WordPress - a popular system and a frequent target of attacks
According to W3 Techs reports, WordPress powers over 40% of websites worldwide, making this popular system an attractive target for hackers. New security vulnerabilities are discovered daily, both in the WordPress core and in widely used plugins and themes. Updates help eliminate these threats by closing potential entry points for cybercriminals.
Outdated software poses a significant risk. Many attacks exploit known vulnerabilities that have long been patched, but users who delay updates remain susceptible. If you want to prevent your site from being hijacked, infected with malware, or suffering a data breach, you must ensure regular updates.
New features and improved performance
Each new version of WordPress not only introduces security fixes but also brings new features and performance optimizations. With updates, your website can run faster, more stably, and provide a better user experience.
The same applies to plugins and themes. Their developers continuously improve them by adding new options and enhancing performance. By keeping them up to date, you avoid situations where outdated code slows down your site or causes conflicts with other system components.
What should be updated?
WordPress – the core system
Major WordPress releases often introduce significant changes that affect the entire website’s functionality. Each update includes bug fixes, performance optimizations, and user interface improvements. Skipping multiple versions may result in your site becoming outdated and incompatible with new plugins and themes.
Plugins and themes
Outdated plugins are one of the most common causes of WordPress website breaches. Therefore, regularly checking for and installing updates is essential. Keep in mind that plugins and themes from inactive developers, which no longer receive updates, should be replaced with modern alternatives.
Backups – the foundation of security
Before performing any updates, it’s crucial to create a full backup of your website. This way, if something goes wrong, you can quickly restore the previous version. Regular backups are not only a safeguard against update failures but also against server crashes and cyberattacks.
How to avoid issues with updates?
Should every update be installed immediately? Most updates should be applied as soon as possible, especially those containing security fixes. However, for major releases (e.g., upgrading from WordPress core 5.9 to 6.0), it’s advisable to first test the update on a staging site before deploying it to a live website. A good practice is to create a backup before performing any updates. You never know when something might go wrong, and a backup stored in an independent location will make data recovery much easier.
Another important aspect is automatic updates. WordPress has long offered the ability to automatically install updates, which may seem like a very convenient solution. And indeed, for small, “standard” websites, automatic updates work perfectly. However, the problem arises with advanced business websites, online stores, or web applications that use custom solutions. I can’t even count how many times I forgot to disable automatic updates, only to find the next day that a site I was working on had stopped loading its stylesheet or a custom-built plugin had broken.
That’s why I believe that it’s better to manually control this process or entrust it to professionals. An automatic update can introduce unexpected issues that affect website functionality and lead to unpleasant surprises.
SLA - why is it worth considering?
Service Level Agreement (SLA) is a service contract that defines the level of technical support and the scope of activities related to maintaining a website, online store, or application. In the context of WordPress, this can include regular updates, monitoring, and rapid response to issues. Entrusting these tasks to specialists ensures the continuous operation of the service and helps avoid security or compatibility problems.
A standard SLA for WordPress-based websites, such as those offered by EZ Page, may include the following elements and frequencies:
WordPress update
Once a month
Plugin updates
Once a month
Backup
Once a month
Support requests
Via e-mail
Bug fixes
Within 72 hours
Developer hours
1 hour per month
In summary, regular WordPress updates are key to ensuring the security and stability of your website, store, or application. You can handle this yourself or opt for an SLA service agreement, which not only provides ongoing updates but also ensures quick bug fixes and technical support. Entrusting this task to specialists allows you to focus on growing your business instead of dealing with the technical aspects of website maintenance.
