100s of successful solutions delivered
Web application maintenance and support
Whether we developed the software or are taking over for another company, web application maintenance services by Custom Software Lab are a cost-effective way to implement upgrades and improvements to your critical business platform. Long-term web application maintenance and management is just as important as building a web application.
Since 2002, Custom Software Lab has built an impressive history of maintaining and supporting over 800 web applications. Our highly trained and skilled web application development team works on legacy technologies and keeps abreast of the latest programming languages.
As your business grows or your customers’ needs change, your software must also adapt and grow with it. We help maintain and upgrade web systems like custom web applications built using cloud or legacy technologies, Dot net nuke sites (DNN), Microsoft Access-based systems, Filemaker-based desktop software, Delphi-based desktop software, Ecommerce stores on Shopify / Woocommerce / Magento, PCL integrated systems and any other type of B2B or B2C cloud-based software.
We offer a wide variety of maintenance and support packages to our clients. Each support package includes a set number of man-hours per month with an enterprise-grade SLA. All support packages include preventive maintenance tasks as well as time set aside for new upgrades.
The various components of an effective software maintenance plan include:
Proactive maintenance
Proactive maintenance involves identifying and addressing potential issues before they become significant problems. This includes monitoring software and hardware components, analyzing trends and patterns in system performance, and implementing preventive measures to avoid potential failures. By being proactive, businesses can reduce the risk of unexpected downtime and improve overall system stability.
Reactive maintenance
Reactive maintenance is the process of addressing issues that have already occurred. This includes troubleshooting and resolving software bugs, hardware failures, and other system issues. Reactive maintenance is often unavoidable, but by implementing a comprehensive proactive maintenance plan, businesses can minimize the frequency and severity of reactive maintenance tasks.
Scheduled maintenance
Scheduled maintenance involves performing routine tasks that help maintain the overall health and performance of the system. This includes tasks such as software updates, hardware upgrades, and system optimizations. By scheduling these tasks, businesses can ensure that their systems remain up-to-date and perform at their peak.
Security maintenance
Security maintenance is crucial for protecting sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of the system. This includes regularly updating security software, monitoring for potential threats, and implementing security best practices. By staying vigilant and proactive, businesses can reduce the risk of security breaches and protect their valuable assets.
Continuous improvement
An effective software maintenance plan should be iterative and continuously evolve to meet the changing needs of the business. This includes regularly reviewing and updating the maintenance plan, incorporating feedback from users and maintenance teams, and implementing new tools and techniques to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Training and support
As software systems evolve, it’s essential to provide ongoing training and support for both end-users and maintenance teams. This includes training on new features and functionality, as well as refresher courses on existing system components. By investing in ongoing training and support, businesses can ensure that their teams have the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively maintain the system.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
An essential aspect of any software maintenance plan is preparing for the unexpected. This includes developing and implementing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that outlines how the system will be restored in the event of a catastrophic failure. Additionally, businesses should have a business continuity plan in place to ensure that critical operations can continue in the event of a system failure or other disruptive event.
Documentation & knowledge management
A key component of an effective software maintenance plan is maintaining accurate and up-to-date documentation. This includes system architecture diagrams, source code documentation, and user manuals. By keeping these resources current, businesses can ensure that their teams have the information they need to effectively maintain and troubleshoot the system. Additionally, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration can help teams quickly identify and address issues.
Vendor and Third-Party Management
Many software systems rely on third-party components or services to function. It’s essential to establish and maintain strong relationships with these vendors to ensure that any issues are addressed promptly and effectively. This includes regular communication, timely escalation of issues, and ongoing collaboration to improve system performance and stability.
Regardless of the software system you use, system management will be required. Software system management encompasses various tasks, including debugging, compliance with local laws, adherence to browser and mobile app standards from Apple or Google, and addressing any other needs as they emerge.
Some software developers neglect to plan for maintenance, relegating it to a low-priority activity that is only executed when something breaks. The amount and type of maintenance required will depend on the type of software used and its age.
CSL manages over 2000 applications as a software maintenance company. We take on projects that have been executed by other agencies and happily manage debugging upgrades, and regular health audits.
Our dedicated software management teams work on legacy systems built decades ago as well as new Cloud-based systems built with the latest technologies. Our priority is always to ensure systems run stable, bug-free and continue to offer unhindered value to your business.
Software Maintenance for On-premise Systems
API-driven mobile apps require check-ups when APIs change, as well as when new versions of the OS or screen size have been released. Apple and Google often release requirements for security, privacy, and deprecated functions that might be used in your app. These changes can break app functions, cause usability issues, or result in app suspension due to non-compliance with new policies. A full regression check once a month for all active apps is crucial.
Our monthly audit for API-driven mobile apps includes the following:
- Review of API usage logs to identify spikes and performance statistics
- Review of app crash logs and identification of bugs
- Checks on user reviews to identify recurring issues
- Analysis of screen loads to find popular screens and optimization opportunities
- UI checks on the latest phones and frameworks, identifying problems and converting them into tickets
The audit results in tickets for bug fixes, software upgrades, and performance improvements. These tasks are scheduled and executed, followed by app deployment on app stores.
Software Maintenance for Cloud Systems
Cloud systems are generally easier to manage, depending on the application’s nature and hosting methodology. Systems hosted on virtual machines (VMs) require the same management strategy as on-premises software, except for the hardware component, which is handled by the host. Platform as a Service (PaaS) architecture eliminates the need for OS and VM management. These systems rarely fail and can be upgraded seamlessly. However, regression testing remains essential after each upgrade to ensure nothing breaks.
Our monthly audit for cloud systems includes the following:
- Review of security logs to scan for vulnerabilities
- Review of billing identifying optimization opportunities
- Review of CPU and Disk utilization
- Review of slow query logs to check on database performance
- Review of HTTP 500 errors to find code problems
- Review of page loading times to identify server-side scripting performance issues
- Analysis of user and page view growth to anticipate infrastructure upgrades
- Review server and database backups by conducting two annual disaster recovery tests
- Provide recommendations based on the Audit
The audit results in tickets for bug fixes, software upgrades, and performance improvements. These tasks are scheduled and executed promptly.
Software Maintenance for Self-Contained Mobile Apps
Mobile apps that are self-contained in the phone usually require a check-up only when a new version of the OS or screen size has been released. Apple and Google often release requirements for security, privacy, and deprecated functions that might be used in your app. These changes can break app functions, cause usability issues, or result in app suspension due to non-compliance with new policies. A full regression check once a month for all active apps is crucial.
Our monthly audit for self-contained mobile apps includes the following:
- Review of app crash logs and identification of bugs
- Checks on user reviews to identify recurring issues
- Analysis of screen loads to find popular screens and optimization opportunities
- UI checks on the latest phones and frameworks, identifying problems and converting them into tickets
The audit results in tickets for bug fixes, software upgrades, and performance improvements. These tasks are scheduled and executed, followed by app deployment on app stores.
Software Maintenance for API-Driven Mobile Apps
API-driven mobile apps require check-ups when APIs change, as well as when new versions of the OS or screen size have been released. Apple and Google often release requirements for security, privacy, and deprecated functions that might be used in your app. These changes can break app functions, cause usability issues, or result in app suspension due to non-compliance with new policies. A full regression check once a month for all active apps is crucial.
Our monthly audit for API-driven mobile apps includes the following:
- Review of API usage logs to identify spikes and performance statistics
- Review of app crash logs and identification of bugs
- Checks on user reviews to identify recurring issues
- Analysis of screen loads to find popular screens and optimization opportunities
- UI checks on the latest phones and frameworks, identifying problems and converting them into tickets
The audit results in tickets for bug fixes, software upgrades, and performance improvements. These tasks are scheduled and executed, followed by app deployment on app stores.
We Uphold Complete Confidentiality During an Audit
We understand that granting us access to your production servers is a significant decision. Your vital applications must never be compromised or put at risk. As a part of each of our IIS server audit engagements, we provide a written agreement addressing various aspects. This agreement aims to define the scope of our involvement with your IT and legal departments.
During the audit and diagnostic stage, we will not alter your system, configuration, data, or source code in any way. Therefore, no dysfunction can be attributed to us during this phase, and your application will continue functioning in its original state.
We pledge to maintain strict confidentiality and absolute security regarding all information we access, including your source code, infrastructure, software, system configuration, business data, and access codes shared with us.
We ensure full transparency towards you concerning the service providers involved. We forbid ourselves from outsourcing any part of our services to a third party unless explicitly agreed upon with you, specifically addressing the relevant aspects of the work.
Recognizing the importance of your infrastructure and data to your business, we formally commit to:
- Download only necessary files and refrain from retaining any copies beyond the agreed-upon date—either the delivery date of our recommendations or the closing date of our corrective action application.
- Limit server access to a single team member, whose identification will be shared with you, and ensure work is performed under normal conditions without the influence of any psychoactive substances.
- Store downloaded data and access codes on a single, password-protected workstation in our office, running a non-Windows operating system (Linux or MacOS). This workstation will be secured with licensed, up-to-date antivirus software and a bi-directional firewall configured in “paranoid” mode, accessible only to the team member responsible for auditing your server. We assure you that external access to this workstation is impossible.
- Access your data, servers, and tools solely from a private internet connection, the details and IP address of which will be shared with you prior to the commencement of our audit mission.
- Never access your data, servers, and tools from an unsecured connection (public Wi-Fi, hotspot, etc.) other than the aforementioned private connection.
- Under no circumstances transfer or disclose, with or without remuneration, any part of the data, access codes, specific features, or configurations of your system to a third party, regardless of the circumstances.
- Permanently refrain from using any part of your application’s source code for any of our current or future projects, for our services, or for any of our other clients, irrespective of our legal structure at the time.
Consequently, the only benefits we permit ourselves to derive from our work with you are:
- The receipt of financial compensation agreed upon in our estimates/quotes.
- The enhancement of our technical expertise, which will never be used to identify your organization.
As a professional auditing firm, we prioritize building trust and fostering a strong working relationship with our clients. By adhering to the principles outlined above, we ensure that our clients’ sensitive data and infrastructure remain secure, confidential, and uncompromised throughout the auditing process.
Our commitment to transparency, integrity, and expertise allows us to provide top-notch auditing services while continually improving our technical knowledge. As a result, we are well-equipped to help our clients identify and address potential vulnerabilities and areas for improvement in their systems.
Our primary objectives are to safeguard your sensitive information, uphold the highest standards of professionalism, and deliver valuable insights that contribute to the overall success and security of your organization. By choosing our services, you can rest assured that your critical systems are in capable and trustworthy hands.
Why choose Custom Software Lab
Custom software lab has been building software solutions since 2000. We have a proven ability to deliver high-quality web, mobile, and cloud software.
Operational excellence
We have experience in integrating with pretty much every popular CRM, ERP and Book keeping solution there is, our industry experience in ecommerce, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing and IT is unmatched. The ability of our engineers to quickly use pre-built modules from our code library to deliver a cost effective solution for the customers business needs is what makes us a leader in the custom software industry.
360° approach
From the conception of an idea to the deployment of your software, Custom Software Lab offers a 360-degree approach to software development. Our comprehensive software development services begin with a round of in-depth discussions that gives us the clarity to understand your needs fully. By doing this, we establish an in-depth knowledge of your business to ensure your software is geared towards achieving your business goals. We then deliver a software solution that clearly meets all objectives.
Client-centricity
We’ve helped hundreds of clients, including corporations, private businesses, and individuals – from healthcare providers to restaurants to entertainers. We work with you through every phase of software creation, from the beginning with the planning phase to ending with implementation. Each and every step of the process is client-focused and designed to provide you, the client, a strong competitive edge while addressing issues like the overhead costs of day-to-day business operations and IT resourcing challenges.
Domain expertise
Our consulting team has in-depth knowledge of most industries, what the trends are, how the industry is shaping up and what things will impact your specific industry. With extensive domain expertise and years of experience with different technologies, we deliver successful results that are proportionate with all of your specified requirements, while staying within budget and time limits. We offer a full range of custom software solutions for a wide variety of business domains.
Time-to-market
With a library of 100s of pre-built modules, Custom Software Lab offers high-quality software development services that can be delivered quickly & cost effectiely. Our proven QC processes and strong DevOps infrastructure aid in faster time to market.
A-class team
We’ve set ourselves apart from the competition by delivering successful solutions to our clients. We are a team that prides itself on collaboration and teamwork. Throughout our years in operation, we have assembled a strong mixture of motivated, loyal, and highly skilled development professionals.