The Benefits of Regularly Updating Tooling: A Technical Perspective
- Taweh Ruhle
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Abstract
In modern platform engineering, tooling forms the backbone of system performance, security, and scalability. Despite this, many organizations adopt the mindset of “if it isn’t broken, don’t touch it.” While this philosophy may provide short-term stability, it introduces risks of stagnation, security vulnerabilities, inefficiency, and missed opportunities for improvement. This paper outlines the strategic benefits of proactively updating tooling, supported by a real-world case study involving a Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) deployment.
1. Introduction
Tooling is central to the operation of enterprise platforms. From deployment pipelines to configuration management systems, these tools directly affect performance, security, and overall system reliability. However, over time, many organizations deprioritize tool upgrades, often deferring updates until major transformation programs are underway. This reactive approach can lead to significant technical debt, inefficient operations, and increased exposure to risk.
This paper explores the benefits of regular tooling updates and illustrates their impact through a case study of one of our clients, referred to as CUST-A from this point onwards.
2. Benefits of Regular Tooling Updates
Regular review and upgrades of tooling provide measurable improvements across multiple dimensions:
2.1 Improved Security and Stability
Most new versions of tools address known vulnerabilities, patch security flaws, and resolve software bugs. Running outdated tooling increases the attack surface and weakens the platform’s security posture.
2.2 Enhanced Performance
Updated tooling often introduces optimizations such as better memory utilization, improved CPU usage, and more efficient libraries. These enhancements reduce resource consumption and accelerate workflows.
2.3 Access to New Features
Upgrades typically include new features that enhance user experience, increase productivity, and support broader integration with evolving ecosystems.
2.4 Future-Proofing
A continuous upgrade cycle ensures that the platform remains compatible with modern standards and industry best practices. This reduces the risk of obsolescence and ensures smoother transitions during large-scale transformation initiatives.
3. Case Study: CUST-A’s CIAM Accelerator Deployment
3.1 Background
CUST-A operates a multi-datacenter deployment of our CIAM accelerator solution. Initially deployed to support two business units, the platform expanded to serve over eight units. Over time, deployment time grew to 90–120 minutes per datacenter, impacting agility and operational efficiency.
The organization delayed tooling upgrades due to a planned digital transformation program, which experienced significant delays. As a result, deployment inefficiencies accumulated and went unaddressed.
3.2 Findings
Our assessment identified that:
The CIAM accelerator was leveraging an outdated tool that was no longer supported.
This tool was responsible for approximately 70% of the deployment delay.
3.3 Recommendations
We provided two options:
Option A: Retain the current version of the CIAM accelerator but replace the outdated tool with a supported, modern alternative. Estimated implementation time: 7 days.
Option B: Upgrade the CIAM accelerator to the latest version, reducing deployment time to under 5 minutes. Estimated implementation time: 1–2 sprints.
Given program timelines and priorities, CUST-A chose Option A as an interim solution, followed by Option B in the longer term.
3.4 Implementation and Results
Following Option A, deployment times were reduced from 90–120 minutes to 14 minutes. The improvements were driven by:
Replacement of the deprecated tool with one that supported bulk loading and more efficient processing.
Alignment of configuration file formats with the future-state architecture planned in the digital transformation program.
The time savings are illustrated below:
__________________________________________________
| [14mins] [100mins] |
| ---------------->|---------------------------->| |
| | | |
| [*CIAM*SOLUTION**|*****************************] |
| [**Outdated*Tool*|*****************************] |
| | |
| [*CIAM*SOLUTION**] |
| [**Updated Tool**] |
|__________________________________________________|4. Discussion
This case underscores how seemingly small tooling updates can yield significant operational benefits. CUST-A’s experience highlights common organizational pitfalls: delaying upgrades for larger transformation efforts, underestimating cumulative inefficiencies, and overlooking the compounding risks of outdated tools. By implementing even incremental changes, organizations can gain immediate performance, security, and maintainability benefits.
5. Conclusion
Regular tooling updates are not optional—they are a strategic necessity. As demonstrated in the CUST-A case, updating tools reduces technical debt, improves deployment efficiency, and aligns platforms with future transformation goals. Organizations that adopt a proactive update strategy not only safeguard their platforms but also enhance their ability to respond to evolving business demands.
Writer’s Overview
Taweh Ruhle – Co-Founder & Head of DevSecOps & Cloud, Midships
Taweh leads Midships’ DevSecOps and Cloud services, with nearly two decades of experience delivering secure, automated solutions for enterprise environments. He’s the creator of Midships’ ForgeRock Accelerator and a pioneer in CI/CD architecture.
Short bio: Taweh is a cloud security expert and delivery architect, known for designing and implementing complex DevOps ecosystems across regulated industries.
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