Critical PHP Security Updates: Why Ongoing Website Maintenance Matters

Smart ways to stay ahead of website updates

Did you hear about the recent PHP vulnerability and how it could affect your business? PHP is the behind-the-scenes language that keeps most websites running, and it recently received an important security update to help protect against external threats.

Think of your car. Most of the time, what’s under the hood is the last thing on your mind, until the engine light comes on. Your website works in the same way. PHP is the engine, and this update is the engine light alerting you that it’s time for a checkup.

Continue reading to learn what this security risk and important update mean for your website, plus the important steps to keep your site secure year-round.

What the PHP security update means for your website

Not many business owners know what PHP is, and that is completely normal. Simply put, like the software on your phone or computer, it needs regular updates to stay secure and work at its best.

This update does what most updates do: it strengthens your website’s protection.

One helpful reminder: updating WordPress does not update PHP. Your hosting company usually handles PHP, while WordPress and its plugins need their own updates. A fully protected website needs all of it.

Beyond the engine light

Now, back to the car. Hugo Azzolini, Founder and Marketing Strategist at Different Perspective, puts it this way:

“If the hosting companies are on top of the PHP updates, it is as if they checked the engine light on your vehicle. By updating your version of WordPress and plugins, we are making sure the tires, wiper fluid, oil, coolant, and more are up to par to match the tuned-up engine.”

Like a car, every part of your website needs updates to stay safe and perform well, and they all need to keep pace with the engine so everything runs smoothly.

Learn more:
Keep It Simple: The Three-Step Business Website Maintenance Checklist

Steps to keep your website updated

Whether you manage your website in-house or you outsource to an agency, there are multiple ways to ensure it’s secure all year round:

Check with your hosting provider: They keep your website online. Reach out to them and ask whether the latest PHP update has been installed on your site.
Keep WordPress and plugins current: Regular updates keep all aspects of your site working well.
Update ASAP: Once security risk announcements are made and an update is available, don’t wait six months to do it. Updates work best when you install them soon after they’re released.
Have a go-to partner: Consider outsourcing website maintenance to a trusted website provider so someone is always watching for updates and handling them for you.

Why the right website partner makes a difference

Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to spot weak points in websites. Because of that, Search Engine Journal expects updates like this one to come along more often, with less time to act. [1] A dependable website partner turns those moments into routine website maintenance.

The right partner will understand issues like this one, act quickly when a new update is released, and make any needed adjustments. They’ll also keep you informed throughout the process, so you know where your website stands. With that support, you can focus on running your business while your website stays secure for every visitor.

Think of it like having a trusted mechanic, but for your website. Instead of waiting for the engine light to come on, you can count on someone to keep everything under the hood running smoothly, mile after mile.

Looking for a website partner who keeps your site current and secure?

Our ongoing support covers the updates and details that keep your website running smoothly for prospective clients and current clients alike.

Ready to get started?
Contact us today to learn more.

1: Search Engine Journal | Critical PHP Core Vulnerabilities Affect Websites, Including WordPress

Back to all blogs