Every business in Central Texas has one.
A donor system built in 2009.
An EMR running on a server nobody wants to reboot.
A CRM that “works fine” as long as Paul from accounting never goes on vacation.
These applications are trusted.
They’re familiar.
They’ve gotten your organization this far.
But they’re also forgotten.
And in today’s threat landscape, forgotten software quietly becomes one of the biggest vulnerabilities inside a business.
This is the challenge many CEOs across Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, and the surrounding area are facing. As companies grow and modernize their operations, core applications often get left behind. They still run the business, but they no longer receive updates, patches, testing, or strategic oversight.
That’s where the problems begin.
The Hidden Stakes: What Happens When Legacy Apps Are Ignored
Ignoring these systems isn’t just a technical oversight. It creates business risk at multiple levels.
1. Cybersecurity exposure increases over time
Legacy apps are rarely patched, rarely updated, and often run on outdated infrastructure. Hackers know this, and they target older platforms because the vulnerabilities are publicly documented.
When your revenue-generating system becomes a cybersecurity liability, the risk isn’t theoretical. It’s operational.
2. Vendor support disappears
Many Central Texas businesses call us when the person who used to maintain the app retires or the original software vendor closes their doors. Suddenly, the organization is running a mission-critical system with no roadmap and no support.
That’s a massive single point of failure.
3. Compliance standards tighten every year
Industries like healthcare, legal, nonprofit, and professional services face growing compliance requirements. If your software can’t generate logs, encrypt data, or meet audit requirements, your organization risks fines, penalties, and insurance complications.
Cyber insurers in Austin are especially strict now. They expect your systems to be actively maintained.
4. Downtime becomes more expensive
When outdated software breaks, it doesn’t break cleanly. Recovering it is slower, harder, and more chaotic. Most older applications lack proper backups, documentation, or fallback processes.
Your business ends up improvising in the middle of a crisis.
5. Productivity falls behind competitors
While your competitors modernize, your team is stuck working around limitations. Slow systems, manual workarounds, and outdated workflows add up to real financial loss.
In a fast-growing market like Austin, lost productivity means lost opportunity.
CTTS: Your Guide to Modernizing Business-Critical Software
At CTTS, we provide IT support to organizations across Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Buda, Bastrop, Taylor, and Temple that rely on specialized applications to run their operations. These systems may be old, but they’re essential.
Our job is simple
Make sure the tools that matter most do not become your biggest vulnerability.
Here’s how we do it.
Best Practices for CEOs Managing Legacy Line-of-Business Apps
These steps don’t require technical expertise. They just require leadership attention.
1. Identify every application that drives revenue or operations
If a workflow, department, or customer experience depends on a piece of software, it belongs on your modernization list.
Ask your team
“What system would shut us down if it stopped working today?”
That question alone surfaces half the risk.
2. Evaluate whether the vendor still supports it
Many CEOs assume “it just works” means “it’s stable.”
In reality, it often means:
“It hasn’t been updated in years and nobody knows what’s inside it.”
Make sure the vendor still exists, still patches the software, and still offers security guidance.
3. Map your cybersecurity exposure
Older applications often fail critical security requirements, including:
Access control
Logging
Encryption
Patch management
Single sign-on support
This isn’t an IT problem. It’s a business continuity problem.
4. Align the software with your compliance requirements
Whether you’re handling donor data, financial records, medical information, or employee files, your core applications must meet industry standards.
Legacy software rarely complies without updates or structured oversight.
5. Build a modernization roadmap with CTTS
Modernization doesn’t mean replacing everything overnight.
It means building a strategic plan that aligns your technology with your business goals.
Our team helps you determine:
What to keep
What to upgrade
What to secure
What to retire
What to replace over the next 12 to 36 months
You get clarity, confidence, and a clear path forward.
Your Business Deserves Tools That Work For You, Not Against You
Austin is one of the fastest-growing economies in Texas. The businesses that win in this environment are those that modernize intentionally, not reactively.
You don’t need software that’s old.
You need software that’s supported.
You need software that’s secure.
You need software that grows with your business.
That’s where CTTS comes in.
Schedule a Free Strategy Session
If you’re running a legacy donor system, EMR, accounting tool, CAD platform, or CRM that hasn’t been updated in years, you’re carrying more risk than you think.
Let’s take 30 minutes and review your application environment.
We’ll identify risks, map out opportunities, and show you how to secure and modernize the systems that matter most.
Schedule a free strategy session with CTTS today!
FAQ
1. How do I know if my legacy software is a security risk?
If it hasn’t been updated, patched, or evaluated in the last year, it should be assessed. Aging applications almost always contain known vulnerabilities.
2. Does modernization mean replacing the system entirely?
Not always. In many cases, CTTS can secure, optimize, or migrate existing systems without disrupting operations.
3. Will this affect my team’s workflow?
Modernization typically improves workflows, reduces downtime, and simplifies processes, making your team more efficient and productive.
Contact CTTS today for IT support and managed services in Austin, TX. Let us handle your IT so you can focus on growing your business. Visit CTTSonline.com or call us at (512) 388-5559 to get started!