Menu
Menu
Our clients tell us they want websites that look great; are easy to use; and are fast, reliable and secure.
At OM4 we do all we can to design your website to look fantastic and to easily solve your customer problems.
When it comes to website speed, reliability and security the way we configure your site matters, but mostly these qualities come from your website host.
That’s why we work with the WP Engine WordPress Digital Platform for website hosting.
WP Engine provide business grade hosting for WordPress websites.
What does business grade mean? Business grade recognises that in many cases your website is your income. Your website is central to the well-being of your business or organisation and it matters that your web visitors feel confident using your site.
For most visitors that means a seamless experience where everything looks and works the way you expect.
That’s why OM4 chooses a host that has infrastructure and resources dedicated to the reliability and security of your website.
Read the 4 steps WP Engine says helps keep your website secure
WP Engine has technical support available via online chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.
if you ever need problem solving to keep your website available online, or if you ever have a technical issue out of hours you can launch a quick chat with someone who can help.
Read about WP Engine’s Tech Support
WP Engine automatically keeps your WordPress software up to date. WordPress usually releases new versions once or twice a year, and will issues other core security updates when necessary.
WP Engine completes your security updates as soon as possible. All other updates are completed with 7 to 10 days of the new release.
Read about updating WordPress with WP Engine
Website Backups and Business Continuity Expand
WP Engine automatically takes a backup copy of your website every night and stores up to a month’s worth of these copies. Those backups are accessible by you, with a one click restoration process.
You can take your own backup copies of your website any time you wish. It is recommended that you know how to create backup points and how to restore your Live website to a prior backup if needed.
It is also recommended that you regularly login to your WP Engine control panel and download a backup copy of your website to store in a secure offsite location. Third party services are available to assist with this process. For more information about these services please view the OM4 Terms of Service.
Have your own website restoration plan in place, and regularly test and verify your restoration process.
Read how WP Engine recommends you backup and/or restore your website
Plugin and Theme Updates Expand
Your WordPress website requires regular software updates. WP Engine applies all core WordPress updates (and PHP updates if applicable).
You are responsible for other updates for plugins and themes. This is a task you can learn to complete yourself or you can use the WP Engine service called Smart Plugin Manager (SPM).
Clients covered by OM4’s Business Hosting + Auto Updates subscription have Smart Plugin Manager bundled in with their web hosting. Clients with independent WP Engine web hosting are able to purchase SPM directly from WP Engine.
No matter who performs a software update, it is important that you test the functions of your website immediately after the update. This includes the ongoing performance of forms and online bookings or sales.
Here is a brief outline of the steps OM4 recommends when updating your website software. More details of steps follow in coming sections.
When it’s time to update your website it’s recommended that you create a Staging site (a complete copy of your Live website) so you can try out new plugins or test updates before they run on your Live site.
Read about updating plugins and themes with WP Engine
The Staging or Development Environment Expand
In addition to your live or Production website, WP Engine offers the opportunity to create identical and independent Staging and Development environments.
These independent clones of your live (Production) website can be used for testing updates and for trialling new designs or development options.
Unsure of your WP Engine login details? Please contact service@om4.com.au for assistance.
Video demonstration updating plugins & themes using Staging Environment Expand
Watch a 28 minute video demonstration of the updating process when you use the 3 environment staging site option:
See the necessary steps in action on the OM4 Demonstration website, and then apply the same technique to your website. Remember, if you have a WooCommerce shop on your website, and it’s time to update the WooCommerce plugin, you need to apply these special instructions to the process demonstrated in the video.
Guide to updating plugins and themes in the Staging environment
Updating WooCommerce Plugins Expand
This video by WooCommerce touches on important points about updating your WooCommerce plugin.
Your website is hosted by WP Engine and two benefits of this hosting partnership is that WP Engine takes daily backups of your website, and makes it easy for you to create a staging website. Both these things are recommended in the video.
WooCommerce also recommends that you follow particular steps when updating your WooCommerce plugins. Read on to learn more about these steps for both the Legacy and Staging environments.
Updating the WooCommerce plugin in the Staging environment
Regular Website Testing Expand
What are the essential/important functions of your website? Do you have enquiry forms, eCommerce transactions, mailing list signups and other important product or service pages?
All of these important parts of your website require regular testing. Testing is especially important after making major changes your website, and/or updating WordPress, your WordPress plugins, or WordPress theme.
For example if you have an online store, create a $1 test product and use it to check how your store functions. Include the shipping rates quoted during checkout. Purchase your test product and make a full payment so you can see the payment gateway and all email notifications work correctly.
If your website includes a newsletter or mailing list subscription feature, we recommend testing that also.
We recommend that you log out of your website when testing. That means your experience is as much like your customers’ experience as possible. Also also test your website using a mobile or tablet device.
Sometimes after installing plugin updates, your WordPress site may start showing 404 (File Not Found) errors. Quite often this can be fixed easily by logging into Dashboard, Settings, Permalinks and saving the permalink settings.
This flushes WordPress’ internal page (permalink) settings, which is the most common way to solve a 404 error in WordPress.
Read what WP Engine says about 404 errors
Bandwidth, Optimisation and Large Files Expand
If you want a high speed business website, you need to know the best way for your website to handle large files. Any images or PDFs accessed via your website must be optimised for the web.
If your website needs to access large files that you cannot optimise, make use of offsite hosting. Read on to learn more about handling Bandwidth, Optimisation and Large Files.
Read what WP Engine says about maximum upload file size
In the rare event that your website fails, check the latest WP Engine System Status announcements or contact WP Engine directly for assistance via their Support Team.
You also have the option of engaging OM4 in a troubleshooting role. This assistance is billable at our hourly rate. Please see the OM4 Service Policy for details.
Read this OM4 summary of seeking help from WP Engine
To contact WP Engine at any time, go to my.wpengine.com and log in. Click the life ring icon (top right) to initiate a chat with the WP Engine Support team.
Read this OM4 summary of seeking help from WP Engine
Updating the Bridge Theme Expand
Special circumstances apply to updates on websites using the Bridge Theme.
Bridge Theme Updates
Special circumstances apply to updates on websites using the Avada Theme.
Legal | Privacy Policy | OM4 Software | Copyright 2007-2024 OM4 | ABN: 71 113 915 601