At Blue Whale Media, we know how important it is to keep your WordPress website secure. With WordPress being the most popular content management system (CMS) globally, it’s no surprise that it’s a target for hackers and malicious attacks. However, by taking the right steps and adopting good security practices, you can protect your site from vulnerabilities and keep it running smoothly.

In this blog, we’ll explore several key strategies to maintain the security of your WordPress site, from regular updates to more advanced methods. By following these tips and working with a dedicated web developer, like us at Blue Whale Media, you’ll ensure that your site stays safe and secure.

1. Keep WordPress Updated

One of the most fundamental yet often overlooked aspects of website security is keeping WordPress updated. WordPress frequently releases updates that not only add new features but also fix known security vulnerabilities. It’s essential to ensure that your website is running the latest version of WordPress to protect against potential exploits.

We recommend enabling automatic updates if you’re not regularly checking for new releases. This simple step can save you a lot of trouble down the road. But while this is a good start, it’s just the beginning of a comprehensive security strategy.

2. Update Plugins and Themes Regularly

Alongside WordPress core updates, it’s just as important to keep your plugins and themes up to date. Outdated plugins and themes are often the entry point for hackers to exploit a website. Even the most popular plugins can become vulnerable if they’re not regularly maintained by their developers.

At Blue Whale Media, we always advise website owners to minimise the use of unnecessary plugins. The more plugins you have, the greater the potential for vulnerabilities. Make sure to deactivate and delete any plugins that are no longer in use. This is where working with a professional web developer comes in handy, as we can help you manage these updates efficiently and make informed choices about which plugins to use.

3. Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

A straightforward but highly effective security measure is using strong, unique passwords for your website’s admin panel. Weak passwords are one of the most common reasons for website breaches. We recommend using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters to create a secure password.

However, even strong passwords can be compromised in certain cases. That’s why we advocate implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) for your WordPress login. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring not just a password but also a code sent to your mobile device, ensuring that only authorised users can access your site.

4. Install a Security Plugin

For an extra layer of protection, we suggest installing a security plugin that can help monitor and prevent security threats. WordPress offers a range of excellent security plugins, like Wordfence or Sucuri, that provide firewall protection, malware scanning, and login attempt tracking.

These plugins act as a shield, blocking suspicious activity before it can cause harm. A professional web developer, such as our team at Blue Whale Media, can help you choose the right plugin, configure its settings, and monitor your site for any security alerts.

5. Opt for Managed Hosting

While many website owners focus on their content and user experience, they may overlook the importance of their hosting provider in maintaining security. We at Blue Whale Media strongly recommend choosing managed WordPress hosting for added security benefits.

Managed hosting services offer features like automated backups, malware scanning, and a secure server environment that standard hosting providers might not. Moreover, these services often include technical support from experts who can help resolve security issues quickly. With a reliable hosting provider, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your site is in good hands.

6. Regular Backups

No matter how many security precautions you take, there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. Whether it’s a hack or accidental error, it’s crucial to have regular backups of your website. Backups allow you to restore your site to a previous state, minimising the damage caused by data loss or corruption.

We at Blue Whale Media always recommend scheduling automatic backups to run daily or weekly, depending on the size and frequency of updates to your site. This way, if the worst happens, you’ll be able to recover quickly with minimal disruption.

7. Limit Login Attempts

Brute force attacks are a common method used by hackers to guess your login credentials. To combat this, we recommend limiting the number of login attempts allowed. By restricting the number of failed login attempts, you can block IP addresses that attempt too many incorrect logins in a short period.

This method is easy to implement through a security plugin and can greatly reduce the risk of your site being compromised by brute force attacks.

8. Disable File Editing

By default, WordPress allows administrators to edit theme and plugin files directly from the dashboard. However, this feature can be risky if someone gains access to your admin area. Hackers can modify these files to include malicious code, causing serious damage to your website.

To avoid this risk, it’s a good idea to disable file editing within WordPress. This can be done easily by adding a simple line of code to your wp-config.php file, or by having a developer do it for you.

Conclusion

While there are many steps you can take to improve your WordPress website’s security, the best approach is to work with a professional Manchester web design company. At Blue Whale Media, we specialise in creating secure, high-performance WordPress websites. We understand the latest security practices and can help you implement the measures that will keep your site safe.

From managed hosting to regular updates and security monitoring, we offer comprehensive services to ensure your WordPress site remains secure. Stay secure with Blue Whale Media – contact us today to discuss how we can assist you in maintaining the security of your website.