The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) completed the Legacy Systems Study as directed by the passage of HB 2738, 83rd (R) Legislative Session. The legislation required DIR to perform a study detailing the use of legacy systems and software across State of Texas agencies and to submit a report to state leadership by October 1, 2014. DIR chose to perform this study utilizing its Enterprise Solution Services (ESS) team. The recommendations from the report include:
- Agencies should develop a prioritized impact analysis and mitigation plan of identified legacy system security risks
- Amend statute to authorize DIR to develop a legacy modernization strategy and to collaborate with agencies to use comprehensive strategies, developed as part of the Legacy System Study and identified in the report, as guidance in their legacy modernization efforts
- Amend statute to authorize DIR to build upon the legacy modernization strategy by: establishing a statewide application development framework, facilitating standardization and collaboration, and achieving economies of scale by leveraging agency investments
- As part of a legacy modernization strategy leveraging common solutions, agencies should prioritize commercial off-the shelf (COTS) solutions over custom-developed replacement solutions
- Amend statute to authorize DIR to implement a shared (multi-tenant) reporting services and business analytics pilot to determine the viability of a statewide solution
- Amend statute to authorize DIR to establish a voluntary pilot program that provides statewide application portfolio management (APM) practices and toolsets for agencies to implement any recommendations following the Legacy Systems Study
