How secure is WordPress? It’s a common search term on Google, indicating it’s a question many website owners have asked in the past. You might think that because WordPress is an open source platform (meaning that anyone can contribute to its development) it is more vulnerable to security threats. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Contributors have to follow stringent security protocols. Plus WordPress has its own security team who regularly check for vulnerabilities, run security tests and work closely with the product team to ensure each update is more secure than the last.
All that aside, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and do everything you can to ensure your WordPress website is 100% secure.
WordPress is one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) on the internet. This popularity makes it more of a target for hackers. No matter what CMS you use, it’s important to run security checks on a regular basis.
We’ve outlined 6 security checks all website owners should run.
How to maintain WordPress security
Poor password management, weak system admin, outdated plugins and components or outdated code. These are just a few aspects that impact the security of a system if you’re not on top of them.
Keeping your WordPress website secure should be part of your website maintenance routine. It is vital to keep an eye on the health of your website and embrace new security advancements: the more time you invest in adding additional security layers, the more you benefit.
By default, WordPress comes with a good security layer to launch your website. But maintaining the best security practices is imperative to keep hackers at bay.
Here are 6 of the best security measures you can undertake to secure your website:
1. Keeping WordPress core, plugins and themes up to date
WordPress’s core security is maintained by the WordPress security team who work with many contributors and developers from around the world. Whenever a new bug is discovered, an updated core release is broadcast. When you log in to WordPress as an admin, you’ll be prompted to update to the latest core release. This is a simple click update.
Be wary of plugins from untrustworthy sources. Plugins are the cause of 92% of WordPress vulnerabilities. It’s important to remember that the WordPress security team is not responsible for 1000s of plugins and themes available. These are manually checked by volunteers. Reputable plugins and themes have been downloaded many times and their code is constantly maintained. You should research any plugin before installing it to ensure you’re making a sensible choice.
You may notice that some plugins are not compatible with the version of WordPress you’re using. This normally means the plugin has not been kept up to date by the developer. If you come across a warning like this, it’s best to avoid using these plugins.
These are a few secure and popular WordPress plugins from WordPress.org.
2. Use strong passwords
A weak password is the first vulnerability hackers look for. Avoid simple and easy to guess passwords: here’s a list of the most commonly used passwords.
Strengthening your password is an important step in stopping brute-force attacks on your website, including:
- WordPress admin account (do not use ‘admin’ as a username. With Managed WordPress Hosting you are required to choose a username)
- WordPress user accounts
- FTP accounts
- Database login credentials
Here are a few do’s and don’ts of password management.
3. Use a reputable web host
When it comes to trusting an organisation with your web content, carefully select a reputable web host. Choose a host that is known for its robust hosting infrastructure and good customer service.
Xneelo takes security seriously. We’re on a quest to achieve the most secure and optimal environment for our hosted websites, as outlined in our security statement.
To boost security to the next level, we recommend a firewall solution to shield your WordPress website against hackers. Learn more about Cloudbric WAF here.
xneelo Managed WordPress Hosting has its own security features in place to keep your website secure, including automatic WordPress updates, firewalls, DDoS protection, SSL and 24/7 support.
4. Use SSL certificate and HTTPS
An SSL certificate installed on your website will make it possible to send web pages over the internet securely, via encryption.
SSL is used to protect credit card transactions or any other type of data transfer or logins. It has now become the norm when it comes to secure browsing over the internet.
All of xneelo’s hosting accounts include free SSL certificates with Let’s Encrypt.
5. Keep daily backups of your website
A daily backup is helpful in case you need to restore your website.
At xneelo, we offer automatic, free daily backups on websites for 2 weeks. This is a helpful measure to have in emergencies. We also provide a Restore Backup tool that allows you to restore any backup with a few clicks. Read more about our backup system here.
For added peace of mind and extra features, consider installing one of the many free and paid-for back-up plugins available on wordpress.org. A few examples of back-up plugins include UpdraftPlus, Jetpack, and Duplicator.
6. Use a good security and firewall plugin
A good security plugin reduces risks by applying the latest WordPress security practices and techniques
It is possible to combine different security plugins, but be sure not to have overlapping functionalities: some plugins offer a firewall only and some give a combination of different security layers. Browse the security plugins section on wordpress.org to find the plugin best suited to your needs.
Keeping your website safe and secure is an essential part of website management. With these 6 security checks in place, you’re empowered to run a secure WordPress site.
Interested in the security offered by Managed WordPress Hosting? Try it free for 30 days.
