An appeal against end-of-life technologies
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AmCham) and the U.S. networking company Cisco have called for greater attention to the cybersecurity risks associated with aging IT infrastructure. According to a report by The Korea Herald, the two organizations held a closed-door meeting on Thursday at Cisco Korea's office in Seoul, bringing together corporate executives and cybersecurity experts to discuss the risks of end-of-life (EOL) technologies—equipment and software that no longer receive security updates or technical support.
The new element is the explicit call on Korean companies to modernize obsolete systems, moving beyond the approach of replacing equipment only when problems occur. The issue is relevant because, according to the material, artificial intelligence is making cyberattacks increasingly automated and sophisticated: in this scenario, unsupported technologies can become vulnerable entry points for hackers, with potential threats to business operations and critical infrastructure.
The key players' positions
The event featured Choi Ji-hee, president of Cisco Korea; James Kim, chairman and CEO of AmCham; and Oh Jin-young, director general of the cybersecurity industry division at the Korea Internet Security Agency, who delivered the keynote address. Kim said that a secure and resilient digital foundation is essential to turning the potential of U.S.-Korea technological cooperation into lasting business opportunities, stressing that modernizing obsolete systems is an important part of strengthening competitiveness.
Choi warned that companies relying on unsupported equipment face growing risks as cyber threats evolve. He explained that, in the transition to the AI era, leaving EOL equipment in use after official updates end can pose a critical threat to operational continuity. He also noted the importance of identifying vulnerable assets before developing gradual replacement plans based on operational priorities and available budgets.
The report and open questions
Sarah Sloan, Cisco's head of cybersecurity policy for Asia-Pacific, presented the findings of a report sponsored by Cisco and produced by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute on the risks associated with obsolete technologies. The document, based on cases from Korea, India, the Philippines, and Australia, argues that managing aging technologies requires more than ordinary IT maintenance: it requires clearer responsibilities, long-term investment planning, and procurement reforms to reduce vulnerabilities. Sloan also led a scenario-based exercise in which participants examined how to prioritize infrastructure upgrades while maintaining operational continuity. Ok Jae-bom, leader of Cisco Korea's Technology, Strategy and Advisory group, outlined approaches for replacing obsolete infrastructure and improving IT asset management.
The roundtable also addressed emerging security challenges related to AI and quantum computing, underscoring the need for companies to integrate technology lifecycle management into broader investment and risk management strategies. AmCham said it will continue to work with technology companies and policymakers to promote cyber resilience and support Korea's digital competitiveness. However, it remains to be seen what concrete commitments or modernization plans the participating companies made, since the meeting was held behind closed doors and the material does not report any operational decisions.
