Maintenance · · 2 min read
Website maintenance: what it includes and why it isn't optional
A website isn't finished the day it goes live. Here's what I do in a maintenance plan and what happens when nobody does it.
Launching a website is the beginning, not the end. Like a car, it needs servicing to keep running well and safely.
What good maintenance includes
Updates
The software your site runs on (the content management system, plugins, libraries) gets constant updates, many of them security fixes. I apply them in a controlled way and check that nothing breaks.
Backups
Automatic, regular backups stored away from the server itself and, most importantly, checking from time to time that they can actually be restored.
Security
Reviewing access, passwords, SSL certificates and alerts about suspicious activity.
Performance
Keeping an eye on load speed and optimising images and resources when the site starts getting heavy.
Small changes
Updating copy, prices or photos, or adding a new section, without having to commission a project every time.
Monitoring
An automatic alert if the site stops responding, so I find out before your customers do.
What happens when it isn't done
- The site stays on old versions with known security flaws.
- One day it stops working after a server update and nobody knows why.
- Content gets lost and there's no recent backup.
- It gets slower and slower.
Maintaining is cheaper than repairing
Fixing a hacked site or recovering one that's down usually costs a lot more than keeping it up to date. That's why I offer maintenance as an ongoing service, with fixed monthly tasks and time set aside for your changes.