CMS

How it works

• Content lives in a database and pages are built from templates when a visitor arrives.
• Hosted platforms (Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify) run the software for you. Self-hosted ones such as WordPress leave updates, backups and security to you.
• Every plugin is code someone else wrote, and out-of-date plugins are a common way sites get hacked.
• Admin logins need strong passwords and MFA, and the site needs its own backup.

What can go wrong (example scenario)

A six-person law firm's WordPress site had not been updated in two years. A plugin flaw let an attacker add hidden pages selling counterfeit goods. Google flagged the site as deceptive. Prospects searching the firm's name saw a warning instead of a website.

How WILDCARD handles it

Managed Hosting covers hosting the site. Keeping the CMS, theme and plugins current, the admin login locked down and the site backed up is the kind of work that card looks after.

• A dental office edits its hours and team page in a CMS without calling a developer.
• A law firm wants its WordPress plugins updated weekly and the admin login behind MFA.
• A retailer runs Shopify as its CMS and store together, and needs staff logins reviewed when people leave.

Example scenario: A small landscaping company's website was defaced with a political message over a long weekend. The CMS was two major versions behind and the admin password was the company name. The site was restored from backup in an hour, updated, and the login was moved behind a strong password and MFA.

A question owners ask

Which CMS should a small business use?

The one someone will keep updated. A hosted platform removes most of the maintenance burden. Self-hosted WordPress is flexible and needs someone responsible for updates every week.