The different types of updates in Drupal

Drupal offers several types of updates, each with a specific function to keep the site in good condition. They fall into three broad categories:

✚ Security updates

Security updates are essential to protect your site against potential vulnerabilities. Drupal, like any other CMS, can be the target of cyberattacks, and security flaws can compromise sensitive user data.
The Drupal security teams regularly release patches to close these loopholes. Each patch should be applied as soon as it becomes available, as waiting can expose the site to major risks.

To anticipate any security issues your website may have, don't hesitate to perform a site audit.

Recommended frequency:As soon as they are published, usually monthly or bi-monthly.

✚Feature updates

Feature updates are less urgent than security updates, but they can improve the user experience, add new options or optimize site performance.
These updates can be more cumbersome and require extensive testing before being integrated, especially if custom modules or themes are used. However, they should not be neglected, as they often offer long-term benefits in terms of site management and compatibility with future versions of Drupal.

Recommended frequency: With each new stable release, usually every six months.

✚ Module and theme updates

In addition to Drupal core, there are numerous modules and themes that enhance the CMS. These external components also require regular updates to correct bugs, improve compatibility or enhance security.
Recommended frequency: Regularly, depending on the release of new versions by developers. It's advisable to check their availability at least once a month.

Why are Drupal updates indispensable?

✚ Security

The main argument for regular Drupal updates lies in security. Drupal is used by many large organizations and governments, making it an attractive target for cyber attacks. Ignoring security updates exposes a site to the risk of intrusions, data theft or complete deactivation.
The Drupal community works actively to identify vulnerabilities and correct them quickly. Therefore, site administrators should ensure that their site is always up to date with the latest security fixes.

✚ Stability and performance

Over time, bugs may appear or incompatibilities may arise, particularly if the site integrates third-party modules or if changes are made to the infrastructure (server, database, etc.).). Updates help to correct these problems and ensure the long-term stability of the site.

In addition, some Drupal updates bring significant performance improvements. A regularly updated site will perform better, offer an optimized user experience and rank higher in search engines, which is a crucial point for any web project.

✚ Compatibility with modern technologies

The web is evolving fast, and a CMS like Drupal needs to adapt to new standards and technologies. Updates ensure that Drupal remains compatible with new web standards, browsers and servers. Take care, too, that your site isn't poorly developed.

An unupdated Drupal site runs the risk of accumulating obsolete technologies that may not only affect performance, but also compatibility with plugins, themes or even hosting services.

How often should you perform these updates?

✚ Minor updates: regular and essential

Minor versions of Drupal, such as 9.1 to 9.2, for example, are released every six months on average. These versions include feature and security updates that should be implemented as soon as possible.

It is recommended to schedule regular maintenance cycles, on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, to check for available updates and apply them. At the same time, it's important to monitor Drupal's security announcements so as not to miss any critical patches.

✚ Major updates: a necessary preparation

Major versions of Drupal (such as the transition from Drupal 8 to Drupal 9) are released every two to three years. They introduce deeper changes that may require more complex adaptation. Enlist the help of experts to anticipate these changes.

It's often necessary to prepare for migration to a major new version well in advance of its release, including identifying compatible modules and themes and carrying out thorough testing. However, these updates also offer numerous opportunities in terms of advanced functionality and performance improvements.

How to manage Drupal updates efficiently

✚ Implementing a maintenance plan

One of the best ways to manage Drupal updates is to implement a regular maintenance plan. This plan should include frequent security announcement checks, performance audits and compatibility testing to ensure that each update is properly applied without service interruption.

✚ The automation of updates

Drupal offers solutions for automating certain updates, particularly those of modules. By automating these processes, it is possible to save time and minimize the risk of oversights.

However, some updates, particularly those affecting the kernel, must be managed manually to avoid incompatibilities and ensure that critical site functionality is not affected.

✚ The role of test environments

Before deploying an update on a production site, it is essential to test new versions in a pre-production environment. This allows any bugs to be detected and corrected without impacting end users.

The risks of ignoring updates

✚ Security degradation

As mentioned above, neglecting security updates exposes the site to cyber-attacks. Even a minor flaw can be exploited by hackers to gain access to sensitive data or compromise site stability.

✚ The drop in performance

An unupdated site accumulates bugs and compatibility problems that can affect its speed and efficiency. A site that is slow or suffers frequent breakdowns will lose visitors and, potentially, revenue.

✚ Loss of compatibility with new technologies

Browsers, operating systems and web standards are constantly evolving. A Drupal site that is not updated risks becoming obsolete and offering a poor user experience, particularly on new devices or browsers.

The key to a high-performance, secure Drupal site lies in implementing a well-organized maintenance plan, incorporating frequent update cycles, rigorous testing and active monitoring of new versions. In this way, a Drupal site can evolve serenely while ensuring an optimal user experience.

At Parker+Parker, we have dozens of Drupal projects to our credit, so if you have any questions or are looking for experts, please don't hesitate to contact us right here.