Annual Website Maintenance Checklist for Small Businesses

If your website quietly brings in leads, bookings, or online sales, an annual maintenance checklist is not a nice-to-have – it is basic business hygiene. Over the year you add plugins, change DNS records, install SSL certificates, run campaigns, and maybe even switch hosting plans. Each small change can introduce technical debt: an expiring certificate here, an oversized backup there, a DNS record that no one remembers creating. At dchost.com, when we review small business sites during annual audits, we consistently see the same patterns: hosting plans that no longer match current traffic, SSL certificates about to expire, DNS zones full of legacy records, and backups that have never been test-restored.

This article gives you a practical, non‑dramatic annual website maintenance checklist focused on the four pillars that keep your site online and trustworthy: hosting, SSL/TLS, DNS, and backups. You can run through it once a year (we recommend at least that often) and document what you checked, what you fixed, and what you will improve next year. Whether you are on shared hosting, a VPS, a dedicated server or colocation at dchost.com, you can adapt each step to your setup.

1. Hosting Health Check: Uptime, Performance, and Capacity

Your hosting environment is the foundation of everything else. Before you tweak SSL or DNS, confirm that the server behind your domain is healthy and sized correctly for the next 12 months.

1.1 Confirm Uptime and Real Availability

Start by reviewing uptime over the past year. Most control panels and external monitoring tools can show monthly uptime percentages. Instead of just glancing at a “99.x%” number, drill into when downtime happened and how long it lasted.

• Export uptime reports from your monitoring or hosting panel.
• Note recurring patterns (for example, short interruptions during backups or maintenance windows).
• Compare this against your business hours and seasonal peaks.

If you are unsure how to interpret uptime numbers and SLAs, you can review our guide on what 99.9% uptime really means in practice. Use that to decide whether your current availability aligns with your business risk tolerance.

1.2 Check CPU, RAM, Disk and IO Usage

Next, look at how hard your server has been working. Overloaded servers lead to slow page loads, timeouts, and poor conversion rates. Underused servers mean you might be overpaying.

• From your panel or monitoring, review average and peak CPU and RAM usage.
• Check disk usage and, if visible, disk IO or “IOwait” percentages.
• Look for frequent 503/504 errors in logs, which can signal resource exhaustion.

On shared hosting, you may see caps like “CPU seconds” or “entry processes”. On VPS and dedicated servers, you will have direct CPU/RAM metrics. If you notice sustained high utilization or repeated resource-limit warnings, it may be time to resize your plan or optimize your application. Our article on server-side signals that it is time to upgrade your hosting can help you decide between tuning and scaling up.

1.3 Patch and Update the Software Stack

Once a year, schedule a controlled window to review and update your hosting software stack. This includes:

• Operating system security updates
• Web server (Apache, Nginx, LiteSpeed) updates
• PHP version and extensions
• Database server (MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL) updates

Old PHP and database versions do not just reduce performance; they also become unsupported and insecure over time. If you run WordPress or PHP applications, check their compatibility and plan a safe upgrade path. On multi‑site environments, managing multiple PHP versions per site is often essential; we have a detailed guide on managing multiple PHP versions on cPanel and DirectAdmin that you can adapt to your own stack.

1.4 Security and Access Review on the Server

At least once per year, perform a security audit of your hosting account, VPS or dedicated server:

• Remove unused system users, FTP accounts and SSH keys.
• Rotate panel and database passwords, and enforce strong password policies.
• Confirm that firewall rules (UFW, nftables, security groups) still reflect your needs.
• Run malware scans if your hosting platform provides them.

If you manage your own VPS or dedicated server at dchost.com, this is also the right moment to re‑read your hardening checklist and ensure all recommendations are still in place.

2. SSL/TLS and HTTPS: Certificates, Security, and Trust

Nothing erodes trust faster than a browser showing “Not Secure” or a red padlock on your site. SSL/TLS certificates and HTTPS redirects must be checked at least annually, even if you have automation.

2.1 Inventory All Certificates and Expiration Dates

List every domain and subdomain that serves content or APIs for your business:

• Main website (for example, www.example.com and root domain)
• Staging or admin panels, if they are publicly reachable
• APIs, landing pages, or microsites on subdomains

For each hostname, note:

• Certificate issuer (Let’s Encrypt, commercial CA, etc.)
• Type (DV, OV, EV, wildcard)
• Expiration date and renewal method (manual or automatic)

Compare the certificate details with your internal documentation to ensure nothing has been left out. Our deeper dive on SSL certificate security updates and what to change when can help you decide whether your current setup is still appropriate for your risk profile.

2.2 Test HTTPS Redirects and Mixed Content

Even if your certificate is valid, misconfigured redirects and mixed content can break the user experience or SEO:

• Type http://yourdomain.com and http://www.yourdomain.com in a browser and confirm both redirect to a single canonical https:// URL.
• Use browser developer tools or online scanners to check for mixed content (HTTP images, scripts or CSS on HTTPS pages).
• Ensure your CMS or framework is configured to generate HTTPS URLs by default.

If you are planning a full migration from HTTP to HTTPS or want to ensure you are following best practices on redirects and HSTS, see our guide on moving a site from HTTP to HTTPS with correct 301 redirects and HSTS. For troubleshooting common warnings, our article on fixing SSL certificate errors such as mixed content and browser “Not Secure” messages is a practical companion.

2.3 Evaluate Certificate Types and Coverage

Your business may have evolved since you first installed SSL. Use your annual review to check if your current certificate strategy still fits:

• Do you now run e‑commerce or handle sensitive data? Consider higher‑assurance certificates if appropriate.
• Have you added new subdomains? Maybe a wildcard certificate would simplify management.
• Do you manage certificates manually on multiple servers? It might be time to centralize and automate issuance and renewal.

For a structured overview of DV, OV, EV and wildcard options, and when each makes sense for small business, our guide on choosing the right SSL certificate type for e‑commerce and SaaS provides a useful framework.

2.4 Harden TLS Settings Where Possible

If you control your own web server configuration (for example, on a VPS or dedicated server at dchost.com), add a quick TLS hardening check to your annual routine:

• Disable legacy protocols (TLS 1.0/1.1) if they are still enabled.
• Review cipher suites and prefer modern, secure algorithms.
• Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) if you are fully committed to HTTPS.
• Double‑check OCSP stapling and certificate chain configuration.

Even small adjustments here can significantly improve both security and performance, especially for returning visitors.

3. DNS and Domain Hygiene: Records, Security and Ownership

DNS is often “set once and forgotten” – until something changes (like moving email or hosting) and no one remembers why a record exists. An annual DNS review keeps your domain safe and prevents surprises when you make future changes.

3.1 Confirm Domain Ownership and Contact Details

Start with the basics:

• Log in to your domain registrar and verify you still control the account and recovery email.
• Check that domain WHOIS contact information (owner, admin, technical) is accurate and uses email addresses you still monitor.
• Ensure auto‑renewal is active and payment methods are up to date.

Small businesses sometimes lose domains simply because an old employee’s email was the only contact. Your annual review is the time to correct that. For broader portfolio management, especially if you own multiple domains, our article on domain portfolio management and organizing renewals and billing is worth bookmarking.

3.2 Audit DNS Records: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT and More

Next, open your DNS zone and systematically review each record:

• A/AAAA records: Confirm they point to your current hosting IPs.
• CNAMEs: Check that aliases still reference active hostnames.
• MX records: Verify that they match your active email platform.
• TXT records: Update SPF, DKIM and other verification records; remove those that are no longer used.
• Old subdomains: Remove records for decommissioned projects or test environments.

Cleaning up unused records reduces the risk of someone reusing an old hostname in a way that confuses customers or undermines email deliverability. If DNS notation still feels cryptic, our guide that explains DNS records from A through CAA with real‑world gotchas is a friendly refresher.

3.3 Review TTLs and Change Management Practices

Time To Live (TTL) values control how long DNS responses are cached. They also influence how fast changes propagate. As part of your annual checklist:

• Identify critical records (main A/AAAA, MX, API endpoints) and ensure their TTLs match your change frequency.
• Document a procedure for temporarily lowering TTL before planned migrations or cutovers.
• Standardize default TTL values for new records.

If you often migrate sites or switch services, we recommend setting up an internal playbook similar to the one we use in our guide on TTL strategies for zero‑downtime DNS migrations. Having this written down prevents last‑minute improvisation.

3.4 Strengthen Domain and DNS Security

Finally, add a security pass over your domain and DNS configuration:

• Enable registrar lock to prevent unauthorized transfers.
• Activate two‑factor authentication on your registrar and DNS accounts.
• Consider enabling DNSSEC if your registrar and DNS provider support it.
• Add CAA records to restrict which certificate authorities can issue SSL certificates for your domain.

These steps dramatically reduce the risk of domain hijacking and unauthorized certificate issuance. For a structured overview, see our guide to domain security best practices including registrar lock, DNSSEC and 2FA.

4. Backups and Disaster Recovery: More Than “It Ran Once”

Backups are often configured once and then forgotten – until a crisis reveals that they were incomplete, corrupted, or impossible to restore. An annual maintenance window is the perfect time to test your assumptions.

4.1 Validate Your 3‑2‑1 Backup Strategy

A practical rule for small businesses is the 3‑2‑1 backup strategy:

• 3 copies of your data (production + 2 backups)
• on 2 different types of storage (for example, server disk and object storage)
• with at least 1 copy offsite (in another data center or region)

During your annual review, map your actual setup against this model. Are you keeping multiple versions? Are some backups stored in the same physical location as the server? Are backups encrypted where appropriate? Our article on implementing the 3‑2‑1 backup strategy on cPanel, Plesk and VPS walks through configurations you can adapt to dchost.com infrastructure.

4.2 Perform a Full Test Restore

The only meaningful backup test is a restore test. Once per year:

• Spin up a staging environment (for example, another account or VPS).
• Restore your latest full site backup (files, database, configuration).
• Check that the restored site loads correctly, admin logins work, and key features (forms, checkout, login) function as expected.
• Measure how long the process takes – this gives you a realistic Recovery Time Objective (RTO).

Keep notes: where you stored credentials, which extra steps were required (such as updating configuration files or domain settings), and any surprises you encountered. These notes become the basis for a simple, reliable disaster recovery runbook.

4.3 Review Backup Scope and Frequency

As your website grows, so does the amount of data you need to protect. Use your annual review to confirm:

• All critical directories (web root, uploads, custom code) are included.
• Databases are dumped or replicated in a consistent state.
• Backup frequency matches how often your content or orders change.
• You keep an appropriate level of retention (for example, daily backups for 7 days, weekly for 4 weeks, monthly for 6–12 months).

If you run WordPress or similar CMS platforms, you may combine hosting‑level backups with application‑level ones. Our article on WordPress backup strategies on shared hosting and VPS shows how to layer automatic hosting backups with CMS‑aware tools.

4.4 Check Backup Storage Costs and Location

Backups can quietly become one of your largest recurring costs if they are not pruned. Once a year, review:

• Total storage used by backups across all platforms.
• Old backups that no longer match your retention policy.
• Whether offsite copies live in an appropriate region for your compliance needs.

If you are using object storage or external backup systems connected to your hosting at dchost.com, this is a good time to confirm lifecycle rules (for example, moving older backups to colder storage) and encryption settings.

5. Email, Domain, and Business Continuity Checks

While hosting, SSL, DNS and backups are the core of this checklist, a complete annual review should also include a quick pass over email and business continuity details that depend on your infrastructure.

5.1 Email Deliverability Basics

Misconfigured DNS records or host changes can slowly degrade email deliverability without anyone noticing. Once a year, verify:

• Your SPF record matches your current sending services.
• DKIM keys are published for any platform that signs your email.
• You have, at minimum, a basic DMARC policy with reporting enabled.

Send test messages to common mailbox providers and check if they land in the inbox or spam folder. If you have changed IP addresses or providers during the year, patience and consistent configuration are important; do not wait for a deliverability crisis to review these settings.

5.2 Domain Lifecycle and Renewal Strategy

Every year, take stock of your domain lifecycle:

• Note expiry dates for all business‑critical domains.
• Decide which secondary domains (typo variants, regional names) are still worth renewing.
• Ensure key staff know what happens if a domain accidentally expires and how to react.

Document a simple policy: how far in advance you renew core domains, who receives registrar emails, and what budget is allocated for defensive domain registrations. This might sound administrative, but we have seen multiple small businesses scramble because a single overlooked renewal interrupted website and email access.

5.3 Contact and Runbook Verification

Finally, confirm that your operational documentation is still accurate:

• Who is responsible for hosting, DNS and SSL decisions?
• Which dchost.com services (shared hosting, VPS, dedicated, colocation) are part of your stack?
• Where is your disaster recovery runbook stored, and who can access it?

In a real incident, the biggest delays often come from not knowing who has which password or which provider controls which piece of the stack. An annual review is your opportunity to reduce that friction before it matters.

6. Turn the Checklist into a Repeatable Process

A checklist only delivers value if it becomes a habit. To make this annual website maintenance routine sustainable for a small business:

• Put dates on the calendar: Choose a quiet period each year and block a half‑day for technical review.
• Create a simple document: A shared file or ticket template that lists each step in this article, with fields for “status”, “notes” and “next action”.
• Assign ownership: Even if you work with an external agency, someone inside your company should be accountable for making sure the review happens.
• Track changes: Keep a changelog of major infrastructure adjustments (new VPS, SSL changes, DNS migrations) so next year’s review is faster.

Over time, this documentation becomes a lightweight operating manual for your digital presence – very useful when staff changes, agencies rotate, or you add new sites and services.

Conclusion: A Few Hours That Protect the Next 12 Months

Running through an annual website maintenance checklist can feel like overhead until you compare it with the cost of even a single serious incident: days of lost sales from downtime, reputation damage from an expired SSL certificate, or the stress of realizing your only backup is months old. By systematically reviewing hosting health, SSL/TLS, DNS configuration and backups, you lower the risk of these scenarios dramatically and give your business a calmer, more predictable technical foundation.

At dchost.com, we see the difference in small businesses that treat their infrastructure as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one‑time setup. Whether you are on shared hosting, a VPS, a dedicated server or colocation with us, you can adapt the steps above to your current environment and your future growth plans. Block a slot in your calendar, work through the checklist, and capture what you learn. If you discover that your current hosting plan, backup setup or SSL strategy no longer fits, our team at dchost.com is ready to help you plan the next phase – with the same calm, structured approach you used for this review.