Before undertaking Enterprise projects for our customers we often get asked why a website would need an audit. As an agency for us it is important to look at the current performance of a website and a number of issues that the website may have, included in our audit is the following:

  • Code Quality – It’s important for us to understand and verify the quality of the underlying code and themes along with our ability to support it post audit
  • Version Control/Deployment Pipeline – This is to ensure we can safely and responsibly test and deploy track changes along with rollback
  • Codebase Completion – We’ll check for completeness and documented code to ensure our developers can work with the inherited code
  • Codebase Compiling
  • Plugins – Review their status as active/non active and check if they are up to date
  • Security Scanning – We’ll use Enterprise WordPress security scanners such as WordFence to check for any existing or known vulnerabilities
  • Site Performance – We check for site speed issues using Google Page Speed/YSlow
  • WordPress User and Access Accounts – Review of number of users, access credentials to in line with security best practice
  • WordPress  – Review WordPress functionality including CMS, plugins. contact forms and content editing.
  • Integrations – Understanding any integrations with other business systems (e.g., Dynamics), which could be in the form of code, a technical diagram or document.
  • Technical SEO – Run a crawl of the website using AHREFS and Screaming Frog to identify onsite technical SEO issues
  • Technical/Functional Specification Documents (Where available)

The reason we do this is for the following reasons:

  • Security: Enterprise websites often handle sensitive customer data, financial transactions, or confidential information. Regular audits help identify security vulnerabilities, weak points, or outdated components that could be exploited by malicious actors. By conducting security audits, businesses can implement necessary security measures and protect their website and users’ data.
  • Performance Optimisation: Enterprise websites are expected to handle high traffic volumes and provide a smooth user experience. Auditing the website’s performance helps identify performance bottlenecks, slow-loading pages, or inefficient code. By optimising the website’s performance, businesses can enhance user satisfaction, reduce bounce rates, and improve conversion rates.
  • Compliance and Regulations: Enterprises often have to adhere to specific industry regulations or data protection laws, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). Auditing ensures that the website meets the required compliance standards, safeguarding user privacy and avoiding potential legal issues or penalties.
  • Functionality and User Experience: Auditing the website’s functionality and user experience helps identify any broken links, usability issues, or inconsistencies in design. By conducting regular audits, businesses can enhance the website’s functionality, streamline user flows, and improve overall user satisfaction.
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimisation): Auditing the website’s SEO performance helps identify opportunities for optimization, such as improving page load speed, optimizing content, or enhancing meta tags. By addressing SEO issues, businesses can increase their website’s visibility in search engine results, attract more organic traffic, and improve online visibility.
  • Scalability and Future Growth: Enterprise websites often need to scale and accommodate growing user bases or expanding business requirements. Auditing helps assess the website’s architecture, scalability, and readiness for future growth. By identifying potential scalability challenges, businesses can proactively plan and implement necessary infrastructure upgrades or code optimisations to ensure a smooth scaling process.
  • Integration and Compatibility: If the enterprise website relies on various plugins, themes, or integrations, auditing ensures that all components work harmoniously together. Compatibility issues or outdated software versions can lead to functionality problems or security vulnerabilities. By auditing these integrations, businesses can identify and address any compatibility issues and ensure seamless operation.
  • Risk Mitigation: Auditing allows businesses to proactively identify and mitigate risks associated with their website. By conducting regular audits, businesses can identify potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses before they are exploited, minimizing the impact of potential security breaches or system failures.

When auditing WordPress or WooCommerce enterprise websites it is crucial to ensure security, optimise performance, comply with regulations, enhance functionality and user experience, improve SEO, plan for scalability, and mitigate risks. It helps maintain a robust and reliable online presence, safeguarding user data and delivering a positive user experience.

Contact us today to help with your Audit!