430 lines
12 KiB
JSON
430 lines
12 KiB
JSON
{
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"id": "wordpress-maintenance-checklist-2026",
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"slug": "wordpress-maintenance-checklist-2026",
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"type": "seo",
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"title": "WordPress Maintenance Checklist for 2026: Keep Your Site Running Smoothly",
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"excerpt": "A comprehensive maintenance checklist to keep your WordPress site secure, fast, and reliable. Learn the essential tasks for daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance routines.",
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"content": {
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"blocks": [
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Running a WordPress site requires ongoing maintenance to ensure it remains secure, fast, and reliable. Without regular care, sites can become vulnerable to security threats, suffer performance degradation, and eventually break. This comprehensive checklist outlines the essential maintenance tasks you should perform to keep your WordPress site in top condition throughout 2026."
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Why Maintenance Matters",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Regular maintenance isn't just about fixing problems—it's about preventing them. A well-maintained site offers:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "unordered",
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"items": [
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"Better security against threats and vulnerabilities",
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"Faster loading times and improved user experience",
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"Fewer technical issues and downtime",
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"Better search engine rankings",
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"Lower long-term costs by catching issues early"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Daily Maintenance Tasks",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "These quick checks take just a few minutes each day:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "unordered",
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"items": [
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"Check if your site is accessible (use a monitoring service)",
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"Review any automated error notifications",
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"Check for pending comment moderation (if comments are enabled)",
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"Review form submissions if you collect leads or orders"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Weekly Maintenance Tasks",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Set aside 30-60 minutes each week for these tasks:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Updates and Backups",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Verify backups completed successfully",
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"Check for WordPress core updates",
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"Check for theme and plugin updates",
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"Review any security alerts from your hosting provider"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Performance Check",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Test page load times on key pages",
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"Check server resource usage (CPU, memory)",
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"Review error logs for recurring issues",
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"Clear any unnecessary cache if needed"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Content Review",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Review and approve pending comments",
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"Check for broken links on important pages",
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"Review user registrations if applicable",
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"Check product inventory if running an e-commerce site"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Monthly Maintenance Tasks",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Deeper maintenance tasks that require more time:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Security Audit",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Review user accounts and remove inactive ones",
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"Check for unused themes and plugins (delete them)",
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"Verify file permissions are correct",
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"Review security plugin logs",
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"Check SSL certificate expiration",
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"Update strong passwords for admin accounts"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Database Maintenance",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Optimize database tables",
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"Clean up post revisions (configure limits)",
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"Remove spam comments",
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"Clean expired transients",
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"Remove unused media files"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Performance Optimization",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Analyze performance with Google PageSpeed Insights",
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"Optimize images that have been added",
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"Review and clean up CSS and JavaScript",
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"Check database query performance",
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"Review caching configuration"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Content Audit",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Identify underperforming content",
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"Update outdated information",
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"Refresh internal links",
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"Review and update meta descriptions",
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"Check for broken external links"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Quarterly Maintenance Tasks",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Every 3 months, perform these deeper tasks:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Testing and Verification",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Test complete backup restoration on a staging site",
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"Verify all forms are working correctly",
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"Test checkout process if e-commerce",
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"Verify email notifications are working",
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"Test on different browsers and devices"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Review and Planning",
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"level": 3
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Review hosting needs and consider upgrades",
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"Evaluate if current plugins are still needed",
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"Review SEO performance and adjust strategy",
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"Check domain registration and SSL renewal dates",
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"Review analytics for trends and insights"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Annual Maintenance Tasks",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Once a year, tackle these important items:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "unordered",
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"items": [
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"Renew domain registrations",
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"Renew SSL certificates",
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"Review and update privacy policy",
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"ReviewTerms of Service if applicable",
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"Check GDPR and compliance requirements",
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"Archive or update old content",
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"Review and update disaster recovery plan",
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"Consider a site redesign or major update"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Automating Maintenance",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Many maintenance tasks can be automated to save time:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "unordered",
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"items": [
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"Set up automated backups (daily minimum)",
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"Configure automatic updates for minor releases",
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"Use uptime monitoring services",
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"Set up automated security scanning",
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"Configure error monitoring and alerts",
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"Use image optimization plugins"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Creating a Maintenance Schedule",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Consistency is key. Here's how to build a sustainable routine:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "ordered",
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"items": [
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"Schedule maintenance tasks on your calendar",
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"Set up reminders for recurring tasks",
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"Document your procedures for consistency",
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"Track issues to identify patterns",
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"Adjust frequency based on site complexity"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "quote",
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"data": {
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"text": "Spend one hour per week on maintenance to avoid spending days fixing problems later.",
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"caption": "WordPress Maintenance Best Practices"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "When to Seek Professional Help",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Some tasks require expert assistance:"
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "list",
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"data": {
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"style": "unordered",
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"items": [
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"Major WordPress upgrades",
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"Server configuration changes",
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"Security incident response",
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"Performance optimization for complex sites",
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"Custom development needs",
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"Migration to new hosting"
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]
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "header",
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"data": {
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"text": "Conclusion",
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"level": 2
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Regular maintenance is essential for keeping your WordPress site secure, fast, and reliable. By following this checklist and establishing a consistent routine, you can prevent most problems before they occur and ensure your site continues to serve your visitors effectively."
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}
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},
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{
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"type": "paragraph",
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"data": {
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"text": "Start with the daily and weekly tasks, then gradually build up to the monthly and quarterly routines. Your site—and your visitors—will thank you."
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}
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}
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]
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},
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"author": "Plugin Compass Team",
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"status": "published",
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"featured_image": "",
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"meta_title": "WordPress Maintenance Checklist 2026 | Plugin Compass",
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"meta_description": "Essential WordPress maintenance checklist for 2026. Daily, weekly, monthly tasks to keep your site secure, fast, and reliable.",
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"category": "wordpress",
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"tags": ["wordpress", "maintenance", "security", "performance", "checklist"],
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"published_at": "2026-02-20T10:00:00Z",
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"updated_at": "2026-02-20T10:00:00Z"
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}
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