Legacy Database
Migration Series
About This Series
If your organisation is still running on Microsoft Access, FoxPro, dBase, or a bespoke system built years ago by someone who has long since moved on, this series is for you.
You are not alone. A surprising number of charities, NGOs, sports clubs, trade associations, and professional bodies across Ireland and the UK are in exactly this position. The system works, more or less. Nobody wants to touch it. And every year, the risk quietly grows.
This series does not assume you know anything about databases or software development. It is written for the people who use these systems every day, the managers who rely on them, and the board members or auditors starting to ask difficult questions.
We cover the risks, the costs, the process, and what it actually feels like to go through a migration, from the first conversation to a fully working modern system in the cloud.
Who This Is For
- Office managers and administrators who rely on a legacy system day to day
- CEOs and board members are concerned about GDPR compliance and funding risk
- GDPR officers who have just completed an audit and found problems
- Accountants and financial advisers working with charities and voluntary organisations
- Anyone who has ever thought, ‘What happens if this system just stops working?’
Series Contents
Part 1: Your Charity’s Oldest Database Might Be Its Biggest Risk
The opening post. We explain what a legacy database is, why so many organisations are still running them, and why the risk is greater than most people realise. A plain language introduction for non-technical readers.
Part 2: What Does It Cost to Migrate a Legacy Database? Here’s the Honest Answer
We cover pricing honestly and early, so there are no surprises. Ballpark figures, what affects the cost, and what is included. A simple system migrated from Access or FoxPro can start from around €6,000 ex VAT. More complex systems with reports and integrations will cost more. We explain why.
Part 3: What Happens When Your GDPR Officer Opens Pandora’s Box
More and more charities are hiring GDPR officers or undergoing compliance audits. When they look at a legacy database, they often find data stored in plain text, records going back 20 years, and no way to honour Subject Access Requests or the right to erasure. We explain the compliance chain and why it is directly linked to funding.
Part 4: If the Server Dies on Monday, What Happens on Tuesday?
The most immediate fear. What happens when the system simply stops working? No backups, no support contract, the original developer long gone. We talk through the real-world consequences and what organisations can do now to reduce that risk.
Part 5: Still Running on Access, FoxPro or an Old Bespoke System? You’re Not Alone
A look at the most common legacy database systems still in use across Irish and UK organisations: Access, FoxPro, dBase, Sybase, and old bespoke DOS-era software. We explain what each one is, why it was popular, and what moving away from it actually involves.
Part 6: Why Legacy Database Projects Take Longer Than You’d Expect and Why That Works in Your Favour
The timeline for a migration can stretch over several months. We explain why that is not a bad thing, how we protect your staff from disruption, what a typical project looks like week by week, and why the process is designed around your organisation, not the other way around.
About IWorks
iWorks is a Dublin-based software development company with over 25 years of experience building bespoke web applications for Irish organisations. We have successfully migrated legacy databases for Rainbows Ireland, VSOSJ, and GSRMA, among others.
If you would like an initial conversation about your system, at no cost and with no obligation, get in touch. We will treat you like a human being, not a sales opportunity.