About the Client
A leading digital agency specializing in creating meaningful impact for purpose-driven organizations. With in-house expertise spanning social media management, digital strategy, content and video production, website development, and brand design, they help clients build a brighter future through powerful digital experiences.
Managing a diverse portfolio of WordPress websites on WP Engine, the agency prides itself on delivering exceptional digital solutions that combine cutting-edge technology with compelling storytelling. Their clients range from environmental nonprofits to social enterprises, all counting on reliable, always-available web presences to advance their missions.
The Challenge
As the agency scaled their website projects on WP Engine, they encountered a critical deployment issue that was becoming increasingly problematic. Their existing deployment workflow couldn't achieve zero downtime deployments on WP Engine's hosting infrastructure, creating several pain points:
Service Interruptions
Every code deployment resulted in brief but noticeable outages. Even 30-60 seconds of downtime meant:
- Lost donation opportunities for nonprofit clients during fundraising campaigns
- Interrupted user journeys during critical conversion moments
- Potential SEO impacts from frequent, albeit brief, unavailability
- Broken user trust, especially for time-sensitive campaigns
Client Impact
Their clients, many running high-stakes campaigns for social good, were understandably frustrated:
- Campaign launches had to be meticulously timed around deployment windows
- Real-time events and live campaigns carried unnecessary risk
- Emergency hotfixes became nerve-wracking decisions weighing urgency against disruption
Operational Constraints
The agency's development team faced mounting pressure:
- Deployments were restricted to late evenings or early mornings to minimize user impact
- Team members had to work outside regular hours for routine updates
- The deployment anxiety slowed down their otherwise agile development process
- Bug fixes that should have been deployed immediately had to wait for "safe" windows
Technical Limitations
Their previous deployment approach using standard FTP/SFTP connections meant:
- Files were transferred and overwritten one at a time on the live server
- During the transfer process, the site could serve incomplete or mixed versions of files
- No atomic switchover capability
- Race conditions between file uploads could break the site temporarily
The agency needed a solution that would allow them to deploy updates seamlessly without taking client websites offline, even momentarily, while maintaining the reliability and performance their clients expected.
The DeployHQ Solution
After evaluating their deployment needs and hosting infrastructure, the agency partnered with DeployHQ. The DeployHQ team worked closely with them during onboarding, understanding their specific WP Engine setup and configuring the optimal deployment strategy.
Initial Assessment & Onboarding
The DeployHQ team began by:
- Auditing their current workflow - Understanding how they were deploying, what was breaking, and where the pain points occurred
- Analyzing their WP Engine infrastructure - Reviewing server configurations, SSH access, and WP Engine's specific requirements
- Mapping their repository structure - Ensuring smooth integration with their Git-based workflow
- Setting up staging and production environments - Configuring separate deployment pipelines for testing and live releases
Three Deployment Options Configured
DeployHQ configured three distinct deployment methods, giving the agency flexibility to choose the right approach for each project and situation:
1. Pure SFTP Deployments
For development and staging environments, or projects where brief downtime is acceptable:
- Direct file transfer via SFTP to WP Engine
- Simple and straightforward with minimal configuration
- Best for: Non-production environments, low-traffic sites, scheduled maintenance windows
- Speed: Fast for small to medium changesets
2. Rsync with Zero Downtime via SSH Gateway
The game-changer for production environments requiring continuous availability:
- Leverages WP Engine's SSH Gateway for advanced deployment capabilities
- Atomic deployment process:
- Files are deployed to a temporary staging location on the server
- All files are verified and prepared
- An atomic switchover occurs, instantly replacing the old version with the new
- Users never see an incomplete or broken state
- Incremental transfers - Only changed files are transferred, significantly speeding up deployments
- Rollback capability - Previous versions can be quickly restored if needed
- Best for: Production sites, high-traffic environments, mission-critical applications
- Documentation: Setting up Rsync Server Integration | Zero Downtime Deployments on WP Engine
3. Accelerated Tar Deployments
For scenarios requiring maximum speed and efficiency:
- Bundles all changed files into a compressed tar archive locally
- Single transfer of the archive to the server
- Server-side extraction for lightning-fast deployment
- Significantly reduced transfer time compared to individual file uploads
- Best for: Large deployments with many file changes, slow or unstable network connections, deployments with thousands of small files
- Learn more: Introducing Accelerated Tar Deployments
This three-pronged approach gave the agency the ultimate flexibility: speed when they needed it, zero downtime when it mattered, and simplicity for everyday deployments.
Implementation Journey
The transition to DeployHQ was smoother than anticipated:
Week 1: The DeployHQ team set up initial server configurations and conducted training sessions with the agency's development team, walking them through each deployment method and when to use it.
Week 2: The agency tested all three deployment methods on their staging environments, gaining confidence with the new workflow and fine-tuning their configurations.
Week 3: They began rolling out to production sites, starting with lower-traffic projects and gradually moving to their most critical client websites.
Week 4: Full production deployment across their entire portfolio, with the team now comfortable choosing the optimal deployment method for each scenario.
The Results
With DeployHQ's flexible deployment infrastructure configured, the agency experienced transformative improvements:
Operational Excellence
- True zero downtime deployments on all WP Engine production environments
- Deploy any time, any day without scheduling around client usage patterns
- 50% reduction in deployment time for large updates using accelerated tar deployments
- Eliminated late-night and weekend deployment schedules - no more forced overtime
- Faster incident response - critical bug fixes can be deployed immediately without downtime concerns
Client Satisfaction
- Zero client complaints about deployment-related outages since implementation
- Successful live campaign launches without service interruptions
- Improved trust and transparency - the agency can deploy updates during business hours
- Better SLA compliance with 99.99%+ uptime maintained during deployments
Development Velocity
- More frequent deployments - from 2-3 times per week to multiple times daily when needed
- Faster iteration cycles enabling more agile development workflows
- Reduced deployment anxiety allowing developers to focus on code quality rather than deployment timing
- Streamlined emergency hotfix process - from hours to minutes
Business Impact
- Competitive advantage in pitches, highlighting their robust deployment infrastructure
- Scalability - confidently taking on more clients without deployment bottlenecks
- Team morale improvement - developers no longer dread deployment days
- Reduced operational risk - deployment failures no longer mean client-facing outages
Client Testimonial
"DeployHQ transformed how we deploy websites for our clients. We went from scheduling deployments around off-peak hours and crossing our fingers, to deploying confidently at any time with zero downtime. The rsync integration with WP Engine's SSH Gateway was exactly what we needed. Our clients are happier, our team is less stressed, and we can move faster than ever before. The three deployment options give us the perfect tool for every situation."
— Development Director
Key Takeaways
For agencies managing WordPress sites on WP Engine, the right deployment strategy makes all the difference:
- Zero downtime is achievable - With proper tooling, you never need to take sites offline for updates
- Flexibility matters - Having multiple deployment methods lets you optimize for each scenario
- Speed and reliability aren't mutually exclusive - Accelerated tar deployments prove you can have both
- The right partner simplifies complex challenges - DeployHQ's WP Engine expertise made implementation seamless
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DeployHQ only work with WP Engine, or can I use it with other hosts?
DeployHQ works with virtually any hosting provider that supports FTP, SFTP, SSH, or rsync connections. While this case study focuses on WP Engine, we support hundreds of hosting platforms including AWS, DigitalOcean, Kinsta, Cloudways, traditional shared hosting, and more. The same zero downtime capabilities are available across different hosting environments.
How difficult is it to set up zero downtime deployments with rsync?
The initial setup typically takes 15-30 minutes, and our documentation walks you through each step. You'll need SSH access to your WP Engine environment (which WP Engine provides), and then it's a matter of adding your server credentials to DeployHQ and selecting the rsync deployment method. Our support team is also available to help with any questions during setup.
Can I switch between deployment methods for the same project?
Absolutely! You can configure multiple server connections for the same project using different deployment methods. For example, you might use SFTP for your staging environment and rsync with zero downtime for production. You can choose which method to use for each deployment, giving you complete flexibility.
What happens if a deployment fails mid-process?
With rsync zero downtime deployments, because the new files are staged separately before the atomic switchover, a failed deployment never affects your live site. Your site continues running the previous version without interruption. You'll receive clear error notifications, and you can troubleshoot and retry the deployment without any user impact.
How long does the onboarding process typically take?
Most agencies are fully up and running within 1-2 weeks. This includes initial setup, team training, testing on staging environments, and gradual rollout to production sites. We work at your pace and provide support throughout the process. For simpler setups, you can be deploying on the same day.
Does DeployHQ support automatic deployments, or do I need to trigger each one manually?
DeployHQ supports both manual and automatic deployments. You can configure automatic deployments triggered by Git pushes to specific branches (for example, auto-deploy to staging when you push to the develop branch, or to production when you push to main). You have complete control over your deployment workflow.
Can I roll back to a previous version if something goes wrong?
Yes! DeployHQ maintains a deployment history, and you can quickly roll back to any previous deployment with a single click. This is especially powerful when combined with zero downtime deployments, as you can roll back instantly without any service interruption.
How does pricing work? Do I pay per project or per deployment?
DeployHQ pricing is based on the number of projects and servers you need to deploy to, not the number of deployments. This means you can deploy as frequently as you want without worrying about additional costs. We offer plans for teams of all sizes, from freelancers managing a few projects to agencies with extensive client portfolios. Check out our pricing page for specific plan details.
Do I need to change my Git workflow or repository structure?
No, DeployHQ works with your existing Git workflow. Whether you use GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or any other Git platform, DeployHQ integrates seamlessly. You continue working with your branches, pull requests, and merging strategy exactly as you do now.
What level of support do you provide?
We provide email support for all customers, with typical response times within a few hours during business hours. Our documentation is comprehensive and regularly updated. For enterprise customers, we offer dedicated support channels and onboarding assistance. Many customers also find our community forums helpful for sharing deployment strategies and best practices.
Is DeployHQ suitable for large-scale enterprise deployments?
Yes! While this case study focuses on an agency, DeployHQ scales to enterprise needs. We support complex deployment workflows, multiple environments, deployment approvals, team permissions, and integration with CI/CD pipelines. Many enterprises use DeployHQ to manage hundreds of projects and thousands of deployments monthly.
Can I try DeployHQ before committing?
Absolutely! We offer a 14-day free trial with full access to all deployment methods and features. No credit card is required to start your trial. This gives you time to test zero downtime deployments in your staging environment and ensure it meets your needs before deploying to production.
Get Started
Ready to eliminate deployment downtime and speed up your release process? DeployHQ offers:
- 10-day free trial with full access to all deployment methods
- Expert onboarding support to configure your WP Engine environment
- Flexible deployment options tailored to your needs
- Comprehensive documentation and responsive support team
Resources
Learn more about implementing zero downtime deployments with DeployHQ:
- Setting up Rsync Server Integration
- Zero Downtime Deployments on WP Engine
- Introducing Accelerated Tar Deployments
Start your DeployHQ trial today and experience stress-free deployments.