WordPress is a popular and robust content management system (CMS) that makes it simple for users to build, maintain, and publish websites. From its inception as a blogging platform in 2003, it has developed into a versatile tool for creating e-commerce enterprises and personal blogs of all kinds. Because WordPress is open-source, it may be used without cost and is backed by a sizable developer community. It provides dozens of themes and plugins so users may extend the functionality of their sites and customize them without requiring complex technological knowledge. Over 44% of websites on the internet are powered by WordPress because of its intuitive user interface.

Since WordPress is a well-liked content management system, hackers and cyberattacks frequently target it. It is imperative that you put the following best practices into effect to protect your website from potential dangers. These are ten practical strategies to maintain the security of your WordPress website:

10 Ways to Keep Your WordPress Website Secure

1. Choose Good WordPress Hosting

The security of your website starts with your choice of hosting company. Using a secure hosting platform might aid in protecting your website from intrusions. Seek for vendors who offer firewalls, monitoring, and cutting-edge security technologies. Hosting providers such as  StormerHost is a great option since they put security first and offer strong infrastructure to keep your website safe.

StormerHost offers a range of hosting solutions including shared hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting, all equipped with key features like free SSL certificates, unlimited bandwidth, and SiteLock security. The company emphasizes fast, secure hosting powered by technologies such as LiteSpeed web servers and cPanel management, making it ideal for businesses and individuals looking for scalable and secure web hosting solutions.

2. Keep Your WordPress Login Secure

The point of access to the backend of your website is the WordPress login page, which makes it vulnerable to brute-force attacks. Keep this page safe by:

• Making use of two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Limiting the quantity of unsuccessful tries at login.
• Modifying the default login URL to something else (for example, “/mycustomlogin” rather than “/wp-login”)

3. Whitelist Your User’s IP Address

By whitelisting IP addresses, you can restrict access to the WordPress admin panel. This greatly minimizes attempts at illegal access since only users with approved IP addresses may log in. When using static IP addresses to access the website, this is especially helpful for you and your staff.

Plugins with user-friendly interfaces, such as Wordfence or iThemes Security, can be used to control IP whitelisting.

Your site’s security will increase by whitelisting IPs, which will restrict access to the WordPress login page to just permitted addresses.

4. Use a Suite of WordPress Security Plugins

Adding security plugins to your website can provide it additional security layers. In addition to offering capabilities like spam protection and DDoS attack prevention, tools like SiteLock offer real-time monitoring and virus detection, one security service StormerHost offers their free package for all WordPress hosting plan. You may be confident that your website is continuously being checked for vulnerabilities by using a comprehensive security plugin.

5. Install a Good Backup Plugin

In the event of data loss or a successful attack, having a reliable and secure backup solution is essential. In the event of an emergency, you may swiftly recover your website thanks to plugins like JetBackup, which can automatically backup your entire website to remote sites. Always keep backups in multiple places, such as the cloud or a separate server.

 

6. Keep PHP Updated

Because WordPress is powered by PHP, it is imperative that you keep PHP updated for security reasons. Vulnerabilities in outdated PHP versions may exist and be exploited by hackers. Although hosting companies like StormerHost frequently update PHP to the most recent version automatically, it’s still vital to make sure you’re always running a supported version.

7. Choose Strong Passwords

Hackers can easily gain access to passwords that are weak. Combinations of capital and lowercase letters, digits, and special characters are essential components of a strong password. Moreover, you ought to utilize password managers like LastPass to save your passwords safely and to update them on a frequent basis.

8. Keep Software Updated

Updates for WordPress are often released, fixing security flaws. This holds true for both themes and plugins in addition to the core WordPress program. If you ignore changes, your website may become open to assaults that take advantage of out-of-date code. Develop the habit of regularly checking for updates or turning on automatic updates for the WordPress core and plugins.

9. Install an SSL Certificate

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates ensure that the data transferred between your server and the user’s browser is encrypted. Installing an SSL certificate will protect sensitive information, such as login credentials and payment details. Providers like RapidSSL, GeoTrust, and DigiCert offer a range of SSL certificates that can suit your website’s needs. Additionally, using SSL helps improve SEO and builds trust with your users.

10. Conduct Regular Security Audits

You can find and fix any vulnerabilities on your website by routinely reviewing its security. Checking for out-of-date software, watching traffic logs for questionable behavior, reviewing your security processes, and confirming that backups and other security measures are operating as intended are all part of this process. To carry out a comprehensive security evaluation, you can also use experts.