Lifecycle duration reality: Assess the statement: "The longest step of database development is database maintenance."

Introduction / Context:
Software and database systems spend the majority of their lifecycle in operation and maintenance, not initial build. Maintenance encompasses monitoring, optimization, patching, backup/restore validation, capacity planning, and enhancements. This question checks awareness of lifecycle economics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Deployment is followed by months or years of operation.
• Change is continuous (new features, schema evolution, workload shifts).
• Reliability and performance work persists throughout the lifespan.

Concept / Approach:
The cost and time distribution of database development skews towards the post-deployment phase. Even well-architected systems require ongoing tuning (indexes/statistics), security maintenance, data lifecycle management (archival/purge), and compliance tasks, which cumulatively exceed initial development effort.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Review budget allocations and time tracking across project phases; operations typically represent the largest share.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Limiting the statement to cloud, mission-critical, or poor design is unnecessary; even good on-prem systems require significant maintenance.

Common Pitfalls:
Underfunding operations; neglecting observability; failing to automate maintenance; ignoring data lifecycle policies.

Final Answer:
Correct