There is a common misconception that once your CMS website has been built, you don’t need to do anything more to it other than add content. This may be true if you have purchased a managed hosting account where someone looks after your website, but if you manage the website yourself, you have to maintain the software properly. There are four major reasons why websites must be maintained.
Updates
The only constant thing is change, so as Operating Systems and Virus definitionas get updated, Softwares must also be updated. The Internet is made up of the good, the bad and the ugly. People will attempt to break into your website on an hourly basis and if you fail to secure your website, they will get in. You have to take proactive measures to check and update all software used on your website.
Check
Despite all your attaempts to keep a site perfect some site errors are just inevitable. Broken links, slow page loads, codes or pieces of software that suddenly stop working. All these things can affect the browsing experience for your users. Aside from these, and perhaps even more important, is to check for security loopholes or areas where a website is vulnerable for malicious attacks. This is critical especially if important transactions are being conducted through the website.
Repair and Clean Up
if errors and other defects are found, they must be addressed right away. Installing security patches, new tools and softwares, removing unnecessary programs or even re-writing code maybe needed to keep the website in optimal state.
Back Up
E-commerce and business websites often keep a database of sensitive information. Nobody wants to lose such a valuable asset that’s why having a backup is a must. Websites run on servers and servers are not immune to disk crashes and other faults leaving the webmaster powerless. For this reason proper backups should be performed on a regular basis regardless of maintenance schedule. This is to ensure that when the unwanted happens, a backup will come in handy to save the day.
What is Website Maintenance?
Website maintenance is an activity that aims to keep a website maintained and running as expected. Regular maintenance is critical to the function of a website. Websites, like cars and computers, must be tuned-up and checked for errors to ensure that it will serve its purpose well. Ideally Website Maintenance should be performed on a regular basis.
What Goes On During Website Maintenance Period?
During website maintenance, any one or all of the following may be carried out:
- Check for errors and broken links
- Check for security holes
- Install new tools, plugins and functions
- Update contents
- Update back-end platfom and software patches
- Back up database and content
Because of this, a website may be required to temporarily shut down in order to facilitate these maintenance activities. If this is the case, a webmaster can send notifications to users and readers, put up a “maintenance page” whenever someone views the site, or redirect the visitors to another site or page providing them with limited but important functionalities to ensure that business or transactions will be not halted completely.
Why do websites need to be maintained?
The answer is obvious. A website needs regular website maintenance to function properly amidst update and changes on the internet, malicious attempts and attacks, data server crashes and other online issues.
