Over the past year, we’ve seen a very clear pattern across schools, nonprofits, and service organisations: the websites built between 2017 and 2020 are all hitting the same point in their lifecycle at the same time.
Not because anything is “wrong” — but because the way people use websites has changed, the way search works has changed, and the systems underneath many sites are now at (or approaching) their natural limits.
Three shifts standing out in 2025
1. People search differently
Families, clients, and community members aren’t browsing anymore. They ask questions — and AI tools surface clear, structured content first. Older layouts and PDF-heavy pages now struggle to keep up.
2. Security expectations have lifted
Schools, NFPs, and community organisations are dealing with higher security pressure than ever. Shared hosting is no longer enough for high-use operational websites. VPS hosting is becoming standard.
3. CMS platforms are moving toward stability
Longer support windows, fewer plugins, and cleaner upgrade paths are becoming the norm. This is great news long term, but it also means older systems now need attention.
Where this leaves most organisations heading into 2026
If your website was launched between 2017 and 2020, you’re likely sitting at one of four natural points:
- Maintain: You’re within your first 1–2 years of launch
- Update: Things work fine, but you need security or hosting updates
- Refresh: Structure is slipping, but the foundation is still fine
- Rebuild: Your CMS or hosting can’t be updated safely anymore
Every organisation eventually reaches one of these stages. The only real question is where you sit today and how much time you have to plan ahead.
We’ve put everything into one report
To make this easier, we’ve released our first industry report: The State of Websites in 2026.
It covers:
- what changed in 2025
- the three trends shaping 2026
- what organisational websites need to stay reliable
- how to know whether you need an Update, Refresh, or Rebuild
- a simple quiz to help you self-assess
There’s no form and no email capture.
Just a clear, practical guide.
Download the full report
