We are going to explain why it’s essential to update your Bitrix24 On-Premise version on time. You should do this as soon as an update is released. At least updates should be installed every six months. Here’s what might happen if you ignore this simple rule.
In this case, it’s better to forget the “If it works, don’t touch it” rule.
We recommend not delaying updates. Here’s why it’s important.
Protect your data
The Bitrix24 team continually works on identifying potential vulnerabilities in the product. It is our responsibility to minimize cybersecurity risks. We promptly fix all identified issues and release new product versions. All you need to do is install them on time. This is the most cost-effective way to prevent information security risks.
Fix bugs and improve performance
We consistently fix potential errors and address reported bugs. Some of these issues are brought to our attention by you.
We want you and your team to have the best possible experience with our product. If you don’t install updates, you will encounter bugs that we have already resolved.
Support for the mobile app
We release mobile app updates several times a month. Technologies evolve, new features are introduced, and support for new devices and operating systems is added. Our team continuously works on optimizing performance and improving the interface.
The longer you delay updates on your side, the worse the compatibility between your Bitrix24 On-Premise version and our mobile app will become. It is impossible to ensure reliable interaction with all outdated versions.
Typically, issues start to arise if the On-Premise version is more than a year behind the mobile app.
Cloud features and integrations
The concept of a completely isolated On-Premise version is becoming outdated. Modern On-Premise solutions don’t operate in a vacuum: some features, including AI, rely on cloud infrastructure. The On-Premise version is becoming hybrid.
CoPilot and other AI features. Few companies connect their own models to Bitrix24. Most of them use our cloud-based LLM model.
External services (email, banks, messengers, payment systems) also update their APIs and protocols. Without updates, authorizations, webhooks, and other features stop working.
Delaying updates for too long leads to desynchronization. Certain features start to degrade or stop functioning altogether.
Access to new features
We release two major updates each year. Each release includes numerous new features, tailored to the current needs of businesses, at no additional cost.
Without updates, your team gets stuck with outdated functionality and misses out on new opportunities.
What happens if you don’t update
- Data breach risks increase with each month without patches.
- Mobile and desktop apps lose stability due to new APIs/SDKs.
- Feature gap: your team misses out on new tools.
- Performance and bugs: you are stuck with unresolved issues.
- Cloud and integration support: compatibility worsens, leading to "silent failures".
- Maintenance: it becomes costly and unpredictable over time, especially with accumulated technical debt.
FAQ
I update the On-Premise version once a year. Is that enough?
No. Updates should be installed as soon as they are released, not on a fixed schedule. You might miss a critical security update, putting your entire business at risk.
The Bitrix24 partner who set up our system said their customizations might break during updates. What should we do?
If the partner implemented customizations correctly, updates should proceed smoothly.
When is the On-Premise version considered outdated?
Any version that isn’t up-to-date is considered outdated. However, statistics show that issues typically arise if updates are delayed for more than a year.
How do I update the Bitrix24 On-Premise version?
Go to the admin panel and select Market > Platform Update. Click Install recommended updates in the Update Installation section. Choose what you want to update in the Update list tab.
How can I minimize risks when updating in production?
Use a test environment, create a full backup, and have a rollback plan. Review the change log, schedule updates during low-traffic periods, and test critical scenarios.
We don’t use mobile apps. Can we update less frequently?
No. Even without mobile apps, there are still factors like security, integrations (email, banks, messengers, maps, SSO), performance, and bug fixes. These alone require regular updates.
Do updates improve speed and stability?
Yes. Releases often include database, caching, and interface optimizations, as well as fixes for intermittent bugs. These improvements can boost speed without hardware upgrades and reduce support requests.
