Whether you use WordPress or ModX for your small business website content management system (CMS), keeping your software up-to-date is one of the most important things you can do. The fact that a CMS could require routine updates may come as a surprise to many website owners who are not actively involved in their web design.
A website is not a one-time expense, but rather something that must be maintained. Here are the top three reasons to update your website content management system as soon as a new update is available.
Security
You wouldn’t wait to update your anti-virus program, so it only makes sense to update CMS as soon as possible too. As time passes or computer coding languages evolve, the software becomes vulnerable to malicious attacks. An outdated piece of software is a liability, especially when that software keeps your entire website online.
As the owner of a relatively small website, you may assume that hackers won’t target you. However, as most security breaches are the result of automated hacking software, even the smallest sites can be compromised without notice. If you do not update your content management system, attackers may:
- Delete all of your content
- Deface your website and post questionable or offensive material
- Spam the site with bad links, which could cause a Google penalty
- Steal sensitive personal information, including logins and payment information
- Lock the rightful site owner out of their website
- Shut down the site altogether
If your software is kept up-to-date, you have little to worry about from attackers. CMS like WordPress and ModX make it a point to stay ahead of hackers by updating their software whenever necessary. Be sure to take advantage of the inbuilt security features of your CMS and upgrade your software.
User Experience
Keeping your CMS up-to-date ensures that you gain access to new features and benefits of the software. Whether you want to allow integration of a customer relationship management program like HubSpot or Salesforce, or if you want to be able to accept PayPal, having an updated CMS will allow you to make these changes and keep your website looking fresh.
Making the Most of Your Investment
It’s no secret that starting a website from the ground up can be expensive. Paying for a CMS is part of that cost, and for good reason: the software manufacturer spends countless resources improving their product. If you pay annually for the CMS but fail to update it when necessary, you are losing out on a service that you pay for. By updating your CMS, you not only keep your site safe from malicious hacks, but you also get to enjoy its new features and benefits as well.
Upgrading your CMS is a time-consuming process and it can be difficult to do in some cases. However, if you need assistance performing this update, the Phoenix web designers at CyberMark can help. Our experienced team helps many small businesses stay on top of the latest upgrade so that their website performs at its best. Please contact us today to see which CMS your website uses and whether it is up to date. 
