WordPress is actively maintained, and updates come out frequently. The question isn't whether to update — it's how often, and what happens to sites that get left behind.
What needs updating
WordPress core: Major releases come out a few times a year; minor releases (including security patches) come out more frequently and often automatically. These should be applied quickly.
Plugins: Plugin updates are the most frequent and the most important from a security perspective. Developers patch vulnerabilities as they're discovered. A site with plugins that haven't been updated in months is running with known vulnerabilities.
Themes: Theme updates are less frequent but still matter. Security issues in themes can be just as serious as those in plugins.
How often to update
For security patches, as soon as they're available. For feature updates, these can typically wait a few days — it's sensible to let others test new versions first and flag any issues before applying to a live site.
On a practical basis, checking for and applying updates at least once a week is a reasonable rhythm for an active business website.
What happens if you don't update
Outdated plugins with known vulnerabilities are one of the most common entry points for WordPress hacks. Automated tools scan the web for sites running vulnerable versions and exploit them. The longer updates go unapplied, the greater the window of exposure.
How we handle this
Updates are part of every maintenance plan we offer. We check and apply updates regularly, test that nothing has broken, and roll back from a backup if an update causes a problem.
Read more about our website maintenance plans or find out why WordPress sites get hacked.