IT operations best practice: Is system maintenance necessary once software has been deployed and is running correctly?

Introduction / Context:
Even high-quality systems require ongoing maintenance to address evolving requirements, security updates, hardware changes, and defect fixes. This question targets the principle that maintenance is integral to the software lifecycle, not an optional afterthought.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Production systems operate in changing environments.
• Threat landscapes and dependencies evolve.
• User needs and regulatory requirements change over time.

Concept / Approach:
Maintenance includes corrective (bug fixes), adaptive (environment changes), perfective (performance/usability), and preventive (refactoring, security hardening) actions. Regardless of initial quality, systems accumulate technical debt and face external changes that mandate maintenance.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Industry standards (e.g., ITIL, ISO/IEC 14764) define maintenance as a core phase of the software life cycle.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Not necessary / not required if well written: ignores environmental change and security. Always requires several programs: tool count varies; not a defining truth.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming “works now” means “will work forever”; neglecting patch management and monitoring.

Final Answer:
is necessary on all systems, regardless of how good