5 Reasons Why You Should Always Upgrade Your Magento 2 Hosting Package

As a specialist in Magento hosting, ‘Should I upgrade to Magento 2?’ is a question we’re regularly asked. Consistently upgrading to the latest version of Magento is vital if you want your eCommerce store to reap the benefits, remain competitive, and not fall behind your rivals. Magento updates are frequent and comprehensive, so it pays to be at the forefront of development, rather than being left behind with outdated software that doesn’t quite deliver what you need.

Staying up to date with the most recent version of Magento also means there will be updates to security, such as bug fixes, enabling your website to avoid vulnerabilities. So, what are the most important reasons why you should upgrade your Magento 2 hosting package?

Most Magento updates contain the latest security patches, which are essential to protecting your business from cybercrime. Nearly all updates include a security upgrade, while a completely new version of Magento will include all the patches from previous updates. Cybercrime is a serious problem for eCommerce retailers, the effects of which should not be underestimated. A successful attack on your business could result in extensive financial losses, costly business downtime, compliance breaches, and long-term reputational damage. By upgrading your Magento 2 hosting package, you will minimise the risk of cyberattacks or hacks on your eCommerce store, protecting your customers and your assets.

Does it matter if your website has a slower loading speed than your rivals? Unfortunately, yes. According to research, consumers expect a near-instantaneous response when they open a website. Up to half of the internet users abandon a page if it fails to load within two seconds, resulting in halted sales leads and lost revenue. If you upgrade Magento 2 to the latest version, your eCommerce website will benefit from optimised speeds and redesigned pages to minimise loading times. A quicker and smoother-running website will deter customers from leaving hurriedly and will maximise opportunities to secure sales.

As well as security patches and new features, Magento upgrades often include updates to infrastructure and code quality. The Magento 2.4.2 upgrade, for example, featured over 280 enhancements to core code to improve the quality of the framework. Magento developers are constantly working on improving the eCommerce platform, with fixes ranging from the minor clean-up of code to major enhancements such as GraphQL. For retailers, many of the benefits of infrastructure improvements may be unnoticed, but that doesn’t detract from the importance of staying up to date. Upgrades will improve the stability of your website and ensure on-site development is efficient.

Some Magento upgrades include new features or functionality that will help you to scale up your eCommerce store. Magento 2.3.2, for instance, included simpler data exports, tools to generate discount coupons, and mass product editing for improved speed and efficiency. A constant stream of new features will support your store’s growth and make it easier to launch new products and promotions. Magento upgrading is a complex task, so it makes sense not to do it alone when implementing the latest version. By working with our team of skilled Magento engineers, you can be confident that any performance related issues will be addressed to ensure full site optimisation for your store.

The eCommerce landscape is rapidly evolving, so it pays to be abreast of change. Implementing Magento upgrades yourself can be time-consuming and divert your focus from your strategic business development, whereas a specialist team of Magento engineers can look after your eCommerce platform on your behalf, ensuring you benefit from the latest updates as soon as they are available.

At MDOQ, our expert engineers can streamline Magento upgrades for you, giving you the time to concentrate on growing your business.

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