How to Keep Your WordPress Website Stack on Azure App Service Up to Date
Introduction
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, powering more than 35% of websites. Azure App Service is a managed hosting platform for web applications and websites. It provides a secure and reliable hosting environment to keep your WordPress website running smoothly. In this article, we will discuss how to keep your WordPress website stack on Azure App Service up to date.
Updating WordPress Core
The first step in keeping your WordPress website stack up to date is to update the WordPress core. WordPress releases frequent updates to keep the platform secure and improve its features and performance. You can update WordPress core either manually or automatically. To update WordPress manually, you need to download the latest version of WordPress from the WordPress website, extract the zip file, and then upload it to your Azure App Service. To update WordPress automatically, you need to enable auto-updates in your WordPress dashboard, or use a plugin like Easy Updates Manager to manage WordPress updates.
Updating Plugins and Themes
Plugins and themes are essential components of the WordPress website stack. They add extra features and functionality to your website. It is important to keep your plugins and themes up to date to ensure optimal performance and security. To update plugins and themes, you need to log into your WordPress dashboard and go to the “Plugins” or “Themes” page. You will see a list of available updates. Click the “Update” button to install the updates.
Backing Up Your Website
Before you start updating your WordPress website stack, it is important to back up your website. You can use the in-built Backup feature in the Azure Portal to create a full backup of your website. This will help you restore your website to its original state if something goes wrong during the update process. You can also use a WordPress plugin like UpdraftPlus to back up your website.
Database Maintenance
The database is an important part of the WordPress website stack. It is important to maintain the database to ensure optimal performance and security. You can use the Database Maintenance feature in the Azure Portal to perform maintenance tasks on your database. This includes optimizing the database, repairing the database, and deleting unused data.
SSL Certificates
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates are essential for keeping your website secure. They help protect sensitive information, such as user data, that is transmitted over the internet. To keep your SSL certificates up to date, you need to renew them every year. You can use the SSL Certificates feature in the Azure Portal to manage your SSL certificates.
Monitoring Your Website
Once you have updated your WordPress website stack, it is important to monitor your website for any issues. You can use the Application Insights feature in the Azure Portal to monitor your website performance. This will help you identify and address any performance issues quickly.
Conclusion
Keeping your WordPress website stack on Azure App Service up to date is an important part of website maintenance. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your WordPress website is running smoothly and securely. It is also important to back up your website and monitor it for any issues.
