With over 43% of the web powered by WordPress, it’s no surprise that the platform is a primary target for hackers. Each year, WordPress releases several updates designed to enhance both the functionality and security of the platform. Failing to update your WordPress site regularly can expose it to security vulnerabilities, increase the risk of plugin incompatibilities, and affect your overall website performance.
“Upgrading is like taking vitamins; fixing a hack is open-heart surgery“
- Matt Mullenweg, Co-Founder of WordPress
This analogy highlights that prevention (regular updates) is far more cost-effective than dealing with the aftermath of a hack.
Why You Should Update WordPress Regularly
Security Vulnerabilities
One of the primary reasons for updating WordPress is to patch security vulnerabilities. Hackers often exploit known issues in older versions of WordPress, plugins, and themes. According to Sucuri’s annual security report, the majority of compromised WordPress sites in 2022 were running outdated versions of the platform or had outdated plugins and themes, leaving them vulnerable to attacks like SQL injections or cross-site scripting (XSS).
Plugin & Theme Updates
WordPress updates don’t just improve security; they also ensure compatibility with your site’s plugins and themes. When the platform releases a new version, plugin developers typically follow suit by updating their products. Running outdated plugins or themes can cause conflicts, leading to broken features or even crashes.
If your site “breaks,” this can lead to downtime, a loss in search engine rankings, and a decline in user traffic which can directly impact your business revenue.
Automatic WordPress Updates: Pros and Cons
While WordPress introduced automatic updates for minor releases back in 2013, there are pros and cons to this approach:
Pros:
- Reduced Manual Effort: Automatic updates ensure your site is always running the latest security patches without requiring manual intervention.
- Instant Security: Since security vulnerabilities can be exploited quickly, automatic updates ensure that you are always protected with the latest fixes.
Cons:
- Plugin Incompatibility: Not all third-party plugins are immediately compatible with new WordPress updates. Automatically applying updates can cause conflicts with your existing setup, which may result in broken functionality or, worse, downtime.
- No Customization: Automatic updates apply all changes indiscriminately, even those that may not be relevant to your site, potentially altering your site’s design or core features without your consent.
Effect’s Managed WordPress Update Service
At Effect Web Agency, we recommend opting out of automatic updates for major WordPress releases. Instead, we offer a managed WordPress update service that ensures your website is updated and tested for compatibility, minimizing the risk of unexpected issues.
How it Works:
- Notification: We notify you when a major WordPress release is available.
- Testing: We create a staging site (a duplicate of your live site) and apply the update there first. This allows us to test your website, plugins, and themes for compatibility.
- Fixes: If necessary, we update any plugins or custom code to ensure everything works smoothly.
- Deployment: Once we confirm that everything is functioning correctly on the staging site, we apply the update to your live website.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Post-update, we monitor your site’s performance to ensure there are no hidden issues.
Common Questions:
How Often Does WordPress Release Major Updates?
WordPress typically releases 2-3 major updates per year, though the frequency can vary depending on new feature rollouts and security needs.
What About Minor Updates?
WordPress also releases 5-8 minor updates annually, primarily focused on security and bug fixes. We allow minor updates to be automatically applied, as they are lower-risk and unlikely to cause issues.
What Happens if I Skip the Managed Service?
Skipping managed updates can lead to unexpected site downtime if an automatic update causes a plugin conflict or breaks a feature. Without human oversight, you might not notice the issue until it affects user experience or traffic. By that time, the fix may be more complicated and costly.
The Cost of Updates
Each managed update generally takes 1 to 3 hours, depending on the complexity of your website. If additional updates, such as plugin or custom code modifications, are required, it may take more time.
However, the cost of maintaining a smoothly functioning, secure website is far less than the potential damage caused by a security breach or loss of site functionality.
Why Regular Updates Are Vital for SEO
Keeping WordPress updated is not only essential for security but also for maintaining your search engine ranking. Google penalizes websites with poor user experiences, including slow loading times or broken features—both of which can be caused by outdated software.
By ensuring your website is always up-to-date, you minimize the risk of downtime and page errors, which can negatively impact your SEO efforts.
Let Us Handle It for You
A well-maintained WordPress website is the cornerstone of your digital presence. By choosing Effect Web Agency’s Managed WordPress Update Service, you can ensure your site stays secure, optimized, and performing at its best—all without the hassle of dealing with unexpected updates or issues.
Ready to safeguard your website? Contact Effect Web Agency today to learn more about our hosting and maintenance packages tailored to keep your WordPress site running smoothly.
