How public-private partnerships can help you redefine your legacy
72% of UK decision makers believe legacy technology is impacting their ability to operate efficiently, according to Virgin Media O2 Business’ Tech Untapped report.
The same is true for the police (75%) and healthcare organisations (52%), showing the breadth and depth of the issue of outdated technology.
More broadly, 96% of public sector organisations are facing some element of inefficient technology across their workforce.
The solution seems simple. Replace that tech by upgrading to newer and more efficient tools. But with new technology becoming ever-more complex and budgets get even tighter, things aren’t always as simple as they seem.
The key is enabling partnerships that reach beyond the public sector itself, allowing the government to maximise their efforts through the knowledge and expertise of industry network providers.
Together, the public and private sectors can work to address the specific concerns facing organisations, from a lack of integration support to frustrated employees, and plot the best path forward to make the most of new innovations.
So how do we build these partnerships in the most effective way?
Diagnosing the problem
The first step is to understand the risks of legacy tech. 66% of organisations were hit by ransomware attacks last year, with the mean cost to each organisation being over £1.8 million, according to Sophos.
Of these attacks, the majority (62%) were the result of an exploited vulnerability in their infrastructure, meaning that weaknesses in legacy tech are leaving organisations exposed.
The good news is that the public and private sector are already working together to address these issues. For example, the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme, which provides training for organisations looking to shore up their defences.
But legacy doesn’t just expose vulnerabilities. It can also cause efficiency blockades, frustrating employees.
37% of UK organisations believe that upgrading or replacing their current legacy tech would lead to better collaboration and communication among employees, according to our Tech Untapped report.
In the face of continued budget pressure, identifying the tech which meets key needs and drives maximum return on investment for their organisation is crucial.
Leveraging the expertise of the tech sector can help leaders to navigate the myriad of possible solutions to identify those that meet specific organisational challenges, and to deliver efficient tech roll-outs to enable quick staff uptake of new technologies.
The integration issue
The majority of UK decision makers believe upgrading their legacy tech can improve their organisation. However, with the Government increasingly under pressure to maintain smooth operations across sectors, the public sector must act to integrate new technology and build a broader digital culture.
Rather than seeking smaller improvements in data management, collaboration and automation, organisations should be assessing the path to substantial changes which improve delivery and efficiency for employees.
To support this, the Government is laying out a big picture digital transformation roadmap. This is where providers can play a role, by advising organisations on the most effective implementation of new technology.
One example of the power of this managed support is in Falkirk Council. Together, we implemented a cloud-managed infrastructure and deployed wide area network (WAN) across the Council’s 60-plus schools, ensuring Wi-Fi provision could be monitored and shaped to confidently support more than 25,000 devices for pupils and the public alike.
Through the careful implementation of software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), we could also give the Council a significant spend reduction on their technology, allowing the schools to engage and inspire on a more manageable budget.
Private sector expertise can help ensure the full spectrum of digital transformation, from single devices to national connectivity infrastructure, are considered to ensure we’re overcoming our legacy tech together.
Talent for the future
At the heart of every successful partnership are the people. And when it comes to moving on from legacy tech, ensuring that employees and decision makers are on the same page is crucial.
Talented employees are increasingly prioritising up-to-date and new technology. 81% agree that technology plays an important role in keeping them engaged at work, and over half (55%) would be happier if their employer invested more in new digital tools, according to our Battle for Talent report.
The rise in the complexity and availability of new tools, from AI to augmented reality, means that upskilling has never been more crucial. Consistent, regular, and specific training is essential to ensure that you can move on from your legacy tech and get the most out of your new investments.
New technology is offering exciting opportunities across the board, from virtual wards delivering remote healthcare to immersive virtual reality training environments optimising employee performance.
What this means is that technology isn’t just a challenge. It’s also a golden opportunity.
Overcoming your legacy tech means unlocking new capabilities and efficiencies. Together, we can equip the UK with new innovation that makes meaningful impact, helping organisations and communities alike.
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.
Ellie Huckle
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.
Annie Collings
Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
Austin Earl
Austin joined techUK’s Central Government team in March 2024 to launch a workstream within education and edtech.
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.
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