Software maintenance for public administration: How old systems lead to digital sovereignty

Author: Björn Groenewold | Published: 9 February 2026

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"In fifteen years we have not seen a project that could not be rescued — the question is whether the effort pays off." — Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions

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The Digital Challenge Facing Municipalities

Public administration in Germany is facing one of the biggest challenges of its recent history: complete digitalization.

When planning Software maintenance for public administration: How old systems lead… from idea to delivery, AI & Machine Learning, Cost Calculator: AI Development, Discover solutions sowie Software Maintenance offer practical next steps on our site.

Germany's Online Access Act (OZG) requires administrative services to be offered digitally. Many municipalities are failing to meet this requirement.

The reason is not a lack of willingness — it is outdated legacy systems. These systems form the backbone of administrative processes.

At the same time, they block the modernisation that OZG demands.

Software maintenance for public administration is not a complete system replacement. It is a strategic, incremental approach.

It preserves the expertise embedded in legacy systems while making the IT infrastructure sustainable.

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Four Problems Created by Legacy Systems in Administration

Many critical administrative processes — registration offices, budget management, social services — run on software from the 1980s and 1990s. These systems create four concrete problems:

1. High Maintenance Costs

Short: Maintaining COBOL and PL/I systems requires specialists who are expensive and scarce.

Maintaining COBOL and PL/I systems requires specialists who are expensive and scarce. The cost per change request is high. The risk of introducing errors is also high.

2. Security Vulnerabilities

Short: Older architectures receive no security updates.

Older architectures receive no security updates. They are vulnerable to modern cyberattacks. GDPR compliance becomes extremely difficult without current software.

3. Poor Interoperability

Short: Legacy systems are often monolithic.

Legacy systems are often monolithic. They cannot communicate with modern APIs. Connecting administrative services across federal and state levels requires expensive workarounds.

4. Operational Risk

Short: A critical system failure can paralyze an entire administration.

A critical system failure can paralyze an entire administration. Citizens cannot access services. Staff cannot perform their work. Recovery takes days, not hours.

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Why OZG Digitalisation Fails Without Backend Modernisation

Short: The OZG requires more than online forms.

The OZG requires more than online forms. It requires the underlying processes to be digitalized too.

When a modern digital frontend connects to an outdated, inefficient backend, the result is a slow and error-prone system.

Citizens experience this as poor service, even though the frontend looks modern.

IT modernisation in municipalities is the needed foundation for meeting OZG goals. It is not optional.

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The Software Rescue Approach for Public Administration

A structured rescue programme uses proven techniques to modernise without replacing:

• Security patching: Critical vulnerabilities are closed at once without touching the core system.
• API wrappers: Modern interfaces are placed in front of legacy systems, enabling digital services without backend replacement.
• Strangler pattern migration: New modules replace legacy functions piece by piece, over a defined timeline.
• Documentation: Undocumented legacy code is analysed and recorded, reducing dependency on custom specialists.

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The Path to Digital Sovereignty

Short: Digital sovereignty means that a municipality controls its own IT.

Digital sovereignty means that a municipality controls its own IT. It is not dependent on a single vendor or a single specialist who knows the system.

Software rescue creates this independence step by step.

The goal is a recorded, maintainable, and secure IT infrastructure — one that meets OZG needs and can evolve.

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References and Further Reading

• Bitkom — German digital industry association.
• German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
• European Commission — Digital strategy.

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About the Author: Björn Groenewold (Dipl.-Inf.) is Managing Director of Groenewold IT Solutions GmbH.

Since 2012, he has supported over 250 projects — from legacy modernization to AI integration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is this article about: “Software maintenance for public administration: How old systems lead to digital soverei…”?

Here we cover Software maintenance for public administration. How old systems lead to digital soverei… — focused on architecture, process, and business outcomes.

In short: ** Public administration** in Germany is facing one of the biggest challenges of its recent history. Complete digitalization.

While the online access law (OZG) gives the clear order, administrative services to...

Who benefits most from the content described here?

Typical readers are business and IT leaders in Software-Rettung who want to secure quality, security, and ease of upkeep over the long term.

How does this topic fit into an IT or digital strategy?

In a digital strategy, prioritize stable core processes first, then extensions. See also professional software development and consulting.

For multi-system landscapes, IT consulting and architecture helps align vendors and internal teams.

What are sensible next steps if we need support?

If you need support with design, delivery, or modernization: schedule an appointment or outline your project via contact.

The following separate references complement the topics in this article:

• Bitkom – German digital industry association.
• German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
• European Commission – Digital strategy.
• MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium.