Website security isn’t something you set up once and forget. Threats evolve, software changes, and new vulnerabilities emerge regularly. The good news is that most successful attacks exploit preventable weaknesses. Following a consistent set of best practices puts you well ahead of the majority of targets.

Keep your software updated

Outdated software is one of the most common entry points for attackers. This applies to your content management system (CMS), plugins, themes, and any third-party integrations your site relies on.

Updates aren’t just about new features — they frequently include security patches that close known vulnerabilities. When a vulnerability is disclosed publicly, attackers move quickly to exploit sites that haven’t patched yet. Keeping everything current is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do.

For WordPress sites specifically, enable automatic updates for minor releases and security patches. Review and update plugins regularly, and remove any that are no longer actively maintained.

Implement HTTPS and SSL/TLS certificates

HTTPS encrypts the data exchanged between your website and its visitors, preventing it from being intercepted in transit. Without it, sensitive information — login credentials, form submissions, payment details — can be read by anyone on the same network.

SSL/TLS certificates are what make HTTPS possible. Most reputable hosting providers include free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt. If yours doesn’t, it’s worth switching to one that does.

Beyond security, HTTPS is a confirmed ranking signal for Google. Browsers also flag non-HTTPS sites as “Not Secure,” which damages user trust and increases bounce rates. There’s no good reason not to have it.

Choose a secure hosting provider

Your hosting environment is the foundation everything else sits on. A poorly secured host can undermine every other measure you take.

When evaluating hosting providers, look for:

  • Firewalls and intrusion detection at the server level
  • Malware scanning and automatic removal
  • DDoS protection to absorb volumetric attacks
  • Isolated hosting environments so that a compromised site on the same server doesn’t affect yours
  • Regular server-side backups in addition to any backups you manage yourself
  • A strong security track record — check reviews and any public incident history

Shared hosting is economical but carries more risk than managed or VPS hosting. For business-critical sites, the upgrade is usually worth it.

Use strong, unique passwords

Weak or reused passwords remain one of the leading causes of account compromise. A strong password is long (at least 16 characters), uses a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is unique to each account.

The practical way to manage this is with a password manager. Tools like Bitwarden (free and open source), 1Password, or similar let you generate and store strong, unique passwords for every account without needing to remember them. There’s no good reason to reuse passwords in 2025.

For WordPress sites, this applies to your admin account, your hosting control panel, your database, and any third-party services connected to your site.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds a second verification step to the login process. Even if an attacker obtains your password, they can’t access your account without also having access to your second factor — typically a time-based code generated by an authenticator app.

For authenticator apps, Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator are both reliable, widely supported options available on iOS and Android. Most major platforms and services support 2FA, and enabling it on your hosting account, WordPress admin, and any connected services significantly reduces your exposure.

For WordPress specifically, plugins like WP 2FA or Two Factor make it straightforward to enforce 2FA for all admin users.

Use security plugins and monitoring tools

Security plugins extend your site’s defenses by actively monitoring for threats, blocking malicious traffic, and alerting you to suspicious activity.

For WordPress, the most widely used options are:

  • Wordfence Security — includes a web application firewall, malware scanner, and login security features. Active on over four million sites.
  • Sucuri Security — offers malware scanning, security hardening, and a cloud-based firewall (WAF) on paid plans.
  • Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security) — covers brute force protection, file change detection, and two-factor authentication.

Even on the free tiers, these tools provide meaningful protection. Pair them with server-level monitoring from your host for the most complete coverage.

Back up your website regularly

Backups are your recovery plan when something goes wrong — whether that’s a security breach, a failed update, or accidental data loss. Without them, a serious incident can mean losing your entire site.

A solid backup strategy includes:

  • Automated daily backups of both your files and your database
  • Off-site storage — backups stored only on the same server as your site are at risk if that server is compromised. Use a cloud storage provider (such as Amazon S3, Google Drive, or Backblaze) or a dedicated backup service.
  • Tested restores — a backup you’ve never tested is a backup you can’t trust. Periodically verify that your backups actually restore correctly.

For WordPress, plugins like UpdraftPlus and BlogVault make automated, off-site backups straightforward to set up.

Educate yourself and your team

Technology alone doesn’t prevent every attack. Phishing emails, social engineering, and weak security habits are responsible for a significant proportion of breaches. If you have a team with access to your site or hosting, everyone with credentials needs to understand basic security hygiene.

This means:

  • Recognising phishing attempts and suspicious emails
  • Not sharing login credentials or using shared accounts
  • Understanding why software updates matter
  • Knowing what to do if something looks wrong

You don’t need a formal training program — a clear, written policy and a brief conversation goes a long way for small teams.

Website security is an ongoing process

No single measure makes a site completely secure. What these practices do is raise the cost and difficulty of an attack to the point where most automated threats move on to easier targets.

Review your security setup regularly. Check that plugins are updated, backups are running, and access credentials are current. Remove accounts for people who no longer need access. Stay informed about vulnerabilities affecting the software your site uses.

If you’d rather not manage this yourself, a webmaster or maintenance service can handle it for you — keeping your site patched, monitored, and backed up on an ongoing basis.