Break Fix Model
The Break Fix Model is an IT support and maintenance approach where services are provided reactively, addressing issues only after they occur or 'break', rather than proactively preventing them. It typically involves a pay-per-incident or time-and-materials billing structure, with no ongoing maintenance contracts. This model is common in traditional IT support, where clients call for help when something fails, and technicians respond to fix the specific problem.
Developers and IT professionals should understand this model when working in or with support teams, as it contrasts with proactive approaches like managed services or DevOps. It's suitable for small-scale or budget-constrained environments where predictable costs are prioritized over uptime, or for non-critical systems where occasional downtime is acceptable. However, it's often considered outdated for modern, high-availability applications due to its reactive nature and potential for higher long-term costs from repeated failures.