Stillsite

Managed static websites for small businesses

Your brochure site, rebuilt as a fast static site, hosted and looked after for you.

WordPress vs Static Website An animated explainer in seven scenes. 1: WordPress generates pages on demand with PHP and a database, while a static site serves pre-built files from a CDN. 2: A WordPress request passes six stops - visitor, DNS, web server, PHP runtime, database, response - and time to first byte builds up at each, about 700 milliseconds for an uncached page. 3: A static request has one stop - visitor, global CDN, response - around 50 milliseconds. 4: Security: WordPress exposes plugins, themes, PHP, SQL, logins, XML-RPC and uploads; a static site removes them, leaving only DNS and the CDN account to protect. 5: Performance: static pages skip PHP execution and database queries entirely and are served from the nearest edge. 6: Cost: hosting, backups, maintenance and security all cost less without servers to rent, back up and patch. 7: Summary: faster, more secure, lower cost, easier to maintain, better scalability. WordPress vs Static WebsiteWhy converting a traditional WordPress site to a static site pays off01 / 07WordPressdynamicStatic websitepre-builtvsPages are generated on demandPHP and a database run for every requestPages are pre-built filesServed from a global CDN, close to the visitorSix quick comparisons: request flow, security, performance, cost and upkeep. Traditional WordPress request flowWhat happens every time someone opens a page02 / 07Visitoropens a pageDNSdomain lookupWeb ServerTLS + routingPHP Runtimetheme & plugins runDatabaseSQL queriesResponseHTML assembledTime to first byte builds up at every stopDNSServerPHP executionDatabase queriesResponse≈ 700 ms6 stops per visit. PHP runs and the database is queried every single time.Timings are typical for an uncached page and illustrative Static website request flowThe page already exists as a file. Nothing is computed on the way.03 / 07Visitoropens a pageGlobal CDNedge location nearest to the visitorResponsepre-built HTML fileTime to first byte, same scale as the previous sceneWordPress≈ 700 msStatic≈ 50 ms1 stop. No code runs and no database is touched. The page is already built. Security: attack surfaceEvery moving part is something an attacker can probe04 / 07WordPress siteStatic siteYour siteYour sitePlugin flawsTheme exploitsOutdated PHPSQL injectionLogin brute-forceXML-RPC abuseMalicious uploadsUnpatched coreNo PHP to exploitNo database to injectNo admin login to guessNo plugins to patchStill worth protecting: DNS and the CDN account (use MFA)Attack surfaceWordPressLargeStaticMinimalFewer moving parts means fewer ways in. Performance: response time and request complexityLess work per request means faster pages, everywhere, under any load05 / 07WordPressStaticTime to first byte, typical uncached pageWordPress≈ 700 msStatic≈ 50 msDatabase queries per page viewWordPress20 to 100Static0Work per page viewWordPressStaticDNS lookupyesyesTLS handshakeat originat the edgeApplication codePHP runsnoneDatabase queries20 to 1000HTML generatedevery requestonce, at buildServed fromorigin servernearest edgeStatic pages skip the work entirely, so they stay fast under any load.Figures are typical ranges and illustrative Cost: what you pay for, month after monthRelative monthly cost of ownership06 / 07WordPressStaticHostingManaged PHP and database serverCDN or object storage, often freeBackupsDatabase and file backups, on a scheduleVersion control is the backupMaintenanceCore, plugin and theme updatesRebuild only when content changesSecurityFirewall, malware scans, patchingNothing to patch on the serverLess to rent, back up, patch and monitor. The savings repeat every month.Bars are relative and illustrative Why convert to static?The same content, delivered a better way07 / 07Faster1 stop instead of 6 for every visitMore SecureNo PHP, database or admin login to attackLower CostCDN hosting instead of servers, backups and patchingEasier To MaintainNothing to update or patch on a serverBetter ScalabilityEdge caching absorbs traffic spikesFrom 6 stops to 1Every page view, for every visitorWordPress6 stopsStatic1 stopConvert once. Serve fast, safely and cheaply from then on.

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