Insights

Latest Insights by

Martin Starkie
Co-founder and technical lead at CMS Live, Martin has been building and managing websites since 2001. As the go-to expert for all things technical, he specialises in secure, high-performance hosting and development for Magento 2, Adobe Commerce, WordPress, and WooCommerce. With hands-on experience in managed website hosting, cyber security, and server administration, he ensures every site runs smoothly, securely, and at peak performance - without outsourcing. Whether optimising server configurations, implementing proactive threat detection, or fine-tuning eCommerce platforms, Martin makes sure CMS Live delivers cutting-edge solutions with personal, expert support.
Featured image for “Which Website Hosting Is Best for Business Owners?”
11/12/25

Which Website Hosting Is Best for Business Owners?

This post answers the question many business owners ask but rarely get a clear answer to: which website hosting is best. Rather than focusing on price or marketing promises, it explains what actually matters when hosting a business-critical website, including performance, security, proactive monitoring, and expert support. Drawing on real-world experience from CMS Live, the article highlights the risks of cheap shared hosting and the benefits of managed hosting that’s actively maintained by people who understand every technical layer of a website. It’s written to help business owners make confident, informed hosting decisions that support long-term stability and growth.
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Featured image for “Website Continuity Support for Businesses: The Constant Your Website Needs (Even When Your Team Changes)”
11/11/25

Website Continuity Support for Businesses: The Constant Your Website Needs (Even When Your Team Changes)

This blog post explores why website continuity support has become essential for modern businesses, especially those dealing with staff turnover or changing external agencies. It explains how every personnel change can create gaps in knowledge, access, and responsibility — leaving websites vulnerable to downtime, security issues, and lost logins. The article shows how CMS Live acts as the constant technical anchor, offering monitoring, security updates, access management and support that remains stable no matter who comes and goes. It highlights the risks of relying on single individuals or fragmented suppliers, and outlines how continuity support keeps your website secure, documented and fully supported at all times.
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Featured image for “Can You Transfer Website Hosting? Yes – and Here’s How to Do It Properly”
11/10/25

Can You Transfer Website Hosting? Yes – and Here’s How to Do It Properly

This post explains whether you can transfer website hosting and, more importantly, how to do it safely without disrupting your business. Written for business owners who feel stuck with slow, unreliable, or poorly supported hosting, it walks through what a hosting transfer actually involves, why many businesses outgrow their original hosting setup, and the risks of moving without proper technical oversight. Using real-world examples from CMS Live, the post highlights how careful planning, server-level expertise, and ongoing support can improve performance, security, and reliability. It also helps readers understand what to look for in a hosting partner who takes full responsibility for their website.
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Featured image for “Website Care Plan: What It Is, Why It Matters, and What Business Owners Should Expect”
11/09/25

Website Care Plan: What It Is, Why It Matters, and What Business Owners Should Expect

This blog post explains what a website care plan really is and why it’s essential for business owners who rely on their website to support day-to-day operations. Written from a technical perspective, it breaks down what a proper care plan should include, from secure, professionally managed hosting and safe updates to reliable backups and ongoing security monitoring. The post also addresses common pain points, such as unresponsive web providers and unexpected downtime, and shows how a well-structured care plan protects continuity as businesses grow or teams change. Real-world examples from CMS Live highlight the value of hands-on technical oversight, proactive support, and long-term website stability.
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Featured image for “Choosing a Website Hosting Company: What Business Owners Need to Know”
11/08/25

Choosing a Website Hosting Company: What Business Owners Need to Know

Many business owners focus on attracting new visitors to their website, but overlook a crucial factor — what happens when those visitors arrive. This post explains why converting your existing website traffic should take priority over chasing more clicks. It explores how user experience, trust signals, and clear calls to action can turn casual visitors into paying customers. By the end, you’ll understand why increasing conversions is the smarter, more cost-effective route to growth before you invest in driving more traffic.
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Featured image for “DNSSEC Website Security: The Extra Layer Most Hosts Don’t Offer”
11/07/25

DNSSEC Website Security: The Extra Layer Most Hosts Don’t Offer

In this post, we unpack what DNSSEC is and why it matters for the security of your business website. DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) protects against DNS spoofing attacks by verifying the authenticity of DNS records—something standard DNS alone can’t do. While many hosting providers avoid offering DNSSEC due to its technical complexity, CMS Live includes it as part of our fully managed hosting service. We handle the setup, ongoing management, and key rotations so our clients don’t have to worry. It’s another layer of protection that sets our hosting apart.
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Featured image for “Why DMARC Email Authentication Is Now Mandatory – And Why Your Hosting Company Should Care”
11/06/25

Why DMARC Email Authentication Is Now Mandatory – And Why Your Hosting Company Should Care

Email authentication is no longer optional for businesses sending messages to Gmail, Yahoo, or Microsoft-managed inboxes. With new rules making DMARC, SPF, and DKIM mandatory for bulk senders, failing to meet these standards means your emails – including vital ones like order confirmations – may never reach your customers. This blog post explains what DMARC email authentication is, why it’s crucial for ecommerce businesses, and how CMS Live ensures your hosting setup supports proper email deliverability. Even if email isn’t your hosting provider’s core service, it’s part of your customers’ experience – and that makes it our concern too.
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Featured image for “Why Security Headers Matter for Your Website Hosting – A+ Security from CMS Live”
11/05/25

Why Security Headers Matter for Your Website Hosting – A+ Security from CMS Live

Website security is more than just having an SSL certificate—it requires robust security measures like security headers to protect against cyber threats. In this blog post, we explain what security headers are, why they matter, and how they safeguard websites from attacks such as XSS, clickjacking, and data injection. CMS Live has achieved A+ security ratings for its hosting services, proving our commitment to website security. We offer fully managed hosting with built-in security measures, ensuring businesses stay protected. If security matters to you, CMS Live is the right hosting partner.
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Featured image for “Secure Website Hosting for Business Owners: Why Website Security Matters More Than Ever”
11/04/25

Secure Website Hosting for Business Owners: Why Website Security Matters More Than Ever

In today’s digital world, website security is more important than ever for business owners. This blog post highlights the importance of secure website hosting for business owners and explains how a security-first approach can protect websites from cyber threats. It covers essential security measures, including real-time threat monitoring, DDoS attack mitigation, web application firewalls, and SSL encryption. Business owners will also learn what to look for in a hosting provider, ensuring their website stays protected against evolving threats. With fully managed security, CMS Live ensures businesses can focus on growth without worrying about cyber risks.
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Featured image for “Upgrade to PHP 8.4: Faster, Safer, and More Secure Hosting”
11/03/25

Upgrade to PHP 8.4: Faster, Safer, and More Secure Hosting

CMS Live has upgraded all hosted websites to PHP 8.4, delivering stronger security, faster performance, and efficient resource management. Unlike other providers, CMS Live proactively manages updates, ensuring clients’ websites stay protected and future-proofed without any hassle. With fully managed hosting, direct expert support, and a commitment to cutting-edge security, CMS Live ensures business websites are always running at their best.
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Featured image for “7 Security Questions to Ask for Secure Website Hosting”
11/02/25

7 Security Questions to Ask for Secure Website Hosting

Not all hosting providers prioritise security, and choosing the wrong one can put your website and business at risk. This post outlines seven essential security questions you should ask your hosting company to ensure they offer secure website hosting. From assessing their experience and disaster recovery plans to understanding their security measures and response to attacks, these questions help you identify a reliable provider. If your current host can’t answer them confidently, it may be time to switch to a more secure solution.
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Featured image for “5 Critical Magento Security Threats in 2025 and How to Protect Your Site”
11/01/25

5 Critical Magento Security Threats in 2025 and How to Protect Your Site

In this blog post, Martin highlights five major Magento security threats in 2025, including third-party extension vulnerabilities, supply chain attacks, and DDoS attacks. The post explains how these threats can compromise a Magento store and offers practical solutions, such as enabling two-factor authentication, using a web application firewall, and keeping extensions updated. It also outlines how CMS Live’s fully managed hosting services provide robust security measures, including real-time traffic monitoring and protection, to help safeguard Magento websites from evolving cyber threats.
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Featured image for “Can’t Send Emails to Hotmail, Outlook, or Microsoft Accounts? Here’s How to Fix It”
11/11/24

Can’t Send Emails to Hotmail, Outlook, or Microsoft Accounts? Here’s How to Fix It

Struggling with email deliverability issues? If your emails aren’t reaching Hotmail, Outlook, or Microsoft accounts, your domain or IP might be flagged as spam. This guide explains why emails get blocked, how to check your sender reputation using Microsoft SNDS, and how to fix common issues like blacklisting and missing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. Follow these steps to improve email deliverability and ensure your messages land in inboxes—not spam folders. Need help? CMS Live offers expert support to keep your emails flowing smoothly.
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Featured image for “CMS Live’s Cyber Security Tips”
11/10/24

CMS Live’s Cyber Security Tips

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, making website security more important than ever. In this post, Martin shares essential Cyber Security Tips to help businesses stay protected online. From strengthening passwords and updating software to managing third-party access and employee security, these practical steps will reduce risks and keep your website safe. Whether you’re a business owner or website manager, following these tips will help safeguard your data and protect against cyber attacks.
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Featured image for “Has Your WordPress Website Been Hacked? 7 Signs to Look For”
11/09/24

Has Your WordPress Website Been Hacked? 7 Signs to Look For

Worried your WordPress website has been hacked? This guide highlights seven key warning signs, from unexpected changes on your homepage to a sudden drop in traffic. Learn how to identify threats, take immediate action, and secure your site against future attacks. If you need expert help, CMS Live is here to restore and protect your website.
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Featured image for “CMS Live Website Migration Services: A Smooth and Stress-Free Move”
11/08/24

CMS Live Website Migration Services: A Smooth and Stress-Free Move

This post explains how CMS Live’s website migration services make moving your website and email hosting easy, secure, and fast. We ensure no downtime during the process, protect your data, and aim to complete migrations within one to two working days. Whether you’re moving a simple WordPress site or a complex infrastructure, CMS Live provides a seamless transition with expert support every step of the way.
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Featured image for “Rescuing Severely Hacked Websites: A Case Study by CMS Live”
11/07/24

Rescuing Severely Hacked Websites: A Case Study by CMS Live

A hacked website can damage your business, reputation, and customer trust. In this post, we share how we rescued a severely compromised site, identifying the vulnerabilities, removing malicious code, and securing it against future attacks. Learn why outdated software and poor hosting put websites at risk and how proactive maintenance can prevent security breaches. If your website has been hacked or you want to strengthen its security, this post highlights the steps needed to recover and protect your online presence.
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Featured image for “OpenSSH Vulnerability: How CMS Live Keeps Your Web Design Projects Secure”
11/06/24

OpenSSH Vulnerability: How CMS Live Keeps Your Web Design Projects Secure

A newly discovered OpenSSH Vulnerability (CVE-2024-6387) affects certain Linux systems, potentially allowing attackers to gain full system access. At CMS Live, we’ve already taken action to protect our hosting environment, ensuring that websites hosted with us remain secure. If you’re a CMS Live client, you can rest assured that your site is safe. If you’re not, this is a reminder of why choosing a proactive, security-focused hosting provider is essential for protecting your web design projects from emerging threats.
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Featured image for “How Fully Managed Hosting Prevents Common Website Problems”
11/05/24

How Fully Managed Hosting Prevents Common Website Problems

Your choice of web hosting directly affects your website’s security, speed, and reliability. Many business owners start with shared hosting, only to face security risks, slow performance, and downtime. Fully Managed Hosting solves these problems by providing proactive monitoring, expert support, and optimised server performance. With security updates, daily backups, and hands-on technical management, it ensures your website stays fast, secure, and online—without the hassle. Investing in Fully Managed Hosting means fewer website headaches and more time to focus on growing your business.
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Featured image for “How to Maintain an eCommerce Website | Essential Tips”
11/04/24

How to Maintain an eCommerce Website | Essential Tips

This post covers essential steps, including backing up your site, monitoring performance and uptime, testing the user experience, strengthening security, and keeping software updated. By following these best practices, you can ensure your website stays fast, secure, and optimised for success. If you need expert support, CMS Live offers fully managed hosting and maintenance services to take care of it all for you.
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Insights