How often should I update my Drupal website?
If you’re running a Drupal website, keeping it updated is essential. Regular updates help maintain strong security, ensure smooth performance, and support compatibility with the latest web technologies. Without ongoing attention, even the most well-built site can quickly become vulnerable, outdated, and inefficient.
In this article, we explore the different types of Drupal updates and how often they should be applied to keep your website in top condition.
Drupal Core and security updates
Drupal core updates typically fall into two categories: minor version updates (such as from Drupal 10.1 to 10.2) and security patches. While minor updates may not appear urgent, they often include important improvements and fixes that keep your site stable and compliant with current best practices. Ideally, these should be applied every one to three months to avoid falling behind and encountering compatibility issues with modules or themes.
Security updates, on the other hand, are absolutely critical. These address known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious users. When a security patch is released, it’s important to implement it as soon as possible. Delaying can leave your site exposed to serious threats, including data breaches and downtime.
Drupal module and theme updates
Drupal websites often rely on a wide range of contributed modules and themes to deliver functionality and design. These components are regularly updated by their maintainers to resolve bugs, enhance features, and fix potential security issues.
To keep everything running smoothly, module and theme updates should be checked and applied at least once a month for business critical sites and left no longer than once a quarter for brochure type sites that don’t hold customer data or provide critical business or organisational functions. Regular attention helps prevent errors, ensures compatibility, and gives you access to the latest improvements without waiting for issues to arise.
Major Drupal version upgrades
Unlike regular updates, major Drupal upgrades – such as the move from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 – require more extensive planning. These upgrades often introduce new system requirements, updated architecture, and potentially breaking changes that could affect your site’s functionality. Modules and themes may also need to be updated or replaced to work with the new version.
Because of the level of work involved, major upgrades tend to happen every two to three years, depending on Drupal’s official release cycle. Preparing for these in advance is key to avoiding disruption and ensuring a seamless transition.
Drupal performance checks
In addition to keeping your site updated, it’s important to regularly review its overall performance. Over time, pages can slow down due to database inefficiencies, redundant modules, caching issues or code bloat. Technical errors and outdated configurations can also creep in, especially if updates have been missed.
We recommend conducting performance checks quarterly. This allows you to spot and resolve issues early, maintain fast load times, and deliver a smooth user experience. It also gives you the opportunity to assess whether your site continues to meet business goals and user expectations.
Why you should keep your Drupal site updated
There are many compelling reasons to stay on top of updates. First and foremost, your site’s security depends on it. Outdated websites are easy targets for cyber attacks, and even a single vulnerability can result in significant damage. Beyond security, regular updates improve performance, reduce the likelihood of errors, and ensure compatibility with new features and third-party tools.
Neglecting updates can also lead to higher costs in the long run. Fixing a compromised or broken website is often far more expensive and time-consuming than maintaining it properly. If your site is central to your business, keeping it updated isn’t just advisable – it’s essential.
Let Pedalo take care of your Drupal updates
As a quick recap, core and security updates should be handled every one to three months (with security patches applied immediately), modules and themes should also be updated monthly or quarterly at most, major upgrades planned every few years, and performance checks carried out quarterly.
At Pedalo, we offer proactive website management so you don’t have to worry about any of this. Our expert team monitors your Drupal site, applies updates promptly, and conducts regular performance reviews to keep everything running optimally. With us on your side, you can focus on your business – knowing your website is in safe hands. Contact us now to find out more about our Drupal maintenance and support services.