it helpful to note that Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act gives an applicant the right to access recorded information held by public authorities at the time the request is made and does not require public authorities to answer questions, provide explanations or give opinions, unless this is recorded information held.

If you are not satisfied with this response or you wish to complain about any aspect of the handling of your request, then you should contact me in the first instance. If informal resolution is not possible and you are still dissatisfied then you may apply for an independent internal review by contacting the Information Rights Compliance team, Ground Floor, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, SW1A 2HB or by e-mailing CIO-FOI-IR@mod.uk. Please note that any request for an internal review must be made within 40 working days of the date on which the attempt to reach informal resolution has ended.

If you remain dissatisfied following an internal review, you may take your complaint to the Information Commissioner under the provisions of Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act. Please note that the Information Commissioner will not investigate your case until the MOD internal review process is complete. You can find further details of the role and powers of the Information Commissioner on the Commissioner’s website.

Regards

DECA FOI

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