Seravo's WordPress upkeep service includes automatic and tested updates. We have built our own update system to ensure that updates can be run as safely as possible, without breaking the site's functionality or appearance. It is, of course, possible that the update system won't always notice minor issues, for example, on a specific single page, so in problematic situations, a backup can be restored. Please contact our customer service if you need help with restoring a backup.
You can view the automatic updates and manage their settings from the Upkeep page within the Seravo Plugin.
What Gets Updated? What is Included in Automatic Updates?
Automatic updates include updates to the WordPress core, themes, and plugins that can be updated directly through the WordPress.org service. However, only minor-level updates are performed for the WordPress core, as major core version upgrades can very easily break websites.
My site is reporting an outdated PHP version. Why hasn't it been updated?
PHP version updates are not included in our automatic updates, as they can cause compatibility issues and, in the worst case, lead to the entire site ceasing to function. PHP version updates should therefore always be done under supervision and manually to ensure the site remains operational after the update.
You can also run a compatibility test and change the version yourself on the Upkeep page of the Seravo Plugin. You can find more information about updating the PHP version from this guide.
How often are automatic updates run on sites?
Automatic updates are aimed to be run regularly every few weeks, but security updates are always installed immediately and without testing system, so sites always remain safe and secure.
Why hasn't my site updated even though automatic updates are enabled?
The update system performs several tests at different stages of the update run, and if any test fails, the updates are canceled entirely. The first test run is wp-test, the result of which you can also check yourself on the Seravo Plugin's Upkeep page. If the test shows errors, they should be fixed so that automatic updates start working again. If the errors are not severe, they can also be whitelisted, if necessary, with the help of our developer documentation guide.
Sometimes the first tests pass, but the automatic updates still fail. This is likely because the same test failed after the updates, or for example, a visual regression test produced a sufficiently large difference, causing the update system to interrupt the process so that the site's appearance does not break. More detailed information about the updates can be seen on the Seravo Plugin's Logs page or in the /data/log/update.log file. You can also always contact our customer service if you notice a problem on your site that you have questions about.
Security Updates
WordPress security updates are always installed, whether automatic updates are enabled or not. All WordPress sites maintained by Seravo are under 24/7 monitoring and are watched for any security anomalies.
However, the best demonstration of our commitment to security is that we promise to clean and restore the customer's site to functionality free of charge, should it be compromised despite our security measures and regular updating while under Seravo's upkeep. Read more about the Seravo Security Guarantee.