Running a small business is demanding enough without worrying about hackers targeting your website. Yet with WordPress powering nearly half of all websites globally, it’s become a prime target for cyber-criminals, malware and bad actors on the internet. The good news? The platform is highly secure, and with some simple WordPress security best practices in place, your site is incredibly safe and protected.
If you’re a busy business owner who understands your website is important but doesn’t have time to become a security expert, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through the essential and simple WordPress security best practices that will protect your business without overwhelming your schedule.
Why WordPress security matters for your business
When your website gets hacked, the consequences extend far beyond a few hours of downtime. Small businesses face real financial and reputational damage that can take months or even years to recover from.
Consider what happens when hackers compromise your site. Google might blacklist your website, cutting off your organic traffic overnight. Customer data could be stolen, destroying trust and potentially exposing you to legal liability. Your site might be used to distribute malware, damaging your reputation with both customers and search engines.
According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60% of small and medium businesses that suffer a cyber-attack are out of business within six months. In Australia, the average of a data breach has reached a record high of 4.26 million dollars.
With some simple WordPress security best practices, you can keep your site safe and protected and avoid the huge issues and fallout that can come from a vulnerable or not secure site.
Here’s the reality: WordPress itself is very secure. The core software undergoes rigorous security audits and regular updates. The vulnerabilities typically come from outdated plugins, weak passwords, and poor security hygiene. That’s exactly what we’re going to fix.
The fundamentals: WordPress security best practices & basics
The foundation of WordPress security starts with keeping everything current. Think of updates like locking your doors at night – the most simple action prevents the most opportunistic attacks.
Keep WordPress core updated
WordPress regularly releases security updates to patch newly discovered vulnerabilities. WordPress is a a dynamic and evolving platform, and while it is getting more secure all the time, like any platform there can be vulnerabilities.
The most simple protection against any vulnerabilities in WordPress core is simply keeping it up to date. Staying on the latest version of WordPress isn’t optional — it’s essential.
In many cases, this is done automatically by your hosting provider, so you are likely already covered. It’s definitely worth checking, as this is your first line of defence.
Update plugins and themes regularly
Outdated plugins are responsible for 92% of WordPress vulnerability reports. This statistic alone should motivate you to stay on top of updates.
Check your WordPress dashboard weekly for available updates. You can enable automatic updates for individual plugins by going to Plugins → Installed Plugins and clicking “Enable auto-updates” for each plugin you trust.
However, automatic updates can sometimes be problematic and causes unexpected issues. So while enabling these can help protect your site, there is potential for it to cause issues. I always recommend checking your site after running updates, whether these are updated automatically or manually.
I also recommend testing updates on a staging site first, especially for major updates and critical plugins. Many quality hosting providers offer staging environments, or you there are plugin based options thatyou can use to create a test version of your site.
Remove unused plugins and themes
Every plugin and theme on your site represents a potential security risk, even if it’s deactivated. Hackers can now mass-scan WordPress sites to identify and exploit vulnerabilities faster than ever using AI-powered tools.
Conduct a quarterly audit of your plugins and themes. Delete anything you’re not actively using. If you’re unsure whether a plugin is necessary, deactivate it and see if anything breaks.
Choose reputable plugins and themes
Before installing any plugin or theme, do your homework. Look for:
- Recent updates (within the last few months)
- Active support from developers
- Good ratings and reviews
- Regular security patches
- A substantial user base
Avoid nulled or pirated themes and plugins entirely. There are some sketchy sites that sell these only, but it is an unsafe practice – They often contain malicious code and won’t receive security updates.
Essential login and user security
Your WordPress login is the front door to your website. Securing it properly stops most automated attacks before they begin. While some of these are WordPress specific best practices, many of them are just general security best practices so they can apply to any site.
Use strong, unique passwords
Weak passwords are still the easiest way for hackers to access WordPress sites. Your password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Better yet, use a password manager like 1Password, LastPass, or Bitwarden to generate and store unique passwords for every account. This eliminates the temptation to reuse passwords across multiple sites.
You should also consider changing passwords regularly – at least every six months for admin accounts, and immediately if you suspect any compromise.
Enable two-factor authentication
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) or Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond your password. Even if someone steals your password, they can’t access your site without the second factor.
Popular 2FA plugins include:
- WP 2FA: Simple setup with multiple authentication methods
- Google Authenticator: Works with the Google Authenticator app
- Wordfence Login Security: Includes 2FA as part of a comprehensive security suite
Set up 2FA for all administrator accounts and encourage other users to enable it as well. Many hosting providers also offer 2FA as an option.
Another more modern alternative to 2FA or MFA is to use passkeys. This uses authentication tied to your current device or app, and will often use biometric options like FaceID or fingerprint, so it’s a very secure and reliable authentication option (plus often it’s quicker and easier!).
Limit login attempts
By default, WordPress allows unlimited login attempts, making it vulnerable to brute force attacks where hackers try thousands of password combinations.
Install a plugin that limits login attempts, such as:
- Limit Login Attempts Reloaded: Free and effective
- Wordfence Security: Comprehensive security including login protection
- iThemes Security: All-in-one security solution
Configure these plugins to lock out users after 3-5 failed attempts, with increasing lockout periods for repeat offenders. Again this is something many hosting providers include by default.
Change the default admin username
Never use “admin” as your username. It’s the first thing hackers try, and it makes their job significantly easier. If you’re already using “admin,” create a new administrator account with a different username, then delete the old admin account.
Choose a username that’s not easily guessable and doesn’t relate to your business name or personal information.
Regular user account audits
Review your user accounts monthly. Remove anyone who no longer needs access, and ensure each user has the minimum level of permissions necessary for their role.
WordPress has five default user roles:
- Subscriber: Can only view content
- Contributor: Can write posts but can’t publish
- Author: Can write and publish their own posts
- Editor: Can publish and manage all posts
- Administrator: Full access to everything
Most people don’t need administrator access. Be selective about who gets full control of your site.
Critical security configurations
Beyond the basics, several configuration changes will significantly improve your site’s security posture.
Secure hosting environment
Your hosting provider is your first line of defence. Choose a host that takes security seriously by offering:
- Regular security updates and patches
- Firewalls and intrusion detection
- Malware scanning and removal
- Regular backups
- SSL certificates included
- 24/7 security monitoring
Managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine, Kinsta, or SiteGround typically offer better security than basic shared hosting.
SSL certificate setup
An SSL certificate encrypts data between your website and visitors’ browsers. Beyond the security benefits, Google now considers HTTPS a ranking factor and browsers warn users about unsecured sites.
Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt. Once installed, ensure your site is using SSL and is forced for all connections.
Regular automated backups
Backups won’t prevent attacks, but they’re your safety net when something goes wrong. You should have both your files and database backed up regularly.
Good backup solutions include:
- Host-provided backups: Many hosts include automatic backups
- UpdraftPlus: Popular free plugin with cloud storage options
- BackWPup: Free with professional features available
- Jetpack Backup: Real-time backups as part of Jetpack
Store backups in multiple locations – don’t just rely on your hosting provider. Test your backups regularly by restoring them to a staging environment.
File permissions and security
WordPress files should have specific permissions to prevent unauthorised access. The recommended permissions are:
- Folders: 755 or 750
- Files: 644 or 640
- wp-config.php: 600
Most hosting providers set these correctly by default, but it’s worth checking, especially after any major changes to your site.
Hide sensitive files and information
Prevent hackers from gathering information about your site by hiding or securing sensitive files:
- Block access to readme.html and license.txt files
- Hide your WordPress version number
- Disable file editing from the WordPress admin
Many security plugins handle these tasks automatically, but you can also implement them manually through your .htaccess file.
Proactive monitoring and maintenance
Security isn’t a set-and-forget task. Regular monitoring helps you catch and address issues before they become serious problems.
Install a security plugin
A good security plugin acts as your website’s security guard, monitoring threats and blocking malicious activity. Popular options include:
Wordfence Security: Comprehensive free plugin with premium features available. Includes firewall, malware scanning, and login security.
Sucuri Security: Strong reputation for malware detection and cleanup. Offers both free and premium versions.
iThemes Security: User-friendly interface with extensive security features. Good for beginners who want comprehensive protection.
Jetpack Security: Part of the broader Jetpack suite. Includes backup, malware scanning, and brute force protection.
Choose one primary security plugin rather than running multiple security plugins that might conflict with each other.
Something to consider is that in many cases, a security plugin isn’t required. These can sometimes slow down your site, or cause unexpected issues. With a trusted set of plugins, regular updates, a quality website and a secure hosting environment, a security plugin isn’t really required.
Regular malware scans
Schedule weekly malware scans to detect any malicious code that might have been injected into your site. Most security plugins include scanning functionality, or you can use external services like:
- Sucuri SiteCheck: Free online scanner
- VirusTotal: Checks files against multiple antivirus engines
- Google Search Console: Alerts you to security issues Google detects
Address any detected issues immediately, even if they seem minor.
Monitor for suspicious activity
Keep an eye on your website’s activity logs for unusual patterns:
- Multiple failed login attempts from the same IP
- Unexpected changes to user accounts or permissions
- Unusual spikes in server resource usage
- Files modified at unexpected times
- New administrator accounts you didn’t create
Many security plugins provide activity logging and alerts for suspicious behaviour.
Set up security alerts
Configure alerts so you’re notified immediately when security events occur:
- Failed login attempts
- Successful logins from new locations
- Plugin or theme changes
- New user registrations
- File modifications
Email alerts work well for most small businesses, but you can also set up SMS notifications for critical events.
Create a maintenance schedule
Consistency is key to maintaining good security. Create a simple schedule:
- Daily: Check for WordPress, plugin, and theme updates
- Weekly: Review security alerts and failed login attempts
- Monthly: Audit user accounts and remove unnecessary users
- Quarterly: Review and remove unused plugins and themes
- Annually: Change all passwords and review hosting security
What to do if you’re hacked
Despite your best efforts, security incidents can still occur. Having a response plan helps you recover quickly and minimise damage.
Immediate response steps
- Stay calm and don’t panic. Most hacks are fixable.
- Change all passwords immediately, starting with your WordPress admin, hosting, and FTP accounts.
- Contact your hosting provider to report the incident and get their assistance.
- Take your site offline temporarily if it’s serving malware or compromised content.
- Scan for malware using your security plugin or external scanning tools.
- Document everything for insurance claims or legal purposes.
Recovery process
- Restore from a clean backup if you have one from before the attack.
- Update everything to the latest versions before bringing your site back online.
- Change all passwords again, including any database passwords.
- Review user accounts and remove any unauthorised users.
- Check for backdoors that hackers might have left behind.
- Submit a reconsideration request to Google if your site was blacklisted.
Prevention for the future
After recovering from an attack:
- Identify how the breach occurred and fix the vulnerability
- Implement additional security measures
- Increase backup frequency
- Consider upgrading to managed hosting
- Review and improve your security procedures
Making security manageable for busy business owners
I understand that as a business owner, you’re already juggling countless responsibilities. Website security shouldn’t become another overwhelming task on your to-do list.
Security checklists and schedules
Create simple checklists for routine security tasks. Keep them visible and actionable:
Monthly security checklist:
- Update WordPress core, plugins, and themes
- Review user accounts and permissions
- Check backup integrity
- Review security alerts and logs
- Scan for malware
- Test key website functions
Quarterly security review:
- Audit and remove unused plugins/themes
- Review hosting security features
- Update emergency contact information
- Test disaster recovery procedures
- Review and update passwords
When to consider professional help
Some tasks are worth outsourcing to experts, especially if they’re beyond your comfort level or time constraints:
- Initial security setup: Getting everything configured correctly from the start
- Malware cleanup: Removing infections and securing compromised sites
- Security audits: Professional assessment of your security posture
- Ongoing monitoring: 24/7 surveillance and incident response
WordPress maintenance services
Consider a WordPress maintenance service if you want professional oversight without the technical complexity. Look for services that include:
- Automatic updates with rollback capability
- Regular security scans and monitoring
- Performance optimisation
- Backup management
- Emergency support for security incidents
A good maintenance service gives you peace of mind while freeing up your time to focus on growing your business.
Your website security action plan
WordPress security doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By implementing these best practices systematically, you’ll create multiple layers of protection that stop most attacks before they start.
Remember, the goal isn’t to make your site completely hack-proof – that’s never 100% possible. The goal is to make your site a harder target than the thousands of other poorly-secured WordPress sites that hackers encounter daily.
Start with the fundamentals: keep everything updated, use strong passwords, and install a reputable security plugin. Then gradually implement the additional measures as time permits.
Most importantly, don’t let security concerns paralyse you. A well-maintained WordPress site with basic security measures is far more secure than most people realise. Focus on building good habits rather than achieving perfection.
Ready to secure your WordPress site but need expert guidance?
I’d love to help you implement these security best practices and create a maintenance plan that fits your business needs. Book a consultation call to discuss your website security goals, or learn more about our WordPress care plans that handle all the technical details so you can focus on what you do best—running your business.
