Why Small Businesses Must Be Wary of Their Cybersecurity‎

You may believe hackers only go after big businesses, but that would not be accurate or at least small businesses are often easier targets. Most do not have strong defenses, and are easy targets for attacks.

• Consider: A hacked site can steal customer information, tarnish your reputation, and lose you money.
• Once customer trust is lost, it’s difficult to regain.
• The price of responding to a cyber attack can be way more expensive than the cost of prevention.

So whether you are selling goods online or just distributing services, you need to have strong cybersecurity fundamentals. I will guide you through some actionable steps you can take this moment.

1. Update WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Regularly

And this is likely the easiest and most important piece.

• Automatic updates can be very useful but always be sure an update does actually install correctly.
• Re:Hackers: Weakening – Old plugins and Themes.
• Use only themes and plugins of reputable origin, no random freebee’s.
• Uninstall completely plugins you no longer use (if you deactivate them, it is not sufficient).

Tip: Schedule parties once a month to update each one and delete what you don’t need.

2. Use Secure Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Weak passwords remain one of the greatest risks.

• Use long passwords that contain a combination of numbers, letters and symbols.
• Never use the same password for multiple accounts.
• Turn on 2FA for your WordPress login and any email the site uses.
• Think about trying a password manager to stay organized without the stress.

2FA provides an additional layer of security, so that even if someone manages to get ahold of your password, they can’t easily get in.

3. Restrict the Number of Login Attempts and Keep an Eye on Login Activity

Brute force attacks are the most common tactic hackers use to crack passwords.

• Use plugins that lock up failed login attempts to prevent brute force.
• Keep an eye on login logs for unusual login times and locations.
• Lock IP addresses after certain failed attempts.
• Have a WordPress login URL change if at all possible, to help reduce bot confusion.

It’s also important to be able to keep up with who is trying to gain access to your site.

4. Backup Your Website Regularly

No matter how many shields you have in place, something can always go wrong.

• Schedule automatic backups that include your entire site and database.
• Backups should be kept in multiple places (not on your main server).
• And, test your backups with restores periodically.

And remember: Backups are the safety net.

5. Install a WordPress Security Plugin

A great security plugin can act as your watchdog, alerting you of threats before damage can be done.

• Seek out plugins that scan for malware, check traffic and block malicious IPs.
• Some of them have firewall capabilities to head off attacks before they start.
• Routine scans can inform you of weaknesses you didn’t even know existed.
• Some plugins will also automatically help when it comes to security hardening.

Never depend on any single layer of protection — always rely on plug-ins to back you up.

6. Secure Your Hosting Environment

The web host you use has a lot to do with security.

• Opt for hosting companies who are expert in WordPress security.
• Ask whether and how SSL certificates are available — HTTPS is now mandatory.
• They should provide regular server updates and run malware scanning.
• Discover if they have good backup procedures.

If the server is hacked, your site is hacked. Pick your hosting wisely.

7. Protect Your WordPress Admin Area

Your WordPress admin dashboard is the heart and soul of your website.

• If you can, limit availability by IP address.
• For file transfers, use secure protocols such as SFTP instead of FTP.
• Change ‘wp_’ prefix to something more obscure.
• Never use ‘admin’ as login-name.

Any measure of security here stops short of ceding full control to hackers.

8. User Roles and Permissions You Should Be Wary Of

WordPress has several user roles Admin, Editor, Author etc.

• Limiting admin access to only those who require it.
• Constantly check for anomalies in user accounts and user roles.
• Restrict plugin and theme installation permissions to trusted users.
• Train your cavalier in the best security practices.

The more people you have with admin rights, the more you increase the risk.

9. Use HTTPS and Secure Communications

SSL certificate is no more optional.

• Always ensure that your site is using HTTPS to encrypt the transfer of data.
• Google also favors HTTPS, which helps your SEO.
• Use HSTS to compel browsers to use HTTPS.
• Never send sensitive information in an unencrypted channel, such as via email.

This protects your data from your users to your server.

10. Monitor Your Site Activity and Logs

Security isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it thing.

• Periodically review logs for errors, unauthorized access, changes, etc.
• Turn in real-time alerts with monitoring solutions to notify you automatically about possible issues.
• Regularly audit plugins and themes for existence of security issues.
• Keep up on the latest WordPress vulnerabilities.

Knowledge is power—get out in front, don’t be reactive.

Bonus SEO Advice: Make Sure Your Site Is Secure, It’s Better for SEO!

Safe sites are also now more of a priority for Google and the other search engines.

What does that mean for you?

• A strong WordPress site (with HTTPS and no vulnerabilities) can benefit your SEO.
• The less hacks there are, the less downtime we have, and a happy user means a good user experience.
• Customers are likelier to stick around and make a purchase on websites they trust, meaning secure sites.

So, placing an investment in cybersecurity itself is an investment that benefits your business’s visibility.

Wrapping Up

There was a lot to cover today, but staying secure for a small business using WordPress is achievable if you take it one step at a time.

Remember these key points:

• Keep everything updated. No exceptions.
• Strong passwords, 2FA: Obviously.
• Restrict login attempts, and monitor your logs.
• Backup regularly.
• Use trusted security plugins.
• Choose secure hosting.
• Secure the front door and the keys to the house (admin area and user permissions).
• Always use HTTPS.
• Monitor site activity continuously.

Stick to these best practices for small business cybersecurity and your WordPress site will be secure. Safeguarding your business online is important, and with these quick tips you are armed to protect your business even now as a startup!

Final Note

Implement these little-known but effective cybersecurity tips for your startup now to keep your small business and your WordPress site safe from the bad guys – and found by the people who would do business with you!