Eliminating Vulnerabilities: Legacy Applications and the Modernization of Tennessee's Services

Speakers: 

Curtis Clan, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Finance and Administration, State of Tennessee

Keith Nelson, Head of Public Sector Marketing, OpenText

Stacy Hapgood, Partner & Lead Client Partner Tennessee, IBM

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As cyber risks grow and modernization pressures mount, government IT leaders face unprecedented challenges. Learn how to bridge the gap between legacy infrastructure and future-ready security in this critical discussion.

Here are some of the key learnings:

• Legacy System Risks: Outdated tech requires costly patches and specialized teams, making modernization critical (e.g., Tennessee’s weekly vulnerability scans).

• Collaboration is Key: Public-private partnerships and cross-agency councils (like Tennessee’s Cyber Security Advisory Council) enhance threat response and best practice sharing.

• Funding & Prioritization: Redirecting budgets from legacy maintenance to modernization (e.g., cloud migration, AI adoption) unlocks efficiency and security.

• Local Government Challenges: Scaling cybersecurity maturity across 1,500+ local entities demands outreach, grants, and shared tools (e.g., endpoint detection licenses).

By prioritizing modernization, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and investing strategically in cybersecurity, government agencies can build resilient systems capable of meeting tomorrow’s challenges