The maintenance and further development of security-related IT systems is one of the most demanding tasks in software development. Whether in defense, public administration, or industry—wherever systems perform critical functions—it is not only technical expertise that counts, but above all one thing: responsibility.

When legacy software has to be taken over, companies and public authorities face a sensitive phase. The systems are running productively, often having grown over many years, with heterogeneous technologies, different architectures, and incomplete documentation. Every change, every access, and every new line of code can be security-relevant. This is exactly where the expertise of new direction GmbH comes in.

The Problem

Taking over security-critical existing software is no ordinary IT project. Systems have often been developed and maintained by different service providers – with individual development practices and varying code quality. Added to this are security-related challenges: outdated frameworks, unmaintained open source components, or missing access controls.

The greatest difficulty lies not in the technology itself, but in the transition: knowledge must be transferred, infrastructure understood, and risks precisely assessed. At the same time, operations must not be impaired at any time – a balancing act between technical analysis, process reliability, and trust.

The Solution

The secure takeover and stabilization of such systems is based on three pillars: technical diligence, a structured approach, and sustainable security management.

1. Structured familiarization and documented handover

Every system takeover begins with an in-depth analysis. We create transparency regarding architecture, code quality, and dependencies. Development, test, and production environments are systematically set up, permissions are checked, and knowledge transfer is fully documented. The goal is to provide a clear overview before responsibility is officially transferred—without any operational risks.

2. Thorough security and code analysis

This is followed by a complete review of the source code, infrastructure, and frameworks used. Special attention is paid to security aspects: outdated libraries, known CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), access restrictions, and encryption mechanisms. Open-source components are also reviewed – not only for security, but also for license compliance and long-term maintainability.

3. Sustainable support and controlled further development

After the takeover, the real work begins: maintenance, third-level support, and continuous improvement. Changes are documented, tested, and approved in a traceable manner—always with an eye toward stability and integrity. We see ourselves not only as a technical service provider, but also as a partner who bears responsibility for availability, security, and trust.

Added value

A professional takeover of security-critical systems not only ensures ongoing operations, but also creates the basis for future modernization. Clear processes, complete documentation, and consistent security management create a reliable foundation on which organizations can strategically build.

Experience shows that those who take over existing systems in the defense or government environment assume responsibility—for technology, people, and security alike. This is precisely what new direction GmbH strives to achieve: understanding systems, minimizing risks, and maintaining trust.