Expert knowledge for digital decisions

What Happens If the Service Provider Fails?

Short answer

It entirely depends on what you arranged beforehand. With repository access, your own credentials, and operational documentation, a transition is inconvenient but feasible. Without these three things, your system will be at a standstill until someone reverse-engineers it – which takes weeks and costs a multiple.

The Three Deciding Factors

1. Do You Have Access to the Code?

Repository access with read rights from the very beginning. Without it, every takeover starts with a search.

2. Do You Own the Access?

Domain, hosting account, certificates, service accounts – registered to your company. Otherwise, you cannot access your own system.

3. Is There Operational Documentation?

How is it delivered, what dependencies exist, what does a backup look like? Without it, a new service provider must reverse-engineer the system.

What Helps Additionally

Regular Data Exports, readable without the application
Common Technologies – any qualified service provider can take over
More Than One Person knows the system, on both sides
A Deposit of the Source Code for larger projects

How to Check It Today

A simple test: Could another service provider set up and further develop the system with what you currently have in hand?

If you cannot answer this question with a Yes, something is missing – and that is independent of how well the collaboration is currently going.

To Be Honest

Asking these questions is not distrust but diligence. A service provider who perceives them as an attack is already answering them.

Key facts

Three Requirements: Code access, own credentials, operational documentation
Self-Test: Could someone else take over with this today?