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Why Updates Matter (and What Boutique Hosting Covers)

Your website runs on software, and software needs updates. Skipping them is one of the most common reasons small business sites get hacked or break. Here's why they matter and how our boutique hosting helps.

What gets updated

  • The CMS core: Joomla or WordPress itself.
  • Add-ons: Joomla extensions and templates, or WordPress plugins and themes.
  • Server software: PHP, the database, and the web server, usually handled by your host.

Why updates matter

  • Security: many updates fix known security holes. Once a fix is public, attackers know what to look for on sites that haven't updated.
  • Compatibility: hosts upgrade PHP over time. Older sites can stop working when that happens.
  • Bug fixes: updates fix things that don't work right.
  • Speed and features: newer versions often run faster and add useful tools.

What happens when updates are skipped

  • The site becomes an easier target for automated attacks.
  • Updates pile up, so catching up later is bigger and riskier.
  • Add-ons stop getting support, and some get abandoned.
  • Eventually, a major upgrade is needed all at once, which takes more time.

Why updates can be risky (and how to make them safe)

Updates occasionally break things, especially on sites with custom code or many add-ons. That's why updates should be done with:

  1. A fresh backup first
  2. A check that add-ons are compatible
  3. Testing afterward
  4. A way to roll back if something goes wrong

See How to Update Joomla Safely or How to Update WordPress Safely.

What 3by400 boutique hosting covers

Our boutique hosting is for 3by400 clients, whether we built your site or you moved an existing site to us for ongoing support. If you're moving, we handle the whole move, including DNS. It takes a proactive approach to site security and monitoring, and includes:

  • All the usual hosting features
  • Nightly backups, kept for one week
  • Tight server and site security
  • Server tuning specifically for Joomla and WordPress
  • A 99% uptime guarantee
  • 24/7 monitoring for outages
  • Ongoing installation of core CMS updates

Updates to Joomla extensions and templates or WordPress plugins and themes aren't part of hosting. We can handle those on demand at reasonable hourly rates, along with other work like edits, hacked-site cleanup, and copywriting, so you only pay for what you need. Get in touch for details.

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How 3by400 can help

See Website Care & Hosting to learn more about our boutique hosting, or start a project or move your site.

Start a project

Ready to talk about your website? Start a project or reach us at 678-379-9321 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We're based in Dalton, GA, and work with businesses everywhere.

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