One of the platforms we specialize in is WordPress, an open-source publishing software and content management system (CMS). Some of our clients have heard WordPress gets hacked often or that it’s not secure. But we wouldn’t specialize in an unsafe platform.
Pros and cons of popularity
WordPress has become the top CMS in the world, found on almost 40% of all websites online — that’s hundreds of millions of websites. Yes, this means hackers are more likely to target this platform; because it’s so widely used and the code is open-source, hackers try to find exploits.
Its popularity is also its saving grace. Because it’s so widely used and the code is open-source, all developers can report holes and improve security.
We chose to specialize in WordPress specifically because of its popularity. There is a lot of online support available for both our clients as users, and for us as developers. Plus, if you happen to part ways with Vireo sometime in the future, almost any other development company you reach out to will be familiar with the platform.
Importance of updates
Many security breaches happen through websites that aren’t regularly updated. Those update warnings you get are meant to ensure the code is up to snuff. Hackers find exploits, then others fix the holes, and then you’re prompted to update to the latest version. If you don’t update, that exploit will remain.
More often than not, hackers will find their way into your website through plugins — programs or modules of code that we can add to the site without having to write original code.
Because anyone can write tools for WordPress, not all extensions live up to the same code review standards as the WordPress core. Sometimes a popular plugin will have a security flaw that affects thousands of websites at the same time.
We have a system to ensure your website is up to date, and we’re very picky about the plugins we use, choosing to use as few as possible.
Straightforward and user-friendly
The number one reason we chose to work with WordPress is that its CMS is user-friendly. We want all of our clients to have the option to manage their own content on their sites. Not only are many of our clients already familiar with WordPress, it’s also straightforward to use and learn.
In addition, WordPress makes it easy to update your website’s design down the road: If you choose to continue to use WordPress for your next website redesign, the platform will allow you to keep all of your current content and migrate it to a new theme.
Security is always a concern, but using WordPress is not. This publishing software and content management system has served us and our clients well, and we expect it will continue to do so for a very long time.