What are the best practices for updating your CMS and plugins?

Using a plugin for website backups is convenient and time-saving, featuring automated scheduling and CMS integration. However, solely relying on plugins isn't foolproof. If a plugin malfunctions, restoring your site may be difficult. A more dependable alternative is server-based backups, which provide a comprehensive snapshot of your website's data. Although requiring more technical expertise, server-based backups are a vital safety net, ensuring website security and longevity.

Working with a host provider that performs daily backups is essential. The reason for this is that a CMS may have auto-updates with plugins, meaning a plugin update can occur without your knowledge, potentially causing a conflict and crashing your site. Be sure to check that your site has been automatically updated IF you haven't made any changes to your site that day. If you have added or changed content, perform a manual backup to ensure the latest version of your site is available if you need to restore it for some reason. If you do use a plugin for backups, make sure it does a full database and file backup to a virtual server (i.e., Jetpack VaultPress) and not just your essential files, which may not support a full restore.

Before updating, create a website backup and utilize a staging environment to test updates. Staging environments replicate your live site, allowing you to apply and evaluate updates without affecting the main site. By testing updates in a staging environment and maintaining backups, you can minimize disruptions, ensuring your website remains stable and performs optimally.

When updating in stages, prioritize updates based on their impact on your website's functionality and security. Focus on addressing vulnerabilities, compatibility improvements, and essential feature enhancements first. Sequential updates, coupled with testing on a staging site or local server, will help prevent potential issues while ensuring your website stays secure, functional, and up-to-date.

Your CMS may allow you to select all plugins and update them simultaneously via your dashboard. The issue with this method is if the site crashes upon the update, you will have to manually disable and re-enable each plugin—one by one—via the file manager to determine the culprit. Make sure to update the CMS files first to ensure the latest version is in place before updating the plugins. Then update each individual plugin, refresh your cache, and check the front end of your site to ensure no conflicts are present. Once all core files and plugins have been updated, you should then update your theme files. Rule of thumb—avoid making changes to core CMS files as they may be potentially overwritten during an update, causing your site to crash.

Following cache clearing and functionality testing, examine your website on various devices and browsers to ensure consistent user experience. This step uncovers potential issues arising from updates that could affect specific devices or browsers. By conducting thorough testing, you can address any problems promptly, maintain your website's performance, and ensure a seamless experience for all users.

Beyond the mentioned tools, think about establishing performance monitoring alerts. With automated alerts configured, you'll be notified of substantial performance shifts on your website, allowing for swift action. Closely observing your website following updates helps in detecting and resolving any problems or adverse effects, guaranteeing steady performance and user experience. Monitor performance trends over time to gain insights into the lasting impacts of updates on your site.

Incorporating a change log or update journal can be a valuable addition to tracking updates and feedback. By maintaining a detailed record of applied updates, customizations, and user feedback, you can easily assess the impact of changes on your website's performance and functionality. This systematic approach enables you to identify and address any emerging issues promptly. Additionally, documenting update history facilitates smoother collaboration with team members or developers by providing a clear overview of your website's evolution.