If your website is WordPress based then learning about the WordPress website security tips that follow should be a priority. As a website owner, protecting your website from potential security threats is critical to its success in our digital age.
Your website is a target for hackers whether your website is large or small. You don’t have to be a large corporate or well-known brand to become a victim. There are many reasons and purposes that motivate hackers from out right extortion to website hijacking for use in more complex attacks.
Fortunately, there are several website security measures you can implement to safeguard your WordPress website against various attacks.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the top WordPress website security tips to help you secure your website and keep your valuable data out of the hands of attackers. From simple steps such as keeping your software updated to advanced security measures such as two-factor authentication, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn how to protect your WordPress website from potential security threats.
Top 5 Website Security Tips
While there are many other website security tips and more advanced detail we can go into, the below broad actions are the most important to get in. In future articles will cover additional security measures as they relate to your website. Right, lets take a look at the most important website security tips you need to implement right now.
Password Security
Password security is a crucial aspect of securing your WordPress website. One of the best ways to secure your website is to use a strong and complex password.
You should avoid using common phrases, simple words, and personal information in your password. Instead, use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters to make it more difficult to guess.
Additionally, regularly changing your password, and avoiding reusing old passwords across websites is also necessary. You could use a password manager to help generate and store unique passwords, and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security. Lastly, it is a given, but never share your password with anyone.
By prioritizing password security, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of your website being hacked and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Keep WordPress, Themes and Plugins up to date
Keeping your WordPress website, themes, and plugins up to date is crucial to keeping your website secure.
Outdated versions of WordPress can contain vulnerabilities that hackers can easily exploit. The same is true for themes and plugins.
When developers release updates, they often include security patches, bug fixes, and new features. By keeping your website up to date, you’ll ensure that your website is protected from known security vulnerabilities.
It is recommended that your WordPress software, themes, and plugins are updated regularly, ideally on a weekly basis. Your website should always be backed up before updating software in case an issue arises.
While it is possible to setup automatic updates, a problem that sometimes occurs is that a plugin or theme is not yet compatible with an updated version of another plugin. This can result in a conflict that can cause problems with your website. As such, manual updating is usually the safest option as plugins can be checked for compatibility.
Taking the time to keep your website up to date will help prevent potential security risks and ensure your website stays secure.
Keep Multiple Website Backups
One of the essential WordPress website security tips is to keep multiple backups of your website. Backups serve as a safety net in case something goes wrong on your website, such as a hacking attempt or a server crash.
It is crucial to have multiple backups stored in different locations, such as a cloud service or an external hard drive, to ensure you can retrieve your website quickly in case of an emergency. It is recommended to schedule regular backups, such as daily or weekly, depending on the website’s frequency of updates.
It is also a good idea to test your backups from time to time to ensure they are being properly saved and can be restored if needed. By keeping multiple website backups, you can enhance the security of your WordPress website and ensure that you always have a backup plan in case of any issue.
Install a Website Security Plugin
One important step towards ensuring the security of your WordPress website is installing a reliable security plugin. An effective security plugin can protect your website from malicious attacks, monitor suspicious activity, and help you stay on top of any vulnerabilities in your website.
While there are many security plugins available, our favourite one is Wordfence, we’ve found it to be reliable and, to date, no website we’ve installed WordFence on has been successfully hacked.
When choosing a security plugin, consider its features, updates frequency, and reviews from other users. It’s also important to ensure that your chosen plugin does not conflict with other plugins you have installed.
Properly configuring your security plugin, such as enabling two-factor authentication and regular malware scanning, can provide additional layers of protection for your website.
Remember, no security plugin can offer complete protection, so it’s also essential to follow other WordPress website security tips, such as regularly updating your plugins and themes, using strong passwords, and backing up your website.
Get Help to Upgrade Your Website Security
If you don’t already have a website security plan in place, now is the time to speak to us to get your website secured. Whether you want basic monthly security cleanups or you need more advanced and frequent security monitoring, we can help. We now also offer a six month website service and security cleanup for those who don’t wish to invest in monthly security services.
