So your brand new WordPress website has been handed over to you. What are the key things you need to do regularly to ensure that your site remains safe?
Safe means not hacked and still live on the internet.
The basis of the website is the files that make up the core WordPress code. These files are changed regularly by WordPress and it is important your site has the most up to date WordPress version.
To see if an update is required go to the backend (wp-admin) section of your WP site > Dashboard > Updates and it will show what version is installed and if it requires an update.
Sitting between the pages, posts, plugins and the WP core code is the theme has has been used to set the overall look of your site. These theme files also need to be kept up to date.
To see if an update is required go to the backend (wp-admin) section of your WP site > Dashboard > Updates and it will show a notification if any of the installed themes require an update.
The plugins add functionality to your site. The less plugins you have the more secure and fast your site will be. Plugins are pieces of code that also get updated from time to time. If the plugins tab on the far right menu has a number circled beside it then please click on the tab and update one at a time.
Even when not making any changes to your site it must be updated regularly, at least weekly.
When any changes are being made make a manual update before and after they are done.
I use and recommend Updaft Plus (free version).
All sites created by DOS have this plugin installed and set to update the full site daily.
Other tasks (Monthly)
- Check site speed
- Check for any broken links to pages or media content
- Check SEO status
- Test any forms
- Download latest backup files to your computer
- Check Smush plugin is still optimising images
- Check notifications on Word Fence > Dashboard
- Login to your hosting account and perform backup on their system.
