Unlike WordPress's built-in automatic update system, most other CMS platforms require a bit more setup to achieve reliable, automated updates. This guide covers approaches for Drupal, Joomla, and Composer-based platforms generally.
Why Automatic Updates Matter
Security patches are only protective if actually applied — manual update processes are easy to neglect, leaving known vulnerabilities unpatched for extended periods.
Important: Always Back Up Before Any Automated Update
Automatic updates carry inherent risk of breaking something unexpectedly — any automation should include an automatic backup step immediately before applying updates, and ideally a way to detect and alert on failures.
Drupal: Using Drush for Scripted Updates
sudo nano /usr/local/bin/drupal-update.sh#!/bin/bash
cd /var/www/drupal
cp -r web/sites/default/files /var/backups/drupal-files-pre-update-$(date +%F)
mysqldump -u user -p'PASSWORD' drupal_db > /var/backups/drupal-db-pre-update-$(date +%F).sql
composer update drupal/core-recommended --with-all-dependencies
vendor/bin/drush updatedb -y
vendor/bin/drush cache:rebuildsudo crontab -e0 3 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/drupal-update.shWeekly is a reasonable starting frequency — balance staying current against the operational overhead of frequent automated changes.
Joomla: Semi-Automated Update Checking
Joomla doesn't have as mature a command-line update workflow as Drupal's Drush — consider using Joomla's built-in update notification emails as a trigger for prompt manual review and application, rather than fully unattended automatic updates.
Composer-Based Platforms (Craft, TYPO3, and Others)
composer outdatedCheck for available updates, then use composer update selectively rather than blindly, reviewing changelogs for any breaking changes before applying, especially for major version updates.
Monitoring for Update Failures
sudo nano /usr/local/bin/drupal-update.sh#!/bin/bash
# ... update commands ...
if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
echo "Drupal update failed" | mail -s "ALERT: CMS Update Failed" [email protected]
fiTesting Updates on Staging First (Safer Alternative to Full Automation)
For higher-stakes production sites, consider applying updates to a staging environment first, verifying functionality, and only then promoting to production — more manual effort, but reduces risk compared to blind automatic production updates.
Staying Informed of Security Releases
Subscribe to your specific platform's official security advisory channel — even with automation, awareness of what's being patched and why helps you assess urgency for any given update.
Common Errors
Automatic update breaks the site — exactly why a pre-update backup step is essential; restore from the backup taken immediately before the failed update and investigate the specific incompatibility before retrying.
Continue Reading
- How to Back Up and Restore a Drupal/Joomla Site
- How to Secure a Drupal or Joomla Installation
- How to Set Up Automated VPS Backups
Browse more articles in CMS Platforms Beyond WordPress.
