WordPress monthly maintenance: how to hire and how to DIY

Bonus: Monthly WordPress server maintenance

While WordPress site maintenance keeps your dashboard, content, and plugins in good shape, server maintenance focuses on the health of the system hosting your site. If you’re renting a server—like a WordPress VPS or dedicated server—it’s your responsibility (unless you’re on a fully managed plan) to make sure the server stays fast, secure, and available.

Server maintenance is different because it involves operating system updates, firewall configuration, and resource monitoring outside the WordPress dashboard. Neglecting these tasks can lead to security vulnerabilities, performance issues, or even full server crashes.

Here are the most important monthly server maintenance tasks to keep your WordPress site running smoothly:

Check for OS updates and apply patches

Security patches and OS updates protect against known vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

• Use package managers like apt (Ubuntu/Debian) or yum (CentOS/RHEL) to check for updates.
• Apply updates during low-traffic times and reboot the server if necessary.
• If you’re using a control panel like cPanel or Plesk, look for automatic update settings.

Monitor server disk space

Running out of disk space can crash your website or prevent critical processes (like backups or caching) from working.

• Use commands like df -h to check available space.
• Clean up old backups, logs, and unused files monthly.
• Consider setting up alerts for when disk usage exceeds 80%.

Scan for malware or rootkits

Server-level infections can bypass WordPress security plugins entirely.

• Install tools like ClamAV or RKHunter for malware and rootkit detection.
• Run scans monthly or automatically via cron jobs.
• If malware is found, contact your host or a server security specialist immediately.

Review and rotate server logs

Server logs store important info about user access, errors, and system events, but they can grow quickly.

• Rotate logs monthly to keep them from taking up too much space.
• Use log analysis tools like logwatch or control panel features to check for unusual activity.
• Store critical logs (like access or authentication) for at least 30 days.

Monitor CPU and RAM usage

Spikes in resource usage can signal performance bottlenecks, buggy plugins, or traffic anomalies.

• Use top, htop, or control panel graphs to check usage over time.
• Investigate any persistent spikes or resource exhaustion.
• Consider upgrading your plan if you consistently hit limits.

Verify and test backups at the server level

Even if you’re backing up WordPress through a plugin, it’s smart to run full server-level backups too.

• Use tools like rsync or control panel snapshots to back up the entire system.
• Store backups offsite in a separate location.
• Restore a test backup monthly to ensure it works.

Review firewall rules and security settings

A misconfigured firewall can leave your server exposed or block legitimate traffic.

• If you’re using software firewalls like ufw or CSF, review rules for open ports and whitelisted IPs.
• Check brute-force protection settings and SSH access configurations.
• For managed servers, review security reports from your hosting provider.

If you’re using fully managed hosting for WordPress, many of these tasks are handled for you automatically. But it’s still smart to understand what’s being done and request monthly reports or audits so you can stay informed.