Managing a website is easier and more secure when your CMS stays up to date automatically. Automatic updates help improve security, patch bugs, and add new features without manual intervention. In this post, we'll explore how automatic updates work in four popular Content Management Systems: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and TYPO3.
WordPress
WordPress has a robust automatic update system built-in since version 3.7. By default, WordPress automatically installs minor core updates, which mostly include security patches and maintenance fixes. Major version updates and plugin or theme updates require manual approval, but can be enabled to update automatically via configuration or plugins.
- Core updates: Minor releases auto-updated by default.
- Plugins & Themes: Can be enabled via admin settings or plugins like Easy Updates Manager.
- Configuration: Define
WP_AUTO_UPDATE_COREinwp-config.phpto control update behavior.
Joomla
Joomla will introduced automatic updates in version 5.4, more information can be found in this pr, allowing users to enable automated updates for the Joomla core. Extensions can also be updated automatically, though this often requires additional configuration or third-party tools.
- Core updates: Automatic updates can be enabled in the backend update component.
- Extension updates: Require manual configuration or external services like backupmonkey or panopticon.
- Security: Recommended to enable automatic core updates to reduce vulnerabilities.
Drupal
Drupal's automatic update capabilities are more limited out-of-the-box but can be enhanced with contributed modules and external tooling. The Automatic Updates module, currently experimental, aims to simplify the process for core and module updates. It is planed to introduce automatic security updates in version 11. According to the initiative description in the official Drupal web site.
- Core & Module updates: Manual updates are standard; automatic updates require modules like Automatic Updates or third-party scripts.
- Composer: Many Drupal sites manage dependencies with Composer, which supports automated update workflows.
- Security: Regular updates are critical, so automating through CI/CD pipelines or cron jobs is common.
TYPO3
TYPO3 supports automated system and extension updates via the TYPO3 Scheduler and CLI tools. While full automatic updates aren’t enabled by default, administrators can set up scripts to check for and apply updates regularly.
- Core updates: Can be automated using TYPO3 CLI commands within scheduled tasks.
- Extension updates: Also manageable via CLI and scheduler tasks.
- Best practice: Combine automated update scripts with monitoring to ensure stability.
Best Practices for Automatic CMS Updates
- Always back up your website before enabling automatic updates.
- Test updates on staging environments before deploying to production.
- Monitor update logs and site health regularly.
- Keep security a top priority by enabling critical security updates automatically.
Why automatic updates should be limited to patch releases
While automatic updates are a great way to keep your CMS secure and up to date, it’s important to be cautious about which updates you allow to be installed automatically. In most CMS platforms, updates come in three types: patch (security and bug fixes), minor, and major releases.
Patch releases generally contain important security patches and bug fixes that have been thoroughly tested and are less likely to cause compatibility issues. Enabling automatic updates for these ensures your site stays protected without much risk.
Minor and major releases often include new features, architecture changes, or deprecations that can potentially break themes, plugins, or customizations. These require thorough testing and manual review before deploying to production to avoid downtime or functionality issues.
Therefore, the best practice is to configure automatic updates to handle only patch releases by default, while scheduling time for testing and manually applying minor and major updates. This balance helps maintain both security and site stability.
Conclusion
Automatic CMS updates save time and improve security, but they should be used thoughtfully. By understanding each CMS’s update mechanisms and combining automation with good backup and monitoring practices, you can keep your website safe and running smoothly.