Best WordPress Security Practices You Should Follow in 2024

When it comes to the security of WordPress websites, you can never be too careful. WordPress security concerns are a real issue and every business operating a site has to deal with them on a daily basis. In this post, I will show you an easy way to add an extra layer of security to your WordPress site relatively quickly and effectively. Whether you’re a beginner in website security or a pro looking to refresh your skills, these tips are functional and can be implemented.

Why Does Security Matter for Your WordPress Site?

Today, WordPress is used by more than a third of all websites. And that popularity makes it an attractive target for hackers. Small business websites seem to feel they are too small to compromise, but that’s not so. Hackers don’t discriminate — they go for the weakest link.

Here’s the kind of nightmare scenarios a weak link in your WordPress security can cause:

• Stealing people’s data and information of consumers
• Downtime in the website, visitors leak and loss
• Brand reputation damage
• Money lost to fraud or ransom

We want to avoid all these. So let’s start with the ways you can protect your WordPress website step-by-step.

Validate Your WordPress Setup

But before you move forward on advanced security, make sure that your WordPress habitat is sparkling, and the configuration is proper. It begins with ensuring your setup is working:

• Verify plugin & theme compatibility: Outdated or incompatible plugins/themes may leave you susceptible to an attack.
• Keep WordPress core current: Each update closes security holes. Don’t delay.
• Check the PHP version: The latest stable version of PHP that WordPress recommends and supports.
• Routine backups: Don’t make changes without backing up frequently.

It’s these fundamentals that will protect you from many a cyber headache down the line.

Best Top WordPress Security Tips You Can Do Today

Let’s look at some of the simplest ways you can keep your WordPress secure. They are simple yet so powerful.

1. Use Strong Passwords and 2FA

• Default or weak passwords? No good.
• Use strong passwords that include letters, numbers and special characters.
• Push or require two-factor authentication for admin users.

This will prevent most brute force attacks.

2. Limit Login Attempts

Brute force attacks just try a lot of passwords until they’re in.

• Use plugins to restrict login tries per IP address.
• Temporarily block IPs that repeatedly fail login.

This is reducing the odds of hacking greatly.

3. Hide Your Login Page URL

The default log in page is ‘discovered’ easily and attackers are just scanning for it.

• Replace the default WP login URL /wp-admin or /wp-login with a custom value.
• There are a load of plugins available which could do this easily.

Harder for bots to discover and attack.

4. Use A WAF (Web Application Firewall)

Implementing a WAF can also be quite an effective solution.

• A WAF stands guard between your site and adversaries.
• Blocks threats as they arrive on your site.
• Could be cloud based or plugin based.

This serves as a barrier ensuring security of your WordPress site.

5. Keep Your Themes & Plugins up to Date

• Old themes and plugins are a major source of WordPress hacks.
• Do not only keep WordPress core updated, rather stay updated throughout.
• Deactivate unused plugin/themes to minimize attack surface.

Simple step in maintenance but so crucial.

6. Use SSL Certificates All the Time

• Switch your site to HTTPS.
• It encodes data between users and your server.
• Google prefera i siti in HTTPS, quindi aspetto positivo in ottica SEO e sicurezza.

Typically, you can get SSL for free from your hosting company.

4.2 Plan for Backup and Restore

Mistakes happen. Nothing, not even high-end security equipment, is without flaw. Which makes it all the more important to have a good, thorough backup plan.

• Migrate your entire WordPress site with database and files included.
• Keep backups in multiple protected areas such as cloud storage and local drives.
• Schedule to automatic backup weekly or daily by how much update do you make.
• Test recovery steps to verify backups function.

Data Security and Peace of Mind

You could say every business needs peace of mind, that your data is safe.

The SEO Reasons to Choose a Secure WordPress Site

A secure site ranks higher in Google search results. Google Gives preference to sites with robust security such as:

• HTTPS encryption
• Low load time (secure sites usually load faster with caching plugins)
• Low spam and malware risks

By hardening your WordPress site, you improve your search visibility and keep visitors safe. A win-win for growth and trust online for companies.

How To Identify and Respond to WordPress Security Threats

Having the ability to identify and respond to threats early can save many a headache. Watch out for:

• Discrepancies in site content or design changes
• Suspicious activities such as odd login notifications
• Lack of speed or site availability
• External spam links inserted on your pages

If you notice any of these:

• Immediately scanning your site with security plugins
• Password reset and extra workload on any leaky doors for admins and staff, plus suspect user accounts being warned, blocked.
• Rebuild from a stable backup if corrupted party is detected
• Contact your host if you need additional help

Act fast. The longer you wait, the more that can go wrong.

Last Minute WordPress Security Xmas Checklist That Should Be Interesting

So here is a handy little prompt to keep by your desk that you can use whenever to evaluate your WordPress security:

• Keep WordPress core, plugins and themes updated regularly
• Passwords should be strong and non-reusable with two-factor authentication
• Limit login attempts and hide login URL
• Turn on HTTPS using SSL Certificate
• Use a web application firewall
• Back up your site regularly and test the restores
• Keep an eye on your website for funny business

Keep this handy. Security is a process, a state of mind, and not a fixed point in time.

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I really hope that you liked these WordPress security tips and that you found them simple to understand and apply. But, keep in mind that WordPress security vulnerabilities shouldn’t be something you stress about, or keeps you from working on your business. Begin here as a primer and add complexity as you wade in. And the more layers you put in, the tougher it is for the bad guys to succeed. Having a secure website protects your business, clients and many sleepless nights of getting your site to rank.

And remember to be safe on the web, and secure your WordPress site every day with these tried and true WordPress cybersecurity best practices.