What Does Website Maintenance Include? A Guide for UK Businesses
It can include software updates, backups, security monitoring, uptime checks, performance reviews, form testing, fixing errors and making smaller content changes. The exact level of support depends on the website and the maintenance agreement.
Takeaway: Website maintenance is not simply about installing updates. It is about protecting the website, checking that important functionality still works and identifying problems before they affect customers or the business.
A website is not something you can simply launch and forget about. The software behind it changes, browsers and devices evolve, security vulnerabilities are discovered and the content itself gradually becomes outdated.
Website maintenance is the ongoing work required to keep a website secure, reliable, fast and working as intended. Depending on the website, that can range from routine software updates and backups through to monitoring forms, checking ecommerce functionality and resolving technical problems.
For businesses that depend on their website for enquiries, sales or customer information, regular maintenance helps protect both the website itself and the commercial value it provides.
What is website maintenance?
Website maintenance is the process of looking after an existing website after it has been launched.
It usually includes a mixture of technical updates, monitoring, testing and ongoing support designed to reduce the risk of problems developing over time.
It is also important to distinguish maintenance from hosting and development. Although these services often work together, they are not the same thing.
Three connected services, with three different jobs.
Provides the server environment, storage, database and infrastructure required for visitors to access the website.
Includes updates, monitoring, backups, testing and routine technical care after the website has launched.
Adds new features, integrations, functionality, layouts or more substantial improvements beyond routine maintenance.
Hosting and maintenance are often purchased together, but having website hosting does not necessarily mean somebody is actively checking, updating or testing the website.
If you’re looking for ongoing support for an existing website, you can also view our website maintenance services.
What does website maintenance include?
The exact work included depends on the website, the technology it uses and the maintenance agreement, but most professional website maintenance services will cover a combination of the following areas.
Good maintenance looks after more than software updates.
Software updates
Keeping the CMS, plugins, themes and related software current while checking that updates do not introduce compatibility problems.
Security
Monitoring vulnerabilities, applying important security patches and reducing avoidable risks caused by outdated software.
Backups
Creating regular copies of website files and databases so the site can be recovered if something goes wrong.
Uptime
Monitoring whether the website remains accessible and responding when unexpected downtime is detected.
Performance
Identifying unusually slow loading, caching problems, server issues or other technical factors affecting the experience.
Forms & functionality
Testing enquiry forms, checkout journeys, bookings, search features and other important actions customers rely on.
Errors & broken links
Identifying broken pages, missing assets, display problems and links that no longer lead where visitors expect.
Content changes
Depending on the agreement, small amendments may include text, images, documents, staff information or pricing updates.
Infrastructure
Reviewing SSL certificates, domain status, hosting environments and the wider technical setup supporting the website.
Website software and plugin updates
Modern websites are usually built from several pieces of software working together. A WordPress website, for example, may use WordPress itself, a theme, multiple plugins and sometimes WooCommerce or bespoke functionality.
These components are regularly updated to fix bugs, improve compatibility, add functionality or address security vulnerabilities.
Professional maintenance should involve more than simply pressing Update All. Updates may need to be checked for compatibility, backed up beforehand and followed by basic testing to confirm the website still operates correctly.
Security monitoring and updates
Websites are continually exposed to automated scanning, malicious login attempts and newly discovered software vulnerabilities.
Keeping software current, removing unused components and responding to important security updates can reduce avoidable risk. Depending on the maintenance setup, security monitoring may also identify suspicious activity or changes that need further investigation.
No website can realistically be described as completely immune from security incidents, but regular maintenance can make it considerably less vulnerable to preventable problems.
Website backups
A maintenance plan should include a reliable backup process covering both website files and the database.
This provides a recovery point if an update fails, data is accidentally deleted, the website is compromised or another technical problem affects the live site.
A backup only has value if the website can actually be restored from it when something goes wrong.
Uptime monitoring
Uptime monitoring checks whether a website remains accessible and can alert the people responsible for it when the site becomes unavailable.
For an ecommerce or lead-generation website, even a relatively short period of downtime can mean missed sales, lost enquiries and a poor customer experience.
Website performance checks
Websites can become slower over time because of software changes, oversized media, database growth, hosting problems, caching issues or additional scripts being introduced.
Performance monitoring helps identify significant changes before they become an ongoing problem for users.
Where performance issues relate to the underlying design or structure of the site, they may require separate website development or design work rather than routine maintenance.
Checking forms and important functionality
This is one of the most commercially important areas of website maintenance.
An enquiry form can stop sending email notifications. A booking system can lose its connection to another platform. A checkout can develop a payment or delivery problem. The website may still look completely normal.
Routine testing should therefore focus on the actions that matter most to customers and to the business itself.
Website problems often become expensive because nobody notices them early.
A plugin, server, browser, API or third-party service is updated.
A form, integration, display element or checkout step stops behaving correctly.
The website still appears normal during everyday internal use.
Visitors encounter errors, failed forms, missing information or friction.
The problem begins to affect leads, sales or customer confidence.
Fixing broken links and website errors
Links can become outdated, pages can be removed and third-party websites can change their URLs. Images can also disappear or pages may begin producing errors after software changes.
Regular checks can identify obvious issues such as broken internal links, 404 errors, missing assets and problems affecting key pages.
Maintaining a technically healthy site also supports wider SEO activity, because search engines and users both benefit from clear navigation, functioning pages and a reliable website experience.
Content and image updates
Some maintenance agreements focus entirely on technical upkeep, while others include an allowance for smaller website changes.
These could include updating staff information, changing opening hours, replacing an image, uploading a new document, amending prices or making smaller text changes.
It is worth checking exactly what is included in a maintenance plan because ongoing content changes and more substantial development work are not always part of the standard technical service.
Domain, SSL and hosting checks
The wider infrastructure supporting the website also needs attention.
This can include checking SSL certificates, domain renewals, DNS settings, PHP or server versions and whether the hosting environment remains suitable for the website.
Ecommerce websites need additional maintenance
An ecommerce website has more moving parts than a straightforward brochure website because customers are completing transactions directly through it.
For a WooCommerce website, maintenance may need to include WordPress, WooCommerce itself, payment gateways, shipping tools, transactional emails, integrations, product feeds and any plugins involved in the checkout process.
Platforms such as Shopify manage much of the underlying platform infrastructure themselves, but that does not mean the store can be ignored. Themes, apps, integrations, product information, tracking and the customer journey still require ongoing management.
Businesses operating online stores can find more information about our ecommerce website services.
Why does website maintenance matter?
Security
Regular updates can reduce the number of known vulnerabilities left exposed within the website’s software.
Reliability
Monitoring and testing makes it more likely that important functionality problems will be identified before they remain unnoticed for weeks or months.
Performance
Routine maintenance helps identify technical issues that may be slowing down the website or creating a poorer experience for visitors.
Search visibility
A well-maintained website is less likely to accumulate broken pages, technical errors and performance issues that can undermine wider SEO work.
Protecting your investment
A professionally designed website is a business asset. Regular maintenance helps prevent smaller technical problems from developing into larger and more expensive pieces of recovery or development work.
How often should a website be maintained?
Most business websites should be monitored continuously and reviewed regularly, although different maintenance activities naturally happen at different intervals.
Important security updates, for example, should not necessarily wait for a monthly maintenance date simply because that is when the next routine review was scheduled.
Different parts of a website need attention at different times.
Uptime, backups and security alerts can be monitored automatically rather than waiting for a manual review.
Critical software or security updates may need attention quickly rather than being postponed.
General software updates, functionality checks and technical reviews can form part of a regular maintenance cycle.
Content, usability, SEO, conversion performance and the wider website experience should also be reviewed over time.
Can I maintain my website myself?
Yes. For a straightforward website, somebody with the right technical knowledge may be perfectly capable of carrying out routine maintenance internally.
The important question is not simply whether somebody can install an update. It is whether they can recognise when something has gone wrong and recover the website if necessary.
That may involve understanding compatibility problems, interpreting error messages, restoring backups, diagnosing hosting issues, identifying security concerns and testing important functionality after changes have been made.
For many businesses, outsourcing website maintenance is therefore less about convenience and more about making sure somebody has clear responsibility for the website’s ongoing technical health.
How much does website maintenance cost in the UK?
Website maintenance costs vary considerably depending on the complexity of the website and the level of support required.
A straightforward business website will normally need less maintenance than a busy ecommerce store, membership website or platform connected to several external systems.
Factors that can influence the cost include:
The CMS and technology used. A simple WordPress website has different requirements from a heavily customised WooCommerce installation.
The size and complexity of the website. More functionality usually means more areas that need monitoring and testing.
Ecommerce functionality. Payment gateways, checkout journeys, shipping tools and integrations add additional maintenance requirements.
Custom integrations. Connections to CRM systems, booking platforms, APIs or other services may require specialist support.
The level of ongoing support. Some businesses simply require technical maintenance while others need regular content changes and access to developers.
The important point is to understand exactly what a maintenance fee covers rather than comparing plans purely on price.
What should you look for in a website maintenance company?
A maintenance provider should be able to explain clearly what is included in the service and what would be treated as additional development work.
Look for a provider that can demonstrate experience with the technology your website uses and has a clear approach to backups, updates, security and problem resolution.
It is also useful to understand who will actually deal with an issue if something goes wrong. Access to experienced developers can be particularly valuable when a routine update exposes a more complicated underlying problem.
Website maintenance checklist
Common questions about maintaining a business website.
What does website maintenance include?
Website maintenance can include software updates, security monitoring, backups, uptime checks, performance reviews, form testing, fixing broken links and errors, checking important functionality and carrying out smaller content updates. The exact work included will depend on the website and the maintenance agreement.
How often should a website be maintained?
Business websites should be monitored continuously where possible and reviewed regularly. Important security updates may need to be dealt with as soon as they become available, while routine software, performance and functionality checks can form part of a regular maintenance schedule.
Does WordPress need regular maintenance?
Yes. WordPress itself, themes and plugins are regularly updated. Routine maintenance helps keep these components current and gives somebody responsibility for testing the website and dealing with compatibility or security issues when they occur.
Is website hosting the same as website maintenance?
No. Hosting provides the server environment that keeps a website online. Website maintenance involves looking after the website itself, including updates, monitoring, backups, testing and technical support. The two services are often provided together but they perform different roles.
Can I maintain my website myself?
Yes, provided somebody has the time and technical knowledge required. The important consideration is whether they can diagnose problems, recover the website if an update fails, restore backups and identify issues affecting security or important website functionality.
How much does website maintenance cost?
The cost depends on the technology, complexity and level of support required. A straightforward brochure website will generally need less ongoing maintenance than an ecommerce website, membership platform or website using bespoke integrations.
Does an ecommerce website need more maintenance?
Usually, yes. Ecommerce websites include additional systems such as payment gateways, checkout processes, delivery options, transactional emails, product data and third-party integrations. These add more areas that need to remain reliable and compatible.
Your website should have somebody responsible for keeping it healthy.
Dancing Badger provides ongoing website maintenance and support for businesses that want their website kept secure, updated and working properly. Whether we originally built your website or you’re looking for somebody to take over an existing site, we can review the current setup and recommend the right level of support.
View Website Maintenance ServicesRelated Dancing Badger services.
Ongoing technical support to keep your business website secure, current and working properly.
Service Website DesignDesign and development for websites that need more substantial improvement or a complete rebuild.
Service EcommerceWooCommerce and Shopify websites designed around the complete online buying journey.
Service SEOImprove organic visibility through technical, content and search-led website improvements.
Service Conversion Rate OptimisationTurn more of your existing website traffic into enquiries, sales and valuable customer actions.
Contact Talk to Dancing BadgerTell us about your existing website and the level of ongoing support you’re looking for.