An unsupported WordPress site brought up to date in six days

About Heritage Memorials

Heritage Memorials Ltd is a Canadian monument maker in Windsor, with custom granite memorials, laser etching, a catalogue, a carving search and a network of sales representatives. We did not design its website; we brought it up to date.

The problem

The site ran on a PHP version so old that WordPress no longer offered updates for its core, theme or plugins. Before approving the work, the client asked whether the files would also be scanned for malware.

What we did

• Why updates were blocked A review of the site and a plain explanation of what was holding the updates back.
• PHP 8.2.29 The theme and custom code adjusted to run on a current PHP version, then PHP upgraded to 8.2.29 and all plugins updated.
• A malware scan The whole site scanned. Nothing was found.
• Carving Search rebuilt Its card sections relied on Easy Columns, an unsupported plugin that broke on the new PHP version, so we rebuilt them.
• Tested The site checked, including the head office enquiry form. We also found why the Sales Agents map was not loading: the Google Maps key is not authorised for the domain and billing is not enabled on the Google account.

The result

Six days from introduction to completion report. The site now runs on a supported PHP version, with updated plugins, a clean malware scan and a working Carving Search page. More on our core, theme and plugin updates page.