Whether you’re new to WordPress or you’re a longtime user, there’s a lot to learn about making your site secure in this age of technology. A lot of new website creators fall into the belief that they don’t have any need for a secure WordPress site. This is dangerous thinking, as it’s easier than ever to have your website compromised as threats continue to grow. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when dealing with important information or valuable content. Keep reading to learn why you need to secure your WordPress site as well as how to get started securing your website.
Is WordPress Secure?
The WordPress framework is already known for being secure. The core software is updated regularly by top developers, and that means it’s one of the best platforms for creating a website. That being said, you can’t ignore the fact that while the framework is secure, it’s not impenetrable. It’s not enough to set your WordPress website up and leave it at that. WordPress security is an ongoing process that takes time and needs to be updated regularly to keep your website secure.
What if I’m not selling anything on my website?
A lot of website owners wrongly believe you only need to secure your website if you’re dealing with important information like user payment information. This is a myth, and all websites should invest time and money into a secure strategy. While securing your WordPress website is certainly more important for ecommerce websites, this does not mean it isn’t also important for blogs, businesses, and even personal websites.
Protect your information
Hacked websites and malware can steal not only your information but also your visitors information. Hackers can hold your website hostage, stealing valuable information like passwords or even credit card info. They can then resell this information, install malicious software, or even charge you ransomware to regain access to your website.
It’s easy to think this won’t happen to you. It’s better to be proactive about protecting yourself to keep your information and your users’ information secure. Google blacklists websites every day for malware, and it’s much more common than you think.
Protect your reputation
Keeping your WordPress website secure means not only protecting your information, but also protecting your reputation. When your website is corrupted by hackers and malicious software, this often directs the attack to your visitors. It’s hard to recover from this kind of negative experience, and users aren’t likely to trust you once their information or cyber security has been compromised. Think about the recent leaks in valuable information that have taken over the news recently. These large, well-known companies are struggling to recover from these breaches in security! Don’t let that happen to you and your website.
How do you protect your website?
As said before, protecting your WordPress website is an ongoing process. There are a number of steps you should take regularly to ensure your website and information is secure. If you want to take your cyber security seriously, you need a professional. WP SitePlan understands the importance of securing your website, and they can do all the heavy lifting for you to ensure your WordPress site is managed securely. Here are other ways to protect your site:
Update your website regularly
WordPress updates help protect you from the most recent security developments. Set your website to automatically update, and do the same for your favorite plugins. Older plugins and versions of WordPress are more susceptible to breaches of security.
Use a strong password
If the password for your WordPress website is admin, you need to change it right now. You’d be surprised to learn just how many people use a weak password for their WordPress website. Use a tool like Lastpass to manage complex passwords safely. In addition, always review user information to ensure your account users have the right level of permissions and access to information.
Always have a backup
You should already have a system for automatically saving backups of your WordPress website. This is your first line of defense against any major problems, and it’s the best way to restore your website should anything happen.
Protect your website with the top security
Nothing is 100% secure, but you should take a proactive approach to cyber security. If government websites can be hacked, your website is basically an open target. If you take an aggressive stance against hackers, you should be protected from anything the internet might throw at you. Remember it’s about more than just protecting your information, it’s also about protecting the integrity of your website and your users’ trust.