5 Best Practices to Keep Your WordPress Site Secure

Ask any SEO expert, and they’ll tell you that an SEO strategy isn’t effective unless the website is secure. Diving into the world of website security services can be intimidating, but protecting your WordPress site by using best practices for website security is foundational to the success of your business.

Every website in the world is susceptible to hackers, and the number of cyber-attacks continues to grow. It’s not just the big companies with sensitive data—small businesses, personal websites, and entrepreneurs are all at risk. Hackers typically target websites with three main goals:

• To send spam communication
• To steal your data and sensitive information of your business and customers
• To trick your site into installing malware on your visitor’s devices

Because WordPress is one of the most popular website services and powers nearly half of all websites, WordPress websites are often targeted specifically. In 2018, more than 90,000 hacking attacks hit WordPress sites every minute—and the problem has only increased since then.

Protecting your WordPress business website is crucial to building your brand, securing your data, and finding growth opportunities. But with so many outcomes and ways hackers can affect your site, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Here are five best practices to keep your WordPress site secure:

1. Create a Secure Log in

Strong WordPress website security starts with a secure login process. Logins are often an afterthought because they are so simple. But don’t confuse that simplicity for effectiveness. A secure login can go a long way in securing your entire site. Be sure to establish login guidelines for everyone who has access to the backend. Even one weak link can add vulnerabilities to the entire site. 

Start by using strong passwords for all backend users. Even if just one person has a weak password, it can undermine the security of the entire website. A secure password manager or generator can keep your passwords in top security. Enabling two-factor authentication requires users to verify their sign-in on a second device, which stops people from hacking in through a single system. It’s a simple step that is also incredibly effective at thwarting hacking attempts.

If multiple people or accounts are accessing the backend, avoid making one of the usernames “admin,” which is often the first username hackers will try to break through. Unique user names tend to be more secure because they are harder to guess. Instead of only having to figure out the password, hackers now have to figure out the username and password, which can slow them down or stop them from accessing your site. You can also change the login page away from the default of adding /wp-admin to the URL. Changing the link basically hides the entrance to your site and makes it more difficult for hackers to locate. 

Other log-in security measures, such as limiting the number of login attempts so hackers can’t just keep trying new passwords and adding a security captcha can also protect your website. Setting notifications for excessive login attempts can also alert you if a hacker is using brute force tactics of repeatedly trying different passwords until one works to give them access to the site.

2. Keep Themes and Plugins Up to Date

WordPress is constantly releasing new versions with updated features. Using an outdated version of WordPress software opens the doors to security vulnerabilities. Get in the habit of regularly installing WordPress updates so you have the best and most secure version. Many people who run smaller WordPress sites think they aren’t at risk because their sites are so small compared to other, larger sites. But if you use an outdated version of WordPress, you may be more vulnerable than the larger sites.

Along with updating the basic software, you also need to ensure your plugins are updated. Security plugins automate many security measures, such as scanning for login and hacking attempts, preventing content theft, and detecting threats.

Other plugins add a variety of features to your site, covering everything from contact forms to point of sale systems and beyond. Just like keeping WordPress updated, make sure these plugins are also updated with the latest versions. One of the most common reasons for an update is to enhance the security features. Outdated versions don’t have the same security features and can create a weakened point that is easier to access, especially if the web server crashes.

One of the selling points of using WordPress is the huge range of themes. You can find nearly any style or layout theme online and apply it to your site. But not every theme is secure, and some may even make your site susceptible to security concerns. Choose a theme that follows WordPress standards and regularly check it for updates.

3. Enable a Firewall and SSL/HTTPS

Your WordPress website doesn’t require complicated codes to stay protected. Some of the most effective steps you can take are relatively simple on the backend.

SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors’ browser, which protects the traffic from unwelcome interceptions. HTTP is the basic language of the internet, which exchanges information in plain text that can be easily stolen. HTTPS encrypts that information to add a layer of protection and a secure connection. SSL is what moves websites from HTTP to HTTPS.

SSL is so foundational to protecting your website that Google will warn visitors when they come to a website that doesn’t follow SSL guidelines. To check if your site follows SSL protocol, simply check the URL: if the homepage starts with https://, you have SSL. You’ll also see a grey padlock by the URL. If you don’t have an SSL certificate, you can get one by enabling SSL protects your website and also can boost traffic and search engine results for better SEO. It can be enabled on your site manually or through an SSL plugin. A dedicated IP address can also boost SSL security and further protect the website.

Installing a firewall is also a crucial security step. A firewall blocks unauthorized traffic from entering your network and blocks a direct connection between your network and other networks. A firewall plugin can easily be added to your WordPress site to essentially build a wall around your site and keep malicious users away.

4. Implement Website Backups

We’ve all experienced the pain of having a computer freeze or shut down in the middle of typing a document, only to lose all your progress. A cyberattack can feel the same way on your website, only instead of not saving a few paragraphs, you may end up not saving pages of code.

To protect yourself against cyberattacks and allow you to bounce back more quickly if something does happen, establish automatic backups of your site. Backups can occur through a WordPress plugin and automatically save the website’s data regularly so it can be restored in case it is ever hacked.

Backups are especially important as you edit and update your website so that you don’t lose any of the changes. But as plugins and themes change and are updated, backing up your site not only protects data but ensures you can restore the site to the most updated version. A manual backup is effective, but it requires someone to stay on top of changes and go through the process by hand. Automated backups tend to be more efficient because they can happen regularly (even hourly or daily) to ensure the most up-to-date version of your website is always protected and saved.

5. Purchase a Security Package

While it’s possible to piece mail your website security and do it manually or through a collection of automated plugins and services, the most streamlined method is to purchase a security package through a company like Red Rocket Web Specialists. Security packages combine best-in-class solutions to cover every aspect of website security and can grow with your website as your company’s needs change and grow. You may not need a certain plugin update now, but including the feature in your security package leaves the door open for the future.

Protecting your data and website can feel like a full-time job on top of your other responsibilities. Red Rocket’s experienced team installs programs to automate the process, including checking for updates and monitoring threats, to keep your WordPress site running smoothly and securely. We offer a variety of security packages to meet the needs of your company and website.

Cyberattacks are on the rise, and those numbers will only continue to grow. Don’t put your website’s security at risk—trust Red Rocket for your security needs.