All owners of websites (websites and online stores) are probably aware of the impact of changes on the visits to your site, and consequently on the number of purchases, orders, and inquiries.
Some changes on the website can be managed directly in the site's administration, while others may require more technical knowledge and experience.
Regular maintenance of all physical stores and business spaces is just as necessary for the satisfaction of our customers and business partners as regular maintenance of websites. Some tasks can be done independently, while others require professional help and support from companies specializing in such tasks.
It's important to know and consider that a well-maintained website, frequently updated, is better ranked in search engines and more successful in gaining new contacts, orders, inquiries, etc. It's also less likely to be targeted by hacking attempts, outages, and other issues that affect its operation. Web technologies often change, and by using new technologies, we can improve our site. The PHP version is a good example: newer versions (8.x) are faster and more secure, while older ones no longer receive security patches. Use a version that the official php.net/supported-versions page lists as supported. An upgrade requires checking the compatibility of code, extensions and modules, so test it on a staging version first. However, using new technologies introduces necessary changes for seamless operation. With a new PHP version some functions change or are removed, so existing code has to be adapted.
For these reasons, web platform versions are also updated regularly. If we do not regularly update our online store, we are more vulnerable to attacks, and the store's performance is slower than competitors operating on an updated system. Exposure is more critical because vulnerabilities of the system, addressed by updates, are more exposed. A potential attacker can quickly discover system vulnerabilities using patches and exploit them for their benefit.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance of the website not only directly affects the proper functioning of the online store but also has a very positive impact on regular visitors or customers in your online store. Regularly refreshing the website and adding fresh information gives the appearance of an organized company behind the website. An attractive and updated appearance can, in many cases, further contribute to the final decision for a new order, sign-up for newsletters, inquiry, etc.
It is important that, during maintenance and updating of the store, we do not negatively impact its operation with errors that can occur with changes. It is advisable to have a test version of the store where all changes can be tested before publishing on the live site. During work, the technical team should use version control systems, which provide an overview of changes and a quick return to the last working state.
What belongs in regular maintenance
The list below is what everyone who maintains a store should keep in view, whether that is you or an external provider.
- updates of the system, extensions and modules (security ones immediately, others as planned),
- monitoring and outage alerts,
- backups and testing a restore (a backup is worth nothing until you have tested it),
- a test order: payment, email, invoices, forms,
- a check of tracking (GA4, tags, consent) after every change,
- Google Search Console: indexing errors, Core Web Vitals, structured data,
- checking product feeds (prices, stock) and disapproved products,
- a review of legal texts (terms, returns, cookies, accessibility) when legislation changes,
- refreshing content and fixing broken links (404),
- a review of user access (remove former employees, introduce two-step verification).
Maintenance is a continuous process. For most stores, the simplest solution is a contract with a provider that defines the scope and response time.
Frequently asked questions
Upkeep includes platform and extension updates, security checks, backups, bug fixes, and minor content changes. The scope depends on your chosen package or agreement.
We recommend regular monthly maintenance. Backups run more frequently, and updates are applied as they become available. Neglected maintenance often leads to security vulnerabilities and lower search rankings.
Both options are available. A maintenance package ensures priority support and a predictable monthly cost, while time-based billing suits smaller or less frequent needs.
Clients with a maintenance package receive priority support - issues are resolved within an agreed response time. We also assist stores not originally built by us.
Yes - we regularly maintain and support stores built by other providers. Before taking over, we conduct a health check and inform you of any existing issues.
My name is Anže, I am a certified Magento solution expert and the maker of several award-winning online stores. I am the architect of all Degriz projects.
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