WordPress has released five updates in under three months — including two updates within the space of just five days in September.
Most website owners will never know these updates have happened. However, behind the scenes, they are an important part of keeping a WordPress website secure and working properly.
Why does WordPress release so many updates?
Like the software on your phone or computer, WordPress is continually being improved.
Some updates add new features. Others correct bugs, improve performance or make WordPress compatible with newer technology.
Most importantly, some releases fix newly discovered security vulnerabilities.
For example, one recent WordPress release addressed critical and high-severity security issues, while another included 11 separate security fixes. In both cases, WordPress recommended that websites should be updated immediately.
That doesn’t mean WordPress is unsafe. In fact, regular updates show that the WordPress community is actively identifying and fixing potential problems.
The risk comes when website owners don’t install those updates.
What can happen if a website isn’t updated?
An outdated website becomes increasingly vulnerable over time.
Hackers often use automated tools to search the internet for websites running older versions of WordPress, themes or plugins with known vulnerabilities. They don’t need to target a particular business personally — they simply look for a way in.
An unmaintained website can be at greater risk of:
- hacking and malware
- spam pages or unwanted redirects
- broken forms and missing enquiries
- compatibility problems
- slow performance
- parts of the website no longer working
- the website going offline completely
Once a website has fallen significantly behind, bringing it up to date may not be straightforward. Themes, plugins, WordPress and the website’s PHP version can all become incompatible with one another.
At that stage, repairing the website can be much more expensive than maintaining it properly in the first place.
Isn’t it just a case of clicking “Update”?
Sometimes it is — but not always.
A WordPress website is made up of several connected parts:
- WordPress itself
- the website’s theme
- plugins
- the PHP version
- the hosting environment
An update to one part can occasionally cause a conflict somewhere else. A plugin may not yet be compatible with the newest WordPress version, or an older theme may stop working correctly with a newer version of PHP.
That is why good website maintenance also includes regular backups, compatibility checks and monitoring.
Automatic updates are useful, but they don’t check whether the website still looks right, whether its forms are working or whether an update has caused an unexpected problem.
What I look after for my clients
My Hosting and Maintenance service isn’t simply space on a server.
I monitor WordPress releases and make sure essential updates are carried out. I also keep themes and plugins updated, maintain backups and regularly check the health of the websites I host.
Most of this work happens quietly in the background — and that’s exactly the point.
My clients can concentrate on running their businesses without having to monitor WordPress security announcements or work out which updates their websites need.
Maintenance is an investment, not an extra
Your website is an important part of your business. It may generate enquiries, take bookings, sell products or provide essential information to your customers.
Leaving it unmaintained is a little like never servicing your car and simply hoping it continues to run.
Regular maintenance helps to protect the investment you have already made in your website. It reduces the risk of security problems, unexpected breakdowns and expensive repairs further down the line.
If your website is hosted and maintained by JR Digital Design, you can be reassured that I’m keeping an eye on these updates and looking after your website behind the scenes.
You can find out more about what’s included in my WordPress Hosting and Maintenance service.
If you have a WordPress website that hasn’t been updated or checked for some time, please get in touch. I can carry out a Website Health Check and let you know what needs attention.