October 2024: Navigating the ACF Pro Storm and Keeping Clients Shipshape

October has been a whirlwind month so far in the digital world, and here at Brandwin Digital, we were right in the thick of it! As many of you know, a series of critical vulnerabilities were discovered in Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro, a plugin that powers many WordPress websites (including some of our own client sites). These vulnerabilities had the potential to cause significant security breaches and disrupt website functionality.

But fear not! Our team of expert developers were quick to respond, proactively addressing the issue and ensuring minimal impact for our clients. Here’s how we weathered the storm:

1. Rapid Response: As soon as the vulnerabilities were announced, we sprang into action. Our team immediately began assessing all client websites utilising ACF Pro to determine the level of risk.

2. Prioritising Security: Security is paramount to us. We swiftly implemented temporary mitigations to protect our clients’ websites while awaiting official patches from ACF. This included:

* **Disabling vulnerable features:**  Where possible, we temporarily disabled non-essential ACF Pro features to reduce the attack surface.
* **Strengthening website security:** We reviewed and reinforced existing security measures, such as firewalls and access controls, to further protect against potential threats.
* **Continuous monitoring:** We implemented enhanced monitoring to detect any suspicious activity and respond swiftly to any emerging threats.

3. Seamless Updates: Once ACF released the official patches, we meticulously updated all affected websites. We took a phased approach, thoroughly testing each update on staging environments before deploying to live sites. This ensured a smooth transition and minimised any disruption to our clients’ online presence.

4. Client Communication: Throughout the entire process, we maintained open and transparent communication with our clients. We kept them informed about the situation, the steps we were taking, and any potential impact on their websites.

Beyond the ACF Pro Situation:

Despite the unexpected challenges posed by the ACF Pro vulnerabilities, we continued to deliver exceptional digital marketing services to our clients. This included:

• Ongoing SEO efforts: We continued to optimize websites for search engines, ensuring our clients maintain strong online visibility.
• Content creation and marketing: We kept the content flowing, creating engaging and informative content to attract and engage audiences.
• Social media management: We kept our clients’ social media channels buzzing with activity, fostering community engagement and brand awareness.
• New website launches: We launched several new websites for clients, helping them establish a strong online presence and achieve their business goals.

Looking Ahead:

This incident served as a powerful reminder of the importance of proactive security measures and ongoing website maintenance. We remain committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service and security.

At Brandwin Digital, we’re not just about building beautiful websites; we’re about building strong and secure online presences that drive results. We’re proud of our team’s swift and effective response to the ACF Pro vulnerabilities, and we’re confident in our ability to continue navigating any challenges that come our way.