Many organisations avoid WordPress updates because they’re worried about breaking something.
It’s a common and understandable concern, especially if a previous update caused problems or resulted in unexpected downtime. When a site is “working well enough”, updates can feel like an unnecessary risk rather than a priority. As a result, they’re postponed again and again until they quietly fall off the radar.
Unfortunately, avoiding updates altogether usually creates a much bigger problem down the line.
The cost of ignoring WordPress updates is rarely obvious at first. Instead, it builds gradually in the background, compounding over time until a routine task turns into a critical issue.
Why WordPress Updates Exist in the First Place
WordPress updates are not released at random, and they’re not just about adding new features.
Most updates exist to address specific, known issues such as:
- Security vulnerabilities
- Compatibility problems with PHP, hosting platforms, or browsers
- Performance bugs or inefficiencies
- Support for newer technologies and standards
When these updates are published, the details often become public knowledge very quickly. Security researchers, hosting providers, and plugin developers all share information openly. That transparency helps the ecosystem improve, but it also means attackers know exactly what to look for.
Security Risks Grow the Longer Updates Are Delayed
The majority of WordPress security incidents don’t come from WordPress core itself. They come from plugins or themes that haven’t been updated.
Once a vulnerability is identified and patched, attackers begin scanning the web for sites that haven’t applied the fix. This scanning is automated and indiscriminate. It doesn’t matter whether a site is large or small, well known or obscure.
An outdated WordPress site becomes a soft target simply because it’s behind.
Ignoring updates doesn’t reduce risk. It concentrates it. The longer updates are delayed, the more vulnerabilities accumulate, increasing the chances of something being exploited.
Why Updates Become Harder and Riskier Over Time
One of the most common patterns we see is update avoidance caused by fear, which then makes updates genuinely more dangerous later on.
When updates are delayed:
- Compatibility gaps widen between plugins, themes, and WordPress core
- Multiple major updates need to be applied at once
- Dependencies change without being accounted for
- Testing becomes more complex and time consuming
- Troubleshooting takes longer because more variables are involved
What could have been a routine, low risk update turns into a high risk operation. This reinforces the belief that updates are dangerous, even though the real issue is how long they’ve been ignored.
Eventually, updates stop feeling optional because something breaks or a security issue forces action.
Performance and Stability Quietly Decline
Beyond security, outdated sites often suffer from gradual performance degradation.
Older code may not take advantage of modern optimisations. Plugins built for newer WordPress versions may run inefficiently or behave unpredictably. Over time, page load times creep up, admin areas feel sluggish, and reliability starts to suffer.
These changes are subtle, but they have real consequences. Slower sites impact user experience, search visibility, and conversion rates.
The Hidden Cost to the Business
The real cost of ignoring updates rarely appears as a single line item.
Instead, it shows up over time through:
- Increased support and developer costs
- Emergency fixes outside normal working hours
- Lost productivity due to downtime or admin issues
- Reduced lifespan of the website as a usable asset
- Stress and uncertainty whenever changes are needed
Because these costs are reactive rather than planned, they’re usually higher and harder to justify internally. What could have been steady, predictable maintenance turns into sporadic, expensive interventions.
Updates Are About Risk Management, Not Features
A common misconception is that updates are mainly about new features.
In reality, updates are about keeping risk under control. They ensure the site remains compatible with its environment, supported by developers, and resilient against known threats. Regular updates reduce uncertainty and make the site easier to manage over time.
A site that’s kept up to date is far more predictable than one that’s been left untouched for months or years.
How BBI Manages WordPress Updates Safely
At BBI, updates are treated as a controlled, ongoing process rather than a disruptive event.
Instead of letting sites fall behind, we keep everything moving forward in manageable steps. Updates are reviewed, tested where appropriate, and applied with a clear understanding of how the site is built and how it’s used.
This approach:
- Reduces the risk of breaking changes
- Prevents large update backlogs from forming
- Makes troubleshooting faster and more effective
- Removes the fear that causes updates to be avoided
If your WordPress site has fallen behind on updates, we can help bring it back into a supported, stable state without unnecessary disruption. The goal isn’t change for the sake of it, but ensuring your website remains secure, reliable, and cost effective to run over the long term.