Website management is a service I offer at my website design agency. When on a website management plan, I take care of the maintenance and upkeep of your website. Website management is typically billed once a month or for an entire year.
Website owners must ensure their website’s software and themes are updated (very) frequently because out of date software is a leading cause of security breaches and hacks on websites.
What Is Included With A Website Management Plan?
On my website management plans, you will receive:
- VPS hosting
- Frequent theme and plugin updates
- Routine backups
- Security protocols
- Content Updates
What Is VPS Hosting?
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is the server your website is stored on. You can think of the server as the computer that serves your users the information on your website. All of your pictures, logos, web page content and files are stored on the VPS server.
With my website management plans, your site will be placed on my high performing server. That means your web pages will load fast on both desktop and mobile computer.
What Are Frequent Theme Updates?
Themes are used to provide a consistent look and feel across your website. The theme controls colors, fonts, and different sections that make up your website.
From time to time, a theme update is released to patch security vulnerabilities or to add new functionality for your site.
If a theme update includes a security patch, it is very important to update it as soon as possible. Once hackers become aware of a vulnerability in a theme, they will actively try to break into your site and take control. Quickly updating to a protected version of a theme is the best way to prevent hackers from compromising your site.
What Are Frequent Plugin Updates?
Based on the diagram above, plugins are additional tools that can be loaded onto your website to enhance the functionality. I update plugin software as soon as possible if the plugin has a security patch. If the plugin update is a routine enhancement, these updates are usually installed and tested once a week.
For example, many themes do not come with contact forms. A special plugin for contact forms can be installed on your site to handle all your contact forms. There are hundreds of thousands of website plugins that you can install to do specific tasks and enhance your design.
However, I try to limit the number of plugins on a site because each additional software comes with potential security holes.
From my years of experience building websites, fewer plugins are better because more plugins:
- slow down your site
- cause security issues
- cause increased time for updating software
What Are Routine Backups?
Website backups are a crucial step in every website’s disaster recovery plan. I take backups for clients on my website management plans every night. You can think of a backup as a snapshot of your website at a specific moment in time.
If you accidentally make a mistake and break your site, that’s ok, we can restore the last night’s backup.
Backups really come into play if your site is compromised by a hack and infected with malware. One of the first steps to remediate an infected website is to back it up to a point in time when the site was clean and free from the hack.
Backups should be stored offsite so they can’t be tampered with. Some companies even want to add a secondary backup location.
If you were to have backups off site at two locations I would pick from the following list of backup storage providers:
- Backblaze
- Google Drive
- One Drive
I prefer Backblaze and Google Drive for dual remote offsite backups.
What Are Security Protocols?
Security protocols refer to the security requirements in place on your website. One example would be to require site administrators to sign on with 2-factor authentication (2FA).
I use a software called Fortress for some website management plans and all new website design plans. This tool uses a one time passcode from an authenticator app for admins to login to the site. It is my company policy that all editors and administrator roles on the website setup and use 2FA.
Another security protocol could be to block countries where you don’t do business. If you are based in the United States and server your regions or local community, there is no reason for visitors from China or Russia trying to access your site. I would suggest blocking countries where you don’t do business.
What Are Content Updates?
Content updates are included in all of my website management plans. A content update is something like updating images or changing website copy. Sometime you want to change the wording or add new images to a webpage or blog post. On a website management plan, all you need to do is submit the request for the content up and I will make sure it is implement and you are satisfied.
FAQs about Website Management
What exactly does website management include?
Website management typically includes VPS hosting, frequent updates to themes and plugins, routine backups, content updates, and implementing security protocols to ensure your website runs smoothly, securely, and efficiently.
How often do you perform updates to themes and plugins?
Themes and plugins are updated frequently to address security vulnerabilities and enhance functionality. Security patches are applied as soon as possible, while routine enhancements are usually implemented and tested once a week.
What measures are taken to ensure my website’s security?
Our website management plans include rigorous security protocols such as 2-factor authentication for site administrators, the use of security software like Fortress, and options to block traffic from countries where your business does not operate, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.
How are backups of my website handled?
We perform nightly backups of your website, ensuring that a recent snapshot of your site is always available for recovery. These backups are stored offsite in secure locations, with options for dual remote storage with providers like Backblaze and Google Drive for added redundancy.
Can I customize my website management plan based on my specific needs?
Yes, we offer flexible website management plans that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your business. Whether you need additional performance optimization, SEO updates, or custom development work, we can adjust your plan accordingly.
Conclusion For What Is Website Management
Managing your website is key to making sure it runs smoothly, stays safe, and works well. When you choose a full-service plan for managing your website, you get to relax knowing the I take care of all the techy items, like VPS hosting, and regular backups.
Keeping everything up to date, like themes and plugins, protects your site from security risks. Plus, having backups ready means you can bounce back quickly if something unexpected happens. Strong security steps, such as two-factor authentication and smart access limits, help keep your website safe from threats.
Managing a website is a complex task that’s crucial for keeping your the site in top shape. Whether you’re growing your business online or running a personal blog, there’s a website management plan that fits your needs. This lets you focus on your business goals and leave the tech troubles to me.
A well-managed website not only makes things nicer for your visitors but also plays a big part in keeping your site strong and successful in the busy online world. With technology always changing and cyber threats getting trickier, the role of website management in keeping your online projects safe and successful is more important than ever. Investing in a thorough website management plan is a smart move for a secure, effective, and lively online presence.
