THE HIDDEN RISKS OF UNSUPPORTED SOFTWARE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)

If it works it must be OK, right? Wrong. Using outdated or unsupported software to manage your back office is costing you now and in the long run. When it comes to technology, standing still is never truly an option.

So it’s surprising that for many in deathcare services - whether that’s funeral homes, consolidators, cemeteries or crematories - outdated, unsupported or desktop-based cemetery software has become “good enough”. After all, it’s fa miliar, functional (most of the time), and (seemingly) cheaper than switching or upgrading.

But the truth is that continuing to rely on older or outdated cemetery software carries risk.

From data breaches to lost opportunities, the cost of doing nothing adds up - hitting your pocket, your reputation, and your potential for growth.

So what are the dangers of outdated software, the real costs of ignoring them, and what to do about it.

Before we get to the risks, a couple of quick definitions:

UNSUPPORTED CEMETERY SOFTWARE 

What do we mean when we say unsupported software? It’s software that’s no longer maintained by its vendor or developer. For you, that may mean a software solution for which your vendor has stopped issuing patches or upgrades, has stopped communicating, or may have even gone out of business.

And at that point, you’re looking at a single point of failure.

But, hey, it still, ‘works, kind of’, so why change it? Well, for a start, it’s no longer receiving:

Security patches — fixes for vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit;

Bug fixes — repairs for errors or glitches in the system;

Updates — improvements, new features, or compatibility with new hardware/operating systems;

Customer support — technical help or training from your service provider.

DESKTOP-BASED CEMETERY SOFTWARE 

This is typically software that’s installed directly onto each individual computer or a local server, rather than being accessed through the cloud or a web browser.

Here, your valuable data is stored either on that machine or on an on-premise server. Backups and updates are usually manual - for example by downloading patches, or by copying files, and access is limited to the device(s) where the software is installed.

Fine, but what happens when you want to start scaling or need to access your data remotely – and here’s hoping your IT infrastructure doesn’t need to be maintained or upgraded to account for new operating systems or evolving service requirements.

LEGACY SYSTEMS 

A legacy software system might typically utilize older software, hardware, or infrastructure. Often, that’s because it’s familiar, deeply integrated into daily operations, or considered difficult or expensive to replace.

It may likely be something you’ve inherited from previous management or owners, and it’s limiting where you want to get to.

THE COST OF DOING NOTHING 

With each passing day, week, month, or year, each of these scenarios increase your exposure to risk. 

Without the necessary updates, systems become unstable, insecure, and incompatible with new technologies. Without accessibility or scalability, your opportunities are limited and you’re falling behind others with the profession.

So with that in mind, let’s dig a little deeper into the true costs of inaction.

1. DATA BREACHES AND SECURITY FAILURES 

 Outdated cemetery software dangers often begin with the security of your data.

The cost of doing nothing? Cyber attacks, data loss, ransomware, lawsuits, reputational damage, financial penalties. Burial records, family contact information, contracts, financial data, and more - all open to unauthorized access without the critical patches and updates to keep them secure.

There are 600 million cyberattacks per day (and rising).

Vulnerable servers increase the risk of unauthorized access to your critical information; the tampering with or destruction of irreplaceable data; the interruption of important functions and daily operations; or even a complete shutdown of your network. And the compliance and liability risk of running obsolete workstations pales in comparison to that posed by running obsolete servers.

The solution? Cloud-based software solutions can reduce many of these risks by providing modern security features, including: encryption, multi-factor authentication or single sign-on, and proactive monitoring, with regular patches, updates, or fixes.

2. INSTABILITY

The cost of doing nothing? System failures, irrecoverable records, interrupted operations, unexpected costs.

If you do have someone providing ongoing support to your system then it’s likely costing you, but it still doesn’t mean you’re 100% safe from a system failure.

You may be running software that’s supported by the vendor or a third party IT support provider, but if that software is built on a database that’s retired then you’re still at risk.

We can look back to Microsoft VisualFoxPro as just one example:

In 2010, the mainstream support for Microsoft Visual FoxPro stopped. Microsoft continued to support until 2015, with the official position on a retired product being that customers are, ‘highly encouraged to move to a supported product as soon as possible.’

So while only Microsoft can ensure that systems built on FoxPro are secure, without critical patches and updates, no matter what support you may or may not have in place, you’re still at risk of system failure.

In short, ‘supported’ software isn’t always safe or stable if it’s built on outdated infrastructure.

And that could have a massive impact on your business. Setting aside the potential for lost or corrupted data, without access to your data, you’re running blind. That can lead to a host of issues, including: increased errors, the costs of a temporary fix to the system or procuring a new one entirely, plus under pressure staff and a decrease in productivity.

An unstable system is a problem waiting to happen. 

3. SURPRISE! UNEXPECTED COSTS

Unexpected costs can wreak havoc on your cashflow and leave an unwelcome dent in your bottom line.

The cost of doing nothing? Rising maintenance bills, unpredictable expenses, lengthy downtime.

And by continuing to use outdated or unsupported software that’s exactly where you’re headed.

It might feel that sticking with the system you already have is cheaper, being ‘already paid for’, but in reality, that could become a false economy.

Hidden costs soon pile up - emergency IT fixes, countless hours spent troubleshooting, staff overtime, lawsuits due to mistakes made, implementing a new system.

Consider this scenario - you spend thousands each year on a third-party IT provider to keep your legacy system limping along. When the system crashes during your busiest season, emergency recovery costs skyrocket. Your service levels drop while you try to get it sorted out. Your team is under pressure and mistakes are being made.

In the end, you realize you’re spending more on maintaining outdated software than you would be on a modern, cloud-based solution with predictable pricing.

4. LIMITED GROWTH AND FUTURE PLANNING.

The combination of outdated software and an unsupported infrastructure can mean you’re constantly firefighting – battling the limitations of your old systems, instead of seizing opportunities to modernize within a thriving digital ecosystem.

The cost of doing nothing? limited scalability, compatibility, integration, missed opportunities, misalignment with digital strategies.

Valuable time and money are wasted on quick fix patches, workarounds, or parallel manual systems, while digital opportunities such as online self-service, mapping integrations, and data analytics remain out of reach.

Not only this, but from a practical perspective, once there’s a need to upgrade your hardware there is a good chance you won’t be able to run your old software on it.

Running a retired database on a new computer that has the latest version of its operating system won’t automatically work. That’s because the software will be untested on any new operating systems that have been released since it became obsolete.

Let’s say for example you’re operating multiple funeral home sites.

You want to adopt digital strategies to improve services, streamline operations, improve communication and improve efficiencies.

Your IT team discovers that your software won’t run on the newly issued laptops without costly customization, because it depends on an outdated operating system. With each upgrade, the problem worsens: more errors creep in, staff waste hours reconciling files, and management sees others offering online services they can’t match.

Eventually, you realize your legacy system is not only holding back growth but actively causing you to miss opportunities to serve families better.

OVERCOMING THE RISKS

The good news, should it not be apparent at this point, is that you don’t have to keep living with the dangers of unsupported or outdated systems. By switching to a modern, cloud-based deathcare management software solution, you can eliminate all of these risks and replace them with stability, security, and room for growth.

HERE’S HOW:

STRONGER PROTECTION = FEWER DATA BREACHES AND SECURITY VULNERABILITIES

A cloud partner can provide security updates and monitoring, with regular updates that close the gaps that older or unsupported software leave exposed.

AUTOMATED BACKUPS AND RELIABILITY = LESS DATA LOSS AND SYSTEM INSTABILITY

With records stored securely in the cloud, even if a local device fails, none of your crucial data is lost. This ‘built-in disaster recovery’ keeps you running and resilient in the face of unpredictable or exceptional circumstances.

PREDICTABLE BUDGETING = NO SURPRISES AND MONEY SAVED IN THE LONG-TERM

Instead of unexpected IT repair bills or costly workarounds, cloud solutions are delivered at a stable, predictable rate.

REAL-TIME ACCESS ANYWHERE = NO ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES

Staff can securely access records in the office, out on the grounds, or remotely, reducing bottlenecks, improving communication and collaboration, and enhancing services to families.

SCALABILITY AND INTEGRATION = FEWER LIMITATIONS

A cloud solution can expand seamlessly as you grow, and integrate more seamlessly with financial ERPs or digital self-service tools.

ALIGNMENT WITH THE FUTURE = NO MISSED DIGITAL STRATEGY OPPORTUNITIES

Moving to the cloud enables online self-service, interactive maps - opening up potential new revenue streams and providing services that families increasingly expect.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Every risk of outdated or unsupported management software – from instability to financial strain - has a direct solution in the cloud. By switching to a cloud-based system, funeral homes and cemeteries can move from fighting old problems to building a foundation for growth, confidence, and long-term digital success.