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One of the main allures of using WordPress for your website CMS is its ease of use. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get your website up and running, which is appealing to a lot of people. But what should you be doing to keep that website secure? Luckily, much like everything else, WordPress keeps it easy. We’ve broken it down into 4 easy steps.
1. Buy SSL
This isn’t WordPress dependent but it’s vital for all sites, no matter what CMS you use. SSL is a type of digital certificate that you can add to your server to secure connections to your site. So when anyone communicates with your site via their web browser, any data shared is encrypted. This is so important no matter what kind of website you run, whether it’s an e-commerce store or just a simple blog. SSL is responsible for bringing safety and security to millions of websites across the web — make sure yours is one of them.
2. Load up on security plugins
One of the main appeals of WordPress sites are plugins, which are basically apps that let you add extra features and functionality to your site with relative ease. But with more than 59,000 plugins available, how do you know where to start? Firstly, only pick things you really need — too many plugins can really slow down your site and cause problems down the line. Secondly, only choose plugins that are still updated and by reputable developers. Always check the reviews and whether or not the developers are still active. After that, it’s up to you. When it comes to website security, it always helps to choose a comprehensive security plugin that includes features like continual antivirus site scans and a firewall. Apart from that, a spam monitor is a great addition if you plan on having comments enabled on your site.
3. Keep everything up-to-date
As mentioned in the last point, it’s so important that Plugins are up-to-date. That’s because out-of-date code can be so vulnerable to hacking and is a key way for malicious actors to enter your site’s backend. Apart from plugins, always make sure you update the WordPress software itself as soon as possible if you can.
4. Use a strong password
You can never underestimate the importance of a good, strong password, especially when far too many people are still using classics like Password to keep their accounts secure. Ensure your website is as safe as can be by practising good password hygiene. That means using at least 8 characters that are a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Ideally, use a password generator, and keep track of your passwords by using a password manager.
Wrap up
Website security might seem like a daunting task at first, but it’s pretty simple when it comes down to it. Carrying out the four tasks above are a great start to ensuring your website is secure as can be.
