Reframing legacy tech for modern Government challenges

In today's digital landscape, governments worldwide face similar tasks to modernise their legacy systems whilst maintaining critical services. The idea of a "Smarter State" promises enhanced efficiency, improved service delivery, and better citizen engagement. However, this isn’t without its challenges and costs.

Public sector organisations often find themselves at a crossroads. Their legacy systems, though often reliable, are becoming increasingly inflexible and costly to maintain. These decades-old systems form the backbone of critical services yet struggle to keep pace with modern demands such as interoperability with modern platforms and user-centred design.

Take, for instance, systems like Gen (formerly CA Gen and COOL:Gen), which continue to power core functions in many large organisations. While they've done a fantastic job, they are now ripe for innovation, with replacement technologies offering increased flexibility, more effective integration, and shorter time-to-market for new features. This is a particular specialisation for Jumar, and we have seen first-hand the power of a well-executed modernisation programme in many organisations.

To tackle these challenges, we don’t have to go too far from the classic 5R model: Rehost, Refactor, Rearchitect, Rebuild, and Replace. Each strategy offers a specific approach to reframing legacy tech for modern government needs:

Rehost: Often called "lift and shift", this involves moving applications from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud or alternative hosting with minimal changes. It's a quick win for government departments, reducing hardware costs and improving scalability without significant risk.
Refactor: This approach optimises existing code to better fit a cloud environment. It allows teams to improve performance and efficiency of legacy applications without a complete overhaul.
Rearchitect: Here, the application undergoes significant alterations to fully leverage cloud-native features. This can help government agencies create more scalable and resilient services, better equipped to handle peak loads during critical times.
Rebuild: In some cases, rewriting applications from scratch using modern development approaches is necessary. While resource-intensive, this can result in highly optimised, cloud-native applications that fully leverage modern technologies like IoT and machine learning.
Replace: Sometimes, the best option is to sunset legacy applications and replace them with modern SaaS solutions. This can be particularly effective for standardised processes like HR or finance management which are too often seen as “specialised” where in fact little specialism exists.

These options are not without cost and risk – nobody would undertake them lightly. We should consider the opportunities for improvement that come with these investments.

Enhanced Security: Modernisation efforts can significantly bolster cybersecurity postures, addressing one of the most pressing concerns for government agencies.
Data-Driven Insights: Unlocking data from siloed legacy systems can foster better collaboration between departments and derive valuable insights to inform policy-making.
Improved Citizen Experiences: Modern, user-centric design principles can create more accessible and efficient digital services for citizens.
Workforce Empowerment: New technologies can attract talent, accelerate skill development, and enable more flexible work models, helping to engage and retain valuable employees where institutional knowledge is key.
Operational Efficiency: Automation and AI can streamline processes, allowing government employees to focus on higher-value tasks that require human judgment and creativity.

Modernising legacy technology in government isn't merely about updating systems; it's about reimagining how public services are delivered in the digital age. By applying the 5R model thoughtfully, governments can create a robust digital foundation that propels their organisations into the future.

The journey to a "Smarter State" demands a strategic approach that balances the need for innovation with the imperative of maintaining critical services. It requires an unwavering commitment to security, privacy, and trust, ensuring that citizens' data is protected as services become increasingly digital.

By reframing legacy technology challenges as opportunities for innovation, governments can build a stronger, more resilient, and more responsive public sector. The road ahead may be complex, but the potential rewards – in terms of improved services, increased efficiency, and better outcomes for taxpayers – make it a journey worth undertaking.

With deep expertise in transformation and a track record of delivering successful modernisation programmes, Jumar is uniquely positioned to guide public sector organisations through the challenges and ensure a smooth transition to a more agile, secure, and efficient future. Whether you're looking to rehost, refactor, or completely reimagine your legacy systems, Jumar offers the strategic insight and technical know-how to make your modernisation journey a success. Contact us to learn how we can support your legacy modernisation initiatives and help you build the foundation for a smarter state: www.jumar.co.uk/contact-us/

Heather Cover-Kus

Head of Central Government Programme, techUK

Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.

Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.

Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.

Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cover-kus-ba636538

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Ellie Huckle

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.

The programme represents the supplier community of technology products and services in Central Government – in summary working to make Government a more informed buyer, increasing supplier visibility in order to improve their chances of supplying to Government Departments, and fostering better engagement between the public sector and industry. To find out more about what we do, how we do this and how you can get involved – make sure to get in touch!

Prior to joining techUK, Ellie completed Sixth Form in June 2015 and went on to work in Waitrose, moved on swiftly to walking dogs and finally, got an office job working for a small local business in North London, where she lives with her family and their two Bengal cats Kai and Nova.

When she isn’t working Ellie likes to spend time with her family and friends, her cats, and enjoys volunteering for diabetes charities. She has a keen interest in writing, escaping with a good book and expanding her knowledge watching far too many quiz shows!

Email:: [email protected]
Phone:: 020 7331 2015
Twitter:: @techUK,@techUK
Website:: www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:: https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx,https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx

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Austin Earl

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

Austin joined techUK’s Central Government team in March 2024 to launch a workstream within Education and EdTech.

With a career spanning technology, policy, media, events and comms, Austin has worked with technology communities, as well as policy leaders and practitioners in Education, Central and Local Government and the NHS.

Cutting his teeth working for Skills Matter, London’s developer community hub, Austin then moved to GovNet Communications where he launched Blockchain Live and the Cyber Security and Data Protection Summit. For the last 3 years he has worked with leaders in Education across the state and independent schools sectors, from primary up to higher education, with a strong research interest in technology and education management.

Email:: [email protected]
Phone:: 07891 743 932
Website:: www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/

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Ella Gago-Brookes

Team Assistant, Markets, techUK

Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.

Before joining the team, she was working at the Magistrates' Courts in legal administration and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022. Ella attained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics, and a master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies, with a particular interest in studying asylum rights and gendered violence.

In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, watching true crime documentaries, travelling, and making her best attempts to become a better cook.

Email:: [email protected]

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Annie Collings

Programme Manager, Cyber Security and Central Government, techUK

Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023. In this role, she supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector.

Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.