Each virtual or dedicated hosting machine has its own Operating System and operates independently from the hosting machines of other clients. Updating the OS is frequently ignored, but doing that could have quite a lot of advantages for your sites. The most important reason to employ the most recent version is that patches are usually released to fix security holes inside the Os code, so if you do not install the updates, you risk individuals with destructive intentions to exploit these holes and to access your content. OS updates are also released for enhanced performance of the system in general and for much better compatibility with the hardware on the market, which can directly influence the functionality of your internet sites. If the functionality and the security of your scripts is the reason to update them, you may also know that their most up-to-date versions require an updated Operating System in order to operate properly, so keeping the Operating system up-to-date is always recommended.