When I have to update the website / move files from publish folder I have to stop the website and replace this take the site offline. Am I doing it wrong if so, what is the correct approach?
Turn on the Store Closed setting Stop the Webserver and upload Then restart the Webserver Check the website is working correctly Turn off the Store Closed setting
Another way is to create a new site, new folder where you upload new files and test it first locally, then you just swap the domain mapping, i.e. remove domain from older IIS site and map it to new IIS site. There will be still down time, but it will be considerably lesser.
