Invest in Secure Hosting
There are many more characteristics of a secure site than just the internal logistics. One of the most important steps you can take in guaranteeing the safety of your information is invest in great web hosting services. You should choose a host whom you trust absolutely, and whom you know will take great care of your information.
There are many great web hosting companies which will give you great security, such as Kinsta. You can also choose to host your WordPress site yourself, using a VPS, although this requires more technical knowhow and will usually be less secure.
All in all, it’s usually a poor idea to try and save twenty bucks a month for subpar security. When it comes to cyberattack prevention, the best defense is a good offense. Professional web hosting services will have the latest optimization and state of the art technology to get ahead of the security curb.
” The last thing you want to happen is to wake up one morning to discover your site in shambles. ”
Use the Latest PHP Install
PHP is the backbone of your WordPress website and, as such, its importance cannot be overstated. When WordPress releases a new PHP, they typically support it for two full years before coming out with a new update. During this two-year period, WordPress will do everything in its power to fix bugs and security concerns, through patches and other smaller updates.
To ensure your WordPress is as secure as possible, you should always have the latest PHP version installed. This way, you get the full support of WordPress and the resources at their disposal. If you’re running an old PHP version, you won’t have nearly the security or peace of mind others running new versions will have.
The amazing thing about this is, official WordPress Stats indicate that nearly sixty percent of WordPress users have PHP 5.6 or lower. This is an incredible stat and it’s important not to be one of these users!
Don’t Use Stale or Simple Usernames or Passwords
One of the oldest trick in the books for hackers is to simply steal usernames and passwords. You may have thought this trick would have gone out the window as technology got more sophisticated and there became more on the line, but many in the general population are still using usernames and passwords which are old hat.
For example, some of the most common passwords which are stolen, even in 2020, are: 123456, password, 123456789, 12345678, 12345, sunshine, qwerty, and iloveyou. Needless to say, your passwords should be far more advanced than this for sensitive websites which house valuable and private resources. The most secure passwords are truly just a strong of random digits ad letters, as computers have a tough time figuring these out.
Not only should your passwords be strong, you should absolutely use a different password for each site you use, both in your personal and professional life. Never use the default “admin” username which WordPress provides; always come up with a complex password on your own.
” Your WordPress security is only as good as your WordPress password security. If you have a simple password, you have a simple site to hack. ”
Keep Everything Updated
PHPs aren’t the only characteristic of your WordPress website which will need to be checked and made sure it’s updated. Everything on your site should be updated at all times, including your plugins, themes, and the WordPress core. Whether you’ve paid for these items or go to the free repository, every facet of your website needs to be up to date to fully secure your site.
WordPress will update your site automatically, so make sure you’ve got this function toggled at all times. This is another tip which seems obvious and straightforward, like making good passwords, but millions of businesses are running outdated of WordPress software and plugins during their daily operations. There are many excuses business owners use to delay or avoid updating their site, but most of these boil down to the fear of change.
Change is often inconvenient or off-putting for a few weeks in the world of technology, but ultimately, there is a reason things are being altered and upgraded nearly every day by developers and tech giants. Studies have found that WordPress vulnerabilities account for nearly fifty-five percent of cyberattacks; a stat which is worrisome but rather easily avoided.
Implement Two-Factor Authentication
Two-Factor authentication has swept the security world in the last few years. Millions of businesses, households, and universities employ this step to further bolster their security and ensure that hackers don’t have easy access to their systems. Two-step authentication works because it requires both your password and a second method of your choosing.
Typically, this is a text or a phone call which you must respond to in order to log into the system. If a hacker tries to enter your system, they’ll need more than your password, and you’ll be instantly alerted to suspicious activity by the two-step process. If your phone rings or you receive a text when you aren’t trying to log into your system, it’s likely that hackers aren’t attempting to steal your information.
There are many plugins available to implement two-step authentication for WordPress, but the best two are Duo Two-Factor Authentication and Google Authenticator. You should also enable this process on your dashboard so nobody can change your passwords or alter other important items. Set up is usually quick and easy, so take advantage of this new trend in security before it’s too late.
Use WordPress Security Plugins
One of the most straightforward steps you can take, you should utilize one of the many plugins WordPress offers to protect your website. There are many great developers and companies working today to provide you with a safe and secure WordPress website; some of the best plugins of this type are Sucuri Security, iThemes Security, and WordFence Security.
These plugins do many different things, but they all revolve around keeping your website safe and secure. They’ll log the actions of users, generate strong and diverse passwords, scan often and thoroughly for malware, erect firewalls which are all but impenetrable, block malicious networks, and file change logs.
All of these are great steps to take to ensure the security of your website. Additionally, many security plugins also run a checksum utility, which means they’ll scan the core files of your WordPress site to detect modifications. Any modifications found are often signs of a hack.
” Using a security tool on your WordPress site is essential to having a successful business online. ”
WordPress is a great tool for businesses and amateurs alike.
However, businesses can’t afford to be lax in their security. If you use WordPress to your website needs, you’ll want to make sure your site is up to date, you’re running the latest PHP, and you’ve enabled to two-step factor authentication to step hackers in their tracks. There are many vulnerabilities when using any digital platform, but WordPress offers a host of solutions to keep your data and company resources safe and protected. Our WordPress Support and Maintenance Plans will keep your website in good hands!
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