What is Website Maintenance?
Website Maintenance
Generically speaking, website maintenance covers all tasks that ensure that the website code and user accounts are all checked over to ensure that the website is the most up-to-date that it can be.
This is especially important websites which are open-source or based on well known systems, as many people have or have had access to information that could help them break into the website, or otherwise cause it harm.
Neglecting maintenance is a significant security risk.
Is there Specific Maintenance for WordPress?
WordPress Website Maintenance
WordPress websites are made up of a variety of components all working together to provide the website readers their website experience. These components not only include the core WordPress code itself, but also themes and smaller, role specific programs called plugins. These pieces of code are constantly evolving just like regular phone apps or desktop software – as they improve them or fix bugs.
Like cars, websites require maintenance and servicing to keep them running. Without maintenance, websites can become a security risk as vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited. You may think that this is linked to simple data extraction, but that’s often a side issue. Most of the time bad actors are looking for a foothold to use a hosting account as a way to spread malware, viruses, phishing emails and identity fraud. Nobody wants their domain name mixed up in that.
Unlike cars, WordPress sites require much more frequent review to ensure that available updates are properly installed and configured.
What does this Maintenance Include?
Software (code) updates
As described above, websites are made up of various pieces of code working together - and as you might expect from this service - we update them for you. But what you might not see are the platforms which are serving the website to the world. Updates to these systems are also released regularly, are often overlooked, and some of them need to be handled manually.
Malware detection, security scans, file audits and web application firewall service
Just like your computer, websites need protection from malicious bots, software and 3rd parties. We help to protect your web hosting by deploying an array of security services to defend and monitor your site. Helping us to act to protect you and your website users.
Theme and plugin license management
Websites build with commercial themes and plugins require a license to keep them up-to-date. We’ll make sure the licenses are renewed and kept up to date.
(The cost of the licenses will be on billed and is not included in the core WordPress maintenance service.)
Our hosting platform
When you're hosted with us, maintenance also means we also manage the hosting platform that houses your website. Meaning that things like backups, PHP version upgrades, DV SSL certificates and so forth are handled for you.
What is not included in the maintenance?
Design changes, content updates and fixing major issues which have arisen during updates. For example, issues caused by plugins conflicting after an update, or between the WordPress core, and plugins or themes.
Any issues that do surface while doing maintenance will be briefly investigated to see if they can be resolved simply. Failing that, the website will be rolled back till before the updates. Then one of our staff will contact you to work out a plan of attack.
