---
type: Hub
title: Application support and maintenance for software you did not build
description: Take over, maintain and support an application that another team built. See what we cover, where we start and what it costs.
resource: https://nationaldigital.com.au/software-support/application-support/
tags:
  - software-support
  - Software support and modernisation
  - Application support
  - Application maintenance
  - software maintenance Australia
  - take over an existing application
  - Laravel support
timestamp: "2026-11-10T12:00:00.000Z"
language: en-AU
publisher: National Digital
author: National Digital engineering team
readingTimeMinutes: 2
wordCount: 269
datePublished: "2026-11-10"
dateModified: "2026-11-10"
pillar: software_support
canonical: https://nationaldigital.com.au/software-support/application-support/
sourceCount: 1
---

*Hub · 1 guide*

# Application support and maintenance for software you did not build

Take over, maintain and support an application that another team built. See what we cover, where we start and what it costs.

**Where this hub sits** · 2 of 22 areas

Areas this page covers

- Cloud, security & support
- Application support

[Open the full map on the homepage](/#systems-map-hero)

**Quick answer:** National Digital takes over, maintains and supports applications that another team built, starting with a fixed-fee Platform Health Check and then a first quarter of fixes.

*Last updated 10 November 2026*

*Quick answer*

## Who can take over and support an application that another team built?

*High confidence · Verified 10 Nov 2026*

National Digital takes over applications it did not build. The work starts with a Platform Health Check that reports on the code, infrastructure, security and documentation, and continues with access handover, documentation and a first quarter of fixes.

**Additional Context:** A system that nobody maintains still holds the data it held on its last day of support, and the Privacy Act applies to that data.

### Sources

- [OAIC – Australian Privacy Principle 11: Security of personal information](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/australian-privacy-principles-guidelines/chapter-11-app-11-security-of-personal-information) — APP 11 requires reasonable steps to protect personal information for as long as it is held, and to destroy or de-identify it once it is no longer needed.

*Application support*

## What this hub covers

Application support covers the work after a system goes live: security patching, framework and dependency upgrades, monitoring, fixes and a response time for a fault. It applies to applications National Digital built and to applications another team built. The guide on the [security risk of an unmaintained application](/software-support/application-support/unmaintained-application-security/) explains why a system with no owner is still a liability.

## Where to start and what it costs

An inherited application starts with the [Platform Health Check](/services/platform-health-check/), which costs $3,950 ([Platform Health Check](/services/platform-health-check/)). Taking the system over after the health check costs $6,600 – $22,880 ([Taking over a system (per month, first quarter)](/services/rate-card/)) a month for the first quarter. Managed hosting and support costs $1,495 ([Managed hosting and support (per month)](/software-support/cloud-engineering/)) a month, and a [Product Support](/services/product-support/) retainer adds engineering hours for fixes and new work. Every price here excludes GST.

Written by National Digital engineering team

*Next steps*

## Two ways to get a number.

### Get a range now

Seven questions, an instant cost range. No email address, no callback.

[Estimate your project](/estimate/)

### Find out what condition it is in

A Platform Health Check is a fixed $3,950 review of the code, infrastructure, security posture and documentation, ending in a written report and one recommendation. The fee is credited in full against a rebuild that proceeds within 90 days.

[See the Platform Health Check](/services/platform-health-check/)

## Talk to us about an application you need supported

Tell us what the application does, where it is hosted and who looks after it today.

## In this hub · every guide

- [The legacy app nobody is maintaining is still holding customer data](/software-support/application-support/unmaintained-application-security/) — 10 min

## Related

**Parent:**

- [Software support and modernisation for Australian businesses](/okf/software-support.md)

**Children:**

- [The legacy app nobody is maintaining is still holding customer data](/okf/software-support/application-support/unmaintained-application-security.md)

# Citations

1. [OAIC – Australian Privacy Principle 11: Security of personal information](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/australian-privacy-principles-guidelines/chapter-11-app-11-security-of-personal-information) — APP 11 requires reasonable steps to protect personal information for as long as it is held, and to destroy or de-identify it once it is no longer needed.