UK government is wasting billions on keeping old computers going

technology
(Image credit: Pixabay)

The UK government is spending obscene amounts of money trying to maintain ancient, outdated computer systems which are unable to meet even the basic cybersecurity, or operational requirements of today, a report has claimed.

Organizing for Digital Deliver, a report recently released by the Cabinet Office, found that the UK government spends $6.5 billion a year on IT, of which $3.2 billion goes on keeping legacy systems afloat. 

Some of these systems are allegedly three decades old, and in five years’ time, the cost of maintaining these systems could be as high as $30 billion.

The report further claims that some of the digital services offered by the government “fail to meet even the minimum cybersecurity standards”.

Contemporary systems are data-oriented, allowing businesses to use numerous sources of data to improve their decision-making process. However, even when government agencies do have access to data - they can’t make use of it, due to the incompatibility of their legacy systems.

Barriers to civil service innovation

The Home Office, the biggest spender according to the report, relies on 12 legacy systems, despite multiple efforts to retire them. Data storage departments are “making little use of this data to influence action or decision-making,” the report added.

The inability to properly extract data from its computer systems is one of the UK government’s “greatest barriers” to civil service innovation, it said. Going forward, government departments launching new digital services should focus on having a “minimum loveable product”, or minimum viable product - worrying only about the product’s usability, and not its looks.

Finally, the government does not monitor the performance of its computer systems, despite a performance management system being installed back in 2012.

While Labour told the BBC the report shows Cabinet Office minister Michale Gove’s “incompetence and failure to deliver”, the Cabinet Office said it is working on reducing the government’s reliance on old tech.

Via: BBC

Sead is a seasoned freelance journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He writes about IT (cloud, IoT, 5G, VPN) and cybersecurity (ransomware, data breaches, laws and regulations). In his career, spanning more than a decade, he’s written for numerous media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans. He’s also held several modules on content writing for Represent Communications.

Read more
Houses of Parliament
The UK government’s tech purchase processes “downplay” the technical risks involved
Stress
Complexity of IT systems could be increasing security risks for businesses
Avast cybersecurity
UK cybersecurity sector could be worth £13bn, research shows
New tech skills projects aim to boost UK cyber defenses
US flags
US government IT contracts set to be centralized in new Trump order
ransomware avast
Ransomware attacks are costing Government offices a month of downtime on average
Latest in Pro
NHS
NHS IT supplier hit with major fine following ransomware attack
A business woman looking at AI on a transparent screen
Most businesses are now fully embracing AI - but aren't always protected against the risks
Hands on a laptop with overlaid logos representing network security
Winning the war on ransomware with multi-layer security
Protection from AI hacker attacks
Maintaining SAP’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability triad
A trough sensor at Overbury farm
“It's wildlife working for you” - how Agri-Tech can help revolutionize British farming as we know it
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 next to a TechRadar badge that reads Big Savings
I found the best printer deal you won't see in the Amazon Spring Sale and it's got a massive $150 saving
Latest in News
Waze voice control
Waze is ditching Google Assistant for Gemini on iOS, and for good reasons
Apple Watch Ultra 2 displaying a step count and distance
Using a smartwatch could be a game-changer for people with diabetes, new research suggests
Focal Bathys MG
Focal just upgraded its audiophile noise-cancelling wireless headphones with even better sound, better noise cancelling, and a way higher price
A PC gamer celebrating, sat in a gaming chair in front of a monitor
Windows 11’s Game Bar gets a fresh coat of paint, plus a tweak to work better on handhelds – and I like the direction Microsoft’s heading in here
NHS
NHS IT supplier hit with major fine following ransomware attack
A business woman looking at AI on a transparent screen
Most businesses are now fully embracing AI - but aren't always protected against the risks