Update Buddies

Timely Rock updates, without the headache.

Update Buddies

What is Update Buddies?

Rock isn't a SaaS platform. When a new version ships, it's the church's call whether to apply it, and many don't because updates take time, carry risk, and fall to whoever is already stretched thinnest. What has changed is the cost of waiting. AI is accelerating how fast vulnerabilities in older software are found and exploited, and the Rock team has been candid about this on Rock Cast.
Today, keeping up-to-date is critical for security. AI is accelerating how fast vulnerabilities in older software get exploited. Keeping up has always mattered. It matters more now.

Version Scheduling

Subscribe to be notified of every Rock release. If you'd like help, we'll set a time to run the update. You're only charged when we do the work.

Peace of Mind

You get peace of mind, your members get a site that stays current and secure, and your team gets its time back.

Built for Heroes

Update Buddies is built for Rock admins who don't have a support retainer with a Rock Partner and have been carrying the weight of updates on their own.

Why Churches Choose Update Buddies

Always On The Latest Secured Version

Stay current with Rock's releases as soon as they're available.

One Less Thing To Worry About

When you're ready for an update, we handle it. Your team doesn't have to.

A Safety Net Every Time

Every update starts with a snapshot, so a clean rollback is always available.

The Team That Knows Rock Best

The same team that runs Rock Cloud hosting handles your update.

Predictable, Flat Pricing

$300 per update with a $50 setup on your first update. No retainer required.

Built For Lean Teams

For solo admins and small teams already stretched too thin.

What Update Buddies Does for Your Rock Site

1

Reaches Out and Schedules Around You

When a new version of Rock is released, we reach out and help you schedule an update window when you're available and your site is quiet. No surprise outages during a giving weekend or midweek service.

2

Backs Up Before We Touch Anything

Every update begins with a snapshot of your environment. If anything goes sideways, we have a clean restore point ready, and your data is never at risk.

3

Runs the Update and Confirms Success

Our team runs the update, watches the install, and verifies that Rock came back up correctly. When it's done, you get a notification of success and an invoice for the work.

4

Rolls Back Cleanly if Something Goes Wrong

In the rare case that an update fails, we restore your environment to the version it was on before we started and send you an issue report explaining what we saw. You're never left with a broken site.

5

Builds a Map of Your Environment on Day One

At your first update, we build an infrastructure map of your Rock environment and share a copy with you. It documents your hosting setup so future updates are smoother and any future support engagement starts with a clear picture of your site.

Included With Every Update

Release notifications
Performed by the Rock Cloud team
Success notification
Scheduled update window
Live monitoring of the install
Clean rollback if needed
Pre-update snapshot
Post-update verification
Issue report on any failure

Get Started Today

Sign Up for Notifications

Join our distribution list to be
notified of each Rock release.

Get Notifications

Request an Update Now

Fill out our update request form. We'll reach out to schedule your update.

Get an Update

Each version update costs $300. You will not be charged until your update is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to questions many people have asked when considering Update Buddies.

When you join Update Buddies, you are not committing to each update. You're simply receiving a notification when a new update drops. From there, you can choose to update on your own, or schedule a time for our team to do it for you.
Update Buddies is built for non-clustered, Azure-hosted Rock environments. If you're running a clustered setup or have other unique requirements, contact us and we'll put together a custom quote.
We need confirmed access to your Rock instance and your hosting environment, and some basic information about any core block or code customizations you're aware of. We'll walk you through everything during onboarding. Just click the signup to get started.
We restore your environment to the version it was on before we started, using the snapshot we took at the beginning of the update. You'll get an issue report explaining what we saw and a recommendation for next steps. You're never stuck on a broken site.
Extended troubleshooting isn't included in the base price. If a custom plugin or unusual customization breaks during an update, we'll roll back and document what we saw. From there, you can contract with us for additional support time or handle it on your own.
No. Update Buddies is a Rock update service only. You stay with your current hosting provider and we work inside your environment. If you'd like managed hosting too, ask us about Rock Cloud.
Rock releases vary, but the core team has been emphasizing the importance of staying on the latest secured version. Update Buddies is designed to keep up with whatever cadence the Rock team sets without adding work to your plate.
This service does not cover plugin updates.
Every Rock environment has its own mix of plugins and customizations. We follow a precise update process and take a snapshot before we start, but we can't guarantee how every customization will behave on a new version or if updates will overwrite custom code. If something unexpected comes up, we roll back and document what we saw.

Questions before you sign up? Contact us.