After a system like a website or server is initially set up, ongoing operation and maintenance become necessary.
In everyday business conversations or contracts, these two are sometimes grouped together as “operation and maintenance.” However, their actual scope of work and responsibilities are different.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look and explain the differences between system operation and system maintenance.
Table of Contents
When managing a website built with WordPress or the server it runs on, it’s important to understand the difference between system operation and system maintenance.
| Item | System Operation | System Maintenance |
| Purpose | Improve and optimize the system | Keep the system stable and secure |
| Main Tasks | Enhance performance Improve operation workflows Improve usability |
Fix issues and bugs Implement security measures Perform regular backups |
| Outcome | Increased efficiency and usability | Stable operation and prevention of problems |
| Frequency | Regular or as needed for improvements | Daily and as needed during incidents |
System operation is not just about keeping a system running—it’s about continuously improving it to perform better.
The role of operation is to monitor the system’s daily performance, identify issues, and make improvements to make the system more effective.
Key tasks in system operation include:
System maintenance focuses on keeping a system stable and secure.
Its main role is to prevent unexpected issues, such as system failures or downtime, ensuring smooth and reliable operation.
Key tasks in system maintenance include:
For IT service providers offering “system operation and maintenance contracts” to clients, these two services are sometimes bundled together.
However, since the tasks and responsibilities differ, it’s important to clearly define what falls under operation and what falls under maintenance.
For example, if the contract scope is unclear, it can easily lead to misunderstandings about the work to be performed or the associated costs, potentially causing disputes.
By clarifying the contract details with the client in advance, service providers can prevent misunderstandings regarding scope and fees, ensuring smoother cooperation.
| Item | Overview |
| System Operation | ・Regularly update website or system data ・Analyze access logs and usage to propose improvements ・Optimize operation workflows based on user inquiries ・Suggest improvements for usability and functionality, and provide implementation support |
| System Maintenance | ・Fix system or software vulnerabilities (e.g., WordPress core files, theme files, plugins) ・Apply patches to OS, middleware, and libraries ・Investigate and recover from system failures ・Perform regular backups and verify restoration |
Both system operation and system maintenance are essential for keeping websites and servers running safely and reliably.
However, if tasks with different purposes and scopes are lumped together, it can lead to misunderstandings in contracts or misaligned expectations.
Before signing a system contract, it’s important to clarify the scope of work, responsibilities, and cost structure to ensure long-term, stable operation of the system.
For website creation, server construction/operation
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