5 Reasons You Need To Update Your Software

I'm sure that many of you have recently updated your computer's operating system; or the software on your phone/tablet. But when was the last time that you updated your online services? For many businesses, online systems - such as websites; process management systems; accounting systems; or other cloud-based solutions - form the backbone of the businesses operations. If you're operating your own software, it's important that you regularly review these systems to ensure that they remain current.

There are a number of reasons why you should ensure that your software is current/up-to-date. Some of the main reasons include:

1. Security of Your Software

Newer versions of the software often come with security patches and updates to protect your software from malicious users. As time passes, software vulnerabilities are exposed. These "patches"/"fixes" are then applied to the software for release in later updates. Not updating your software can leave it open to known security vulnerabilities.

2. Software Features

Software updates can also come with an array of software features that extend the functionality of your online system. By updating your software, you can ensure that you are able to take full advantage of these updates.

3. Speed

With time, optimisations are implemented to software - allowing it to increase its performance. For a user, this may often result in noticeable improvements in speed of the system. Ensuring your software is up-to-date can often have a significant impact on performance of a system.

4. Interoperability

One of the buzz-words in software development is APIs. These are essentially gateways by which software can pass messages/communicate with one-another. As many software platforms evolve, they incorporate functionality from other online tools into their solution - allowing your system to operate seamlessly with a wide-range of cloud-based tools. This can have an enormous impact on the functionality of your online systems.

5. Maintainability

Ensuring that your software is regularly updated will maximise its efficiency and minimise any long-term issues you may have. Ultimately, poorly maintained software can become a long-term issue for business; whether it be due to deficiencies in the operation of the software or inability to maintain older versions, often you will find that you will be forced to upgrade a solution at an inopportune time and for a much more costly investment. Alternatively, proactive upgrading of your software can ensure that minor requirements are addressed in each iteration and that the software is regularly reviewed and maintained - a much more robust outcome.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it does highlight some key benefits of maintaining your online systems/software. In today's digitised economy, software is becoming the backbone for business operations. Ensuring that you manage your investment in software will ensure that the software grows and develops with your business - and outcome likely to give you much greater returns and longevity with your chosen solution.

If you're looking to manage your internal software, contact us to find out how we can be of assistance. We can help you identify your requirements, assess the alternate approaches and the build a system (either a custom solution or off-the-shelf solution).

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