【Security】System Maintenance Is Not a Cost, But a Risk Hedge

“Why pay for system maintenance when everything is running fine?”

Indeed, when there are no system failures or security incidents, continuing to pay monthly or annual maintenance fees may feel like a waste.

However, if you maintain this mindset, you may eventually face a situation that is irreversible.

In this article, we will explain why system maintenance is crucial for a company’s IT systems.

* For more information on the difference between system “operation” and “maintenance,” please refer to the following URL.
https://beyond-shenzhen.cn/en/blog/operation-maintenance

What Happens if System Maintenance Is Neglected

Many companies today rely on websites and e-commerce platforms as the core of their digital business.

Even a single day of system downtime can lead to losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of yen, depending on the business scale.

If maintenance hasn’t been done and external IT support is called in, the company must explain everything from scratch, and there’s no guarantee the issue will be resolved quickly.

Neglecting these hidden risks can therefore have a major impact on a company’s operations and strategy.

System Maintenance: Not a Cost, but Risk Management

System maintenance is not just a fee—it’s an investment in preventing system failures.

It’s about keeping systems running smoothly through daily updates and monitoring, rather than reacting after a problem occurs.

Although it doesn’t generate direct profit, maintaining a trouble-free operation is its greatest value.

If a failure does occur, engineers familiar with the system can respond quickly, minimizing potential losses.

Ensuring Stable System Operation Through Maintenance

To keep a system running smoothly, it is essential not only to perform daily updates and monitoring but also to establish a maintenance framework to handle potential problems.

How this maintenance framework is structured varies from company to company, making the approach to system maintenance a key consideration.

Generally, companies need to consider one of two options: building an internal maintenance team or outsourcing maintenance to an external IT service provider.

① Building an Internal Maintenance Team

When a company builds an internal maintenance team, its engineers manage and update the system directly, allowing immediate response in case of problems.

If the engineers are familiar with the system configuration, even unexpected issues can be handled smoothly, providing a sense of security that only an in-house team can offer.

However, system maintenance is not a one-time task. Maintaining a stable internal maintenance framework requires recruiting skilled engineers, developing their expertise, establishing daily maintenance routines, and performing regular maintenance activities.

Therefore, from a management perspective, companies must also consider human resources and training costs when choosing this approach.

② Outsourcing to an External IT Service Provider

Companies can outsource maintenance to external IT professionals with the expertise to manage and update systems.

If the provider built the system, ongoing maintenance can be handled under a contract, allowing the company to focus on its core business.

For providers not involved in the original build, it’s essential to clarify the contract, support scope, and technical capabilities in advance. Sharing detailed system information ensures faster and more effective maintenance.

Conclusion

System Maintenance Is More Than Just a Cost

System maintenance is not merely a fee—it is an investment to keep systems running smoothly and minimize business risks.

By performing daily system management and updates, and establishing a maintenance framework capable of responding quickly to issues, companies can ensure long-term business continuity and reliability.

For website creation, server construction/operation