A website is not finished at launch. To stay secure, fast and up to date, it needs a little care. What that involves depends on how it is built.
Hosting
The website lives on a server that delivers it. What matters is a provider with data centres in Europe, an encrypted connection via HTTPS and enough speed for pages to load quickly.
Updates and security
Systems with many plugins need regular updates, otherwise security gaps appear. Statically built websites have far fewer moving parts and therefore less to attack.
What belongs to regular care
- Backups that can actually be restored when needed.
- Checking that forms, bookings and links work.
- Renewing the domain and certificate in time.
- Keeping the legal notice, privacy information and opening hours up to date.
- Small changes to copy and images.
How to recognise good hosting
- Encrypted connection (HTTPS) at no extra cost.
- Fast loading, even when many visitors arrive at once.
- Regular backups that can be restored in an emergency.
- Clear information on where data is stored, and a data processing agreement if personal data is processed.
What happens if nobody takes care of it
Websites with outdated software are a popular target for attacks. Add expiring domains, forms that silently stop sending and content that is no longer correct. Much of this is only noticed when a customer asks. Regular maintenance prevents it before it causes trouble.
Domain, email and hosting
These three terms are often mixed up. The domain is your website's address. Hosting is where the website lives. Email addresses often run through a third service. Everything can be with the same provider, but doesn't have to be. What matters is that you know where everything is and that the domain is registered to your business.
Backups that help in an emergency
A backup is only as good as its restore. Backups should be stored separately from the website so they are not lost along with it if the server has a problem. It is just as important to check now and then that a backup can actually be restored. For websites with a database, such as shops, the data belongs in the backup too, not just the files.
Monitoring
When a website goes down, owners often only notice when a customer calls. Automatic monitoring regularly checks whether the site is reachable and reports outages. It also makes sense to keep an eye on forms and bookings: are enquiries still arriving? A form that silently stops sending quietly costs you customers.
Keeping an eye on loading times
Over time, new images, videos and embeds are added, and a once fast site becomes slower. An occasional test, for example with Lighthouse or Google's PageSpeed Insights, shows whether anything has got worse. The most common cause is oversized images, and those are easy to shrink.
Data protection and hosting
If personal data is processed via the website, for example through a contact form or a booking, you usually need a data processing agreement with the hosting provider. A provider with data centres in the EU makes many things easier. The provider then also belongs in your privacy policy. This is general guidance; if in doubt, have an expert check it.
Static websites need less upkeep
A static website consists of finished pages without a database and without a system that constantly needs updating. That makes it fast and offers little attack surface. If you want to change content very often yourself, you need a content management system instead. What fits depends on how often things change for you.
Changes after launch
Opening hours change, new services are added, someone leaves the team. There are two ways to handle such changes: edit them yourself in a simple interface, or send a quick message and have them done. Which fits better depends on how often things change and how much time you want to invest yourself.
Do it yourself or hand it over?
- Doing it yourself makes sense if you are confident with technology, the website uses simple technology and you have time for regular checks.
- Handing it over makes sense if you want to focus on your business, your website has forms, bookings or a shop, or you want a fixed point of contact.
- Either way, logins, domain and backups should belong to you and be written down.
I offer hosting and maintenance as a monthly plan with a fixed point of contact. What to check before a new website goes live is covered in the website launch checklist.
Can I move my website to another provider later?
Yes, if you have access to the domain and files. With static websites the move is usually simple, with database-driven systems a bit more work. What matters is that the domain is registered to you.
What happens if my website is attacked?
That is when a current backup helps: the site is restored to a clean state, the vulnerability closed and passwords changed. If personal data is affected, there may be reporting obligations. Regular updates make an attack much less likely.
Do I need a large hosting plan?
For most business websites, no. What matters is reliability, speed, security and location, not the biggest plan. Leanly built websites need very little.
Before launch, agree who takes care of these points and who owns the domain and logins. It saves a lot of searching later.
