A Guide to Hosting, Security and Ongoing Management.
A WordPress website is not something you launch and forget about. It is a live business platform that needs ongoing care to remain secure, compliant and reliable.
This is why many businesses choose an agency like Peak to manage the technical side for them. Hosting, updates, protection and monitoring are not areas most teams want to handle internally, and they are exactly what we take care of quietly in the background.
This guide explains the ongoing costs involved in running a WordPress website, what is essential, and what can be added as your business grows.
Built for WordPress Websites.
Everything outlined below applies specifically to WordPress CMS websites.
WordPress remains one of the most flexible and widely used platforms for business websites, but that flexibility comes with responsibility. Regular updates, licensing and monitoring are required to keep everything running properly.
Cloud Hosting for WordPress (Essential).
Every WordPress website needs a secure and reliable hosting environment. This typically includes:
- Google Cloud hosting infrastructure
- Secure server configuration
- Regular backups
- Uptime and performance monitoring
Hosting is the foundation of your website. Without it, even the best-designed site will struggle to perform consistently.
WordPress Core Updates (Essential).
WordPress itself is updated frequently to improve performance and address security issues. This includes:
- Direct WordPress CMS updates
- Compatibility checks after each update
Keeping WordPress up to date is one of the most important steps in protecting your website.
Plugin Updates, Patches and Licences (Essential).
Most WordPress websites rely on plugins for functionality such as forms, content management, integrations and performance.
Ongoing management includes:
- Plugin updates and technical patches
- Testing to ensure updates do not cause conflicts
- Annual plugin licence renewals, where applicable
Many premium plugins operate on yearly licences. These are normal running costs and are often overlooked when budgeting for a website.
Theme Licences and Renewals (Essential).
WordPress themes also commonly require licences. This typically includes:
- Annual theme licence renewals
- Ensuring continued compatibility with WordPress and plugins
Allowing theme licences to lapse can introduce security and stability issues over time.
Cookie Compliance and Licensing (Essential).
Compliance is a requirement for most business websites. This includes:
- Cookie consent tools such as CookieYes
- Licence renewals and configuration updates
This helps ensure your website remains compliant as regulations change.
Security Software and Protection (Optional but Recommended).
Some businesses choose to add an extra layer of protection beyond standard updates. Optional security tools can include:
- Text amendments
- Image swaps
- Minor layout adjustments
- Small fixes
This allows issues or requests to be handled quickly without starting a new project each time.
Ongoing Website Updates and Content (Proactive).
Some website activity is planned rather than reactive. Proactive updates can include:
- Adding case studies
- Publishing blogs
- Updating categories and key pages
- Checking and maintaining contact forms and enquiries
These updates help ensure the website stays accurate and reflects how the business is evolving.
Analytics and Reporting.
Understanding how your website is performing is part of managing it properly. This may include:
- Basic reporting via Google Analytics 4
- Clear, client-friendly dashboards using Looker Studio
Even simple reporting provides visibility on traffic, engagement and enquiries.
A Note on B2B vs B2C WordPress Websites.
Not all WordPress websites have the same level of complexity.
B2C websites are often more complex to manage, with higher traffic volumes, more frequent content changes, integrations and in some cases ecommerce functionality.
B2B websites, while just as important, typically have fewer moving parts and less modular complexity. They still require regular updates and protection, but ongoing management is often more predictable.
A Note on B2B vs B2C WordPress Websites.
Essential for most WordPress websites:
- Cloud hosting
- WordPress core updates
- Plugin updates and patches
- Plugin and theme licence renewals
- Cookie compliance licensing
- Basic analytics reporting
Optional depending on requirements
- Additional security software
- Reactive helpdesk support
- Proactive content and website updates
- Enhanced reporting dashboards
A Final Consideration.
If your website is currently unsupported, or you are paying a very minimal monthly management fee, it is worth pausing to consider what is actually being covered.
In many cases, low-touch support only addresses the surface level of a website. Critical areas such as security monitoring, licensing, updates, compliance and performance are often either limited or missing altogether. The risk here is not just to the website itself, but to the wider business. An unprotected or poorly maintained site can expose data, damage credibility, interrupt enquiries and create avoidable operational issues.
A well-supported WordPress website is about more than keeping pages online. It is about protecting your business, your reputation and the systems that sit behind them.
Contact us for information on how we can support your WordPress website.
