Technology organizations devote substantial attention to selecting and implementing new systems.

Retiring old technology usually receives less enthusiasm.

Applications, infrastructure, databases, operating systems, and devices can remain in service well beyond their intended lifecycle because replacement is disruptive and current systems still appear to work.

CIOs need a deliberate end-of-life process before aging technology becomes an emergency.

Maintain Lifecycle Visibility

Technology inventories should include expected support and retirement dates.

Without that information, end-of-life announcements can arrive as unexpected budget requirements.

A multi-year view gives IT and finance more time to plan.

Distinguish Vendor Support From Internal Usability

A system can continue functioning after official support ends.

That does not mean continued operation is prudent.

Security updates, hardware availability, technical expertise, compatibility, and regulatory requirements may all deteriorate.

Identify Business Dependencies

An old application may support only a small number of users while remaining essential to a critical process.

Retirement planning should therefore examine business importance as well as user counts.

Budget Before the Deadline

Replacement programs become more expensive when organizations have little time to evaluate alternatives.

Early planning allows technology leaders to sequence investments and avoid several major lifecycle events occurring simultaneously.

Address Data Retention

Retiring the application does not always eliminate the need for its historical data.

Retention, accessibility, security, and legal requirements should be addressed as part of the retirement plan.

Assign Accountability

Every significant platform should have an owner responsible for lifecycle decisions.

Systems without clear ownership have a tendency to remain indefinitely.

Retirement Is Part of Technology Management

Technology portfolios require subtraction as well as investment.

A formal lifecycle process helps CIOs avoid emergency replacements, reduce unsupported technology, and provide executives with a more predictable view of future IT spending.