How to Secure Your WordPress Website in 10 Easy Steps

Your website can be breached in under 60 seconds.

More than 600 million websites globally are attacked every single day, according to Microsoft estimates. As WordPress websites make up 40% of all websites on the internet, they are also targeted often by cybercriminals.

Thankfully, there’s one thing you can do to avoid it. Adequate security measures. Here are ten simple steps to secure your WordPress website!

These steps will take you less than an hour of your time but may well save your entire business.

Why Website Security Is Essential

The IBM Cost of Data Breach Report states that the average cost of a cyberattack to a company is $4.45 million per incident.

WordPress is a popular target among hackers because it is widely used; it is not insecure by design. Follow these 10 steps to secure your website from attack:

The Top 10 WordPress Security Steps

1. Always Keep Your Software Up-to-Date

Outdated software is the most popular entry point for hackers. More than 56% of all WordPress attacks exploit known vulnerabilities in older versions.

Concrete measures:

• Enable automatic updates for WordPress core.
• Check for theme and plugin updates regularly.
• Delete all unnecessary themes and plugins.

The official documentation from WordPress recommends installing updates right within 48 hours of release.

2. Implement Secure Authentication

Weak passwords cause breaches in 80% of data breaches. The strong password contains at least 12 characters; it consists of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

• Making use of two-factor authentication plugins
• Use professional password managers.
• Change default usernames such as “admin.”

3. Use Professional Security Plugins

A high-quality security plugin acts as a digital shield for your website. Proven solutions include

• Wordfence Security: Over 4 million active installations
• Sucuri Security: Offers a website firewall and malware scanner
• iThemes Security: Over 1 million active users

Their protection has multilayered defenses, including firewalls, malware detection, and brute-force security.

4. Targeted Limiting of Login Attempts

Brute-force attacks make up the majority of all WordPress website hacking attempts. Limiting login attempts can effectively defend against these attempts.

Recommended configuration:

• Maximum of 3 login attempts per IP address
• 30-minute block after failed attempts
• Permanent IP block for repeat attackers

5. Obfuscate WordPress Database Prefix

Cybercriminals seek out websites for the purpose of finding known vulnerabilities. By default, all tables in your WordPress database are prefixed as wp_. It will be simpler for a hacker to determine the name of your table if your WordPress website uses the default database prefix. 

A professional should handle database prefix changes because an inadvertent alteration could destroy your website.

Important obfuscation measures:

• Remove version meta tags from the website header.
• Change the default login URL from “/wp-admin.”
• Protect the “wp-config.php” file from unauthorized access.

6. Develop a Systematic Backup Strategy

Even with optimal security measures, problems can arise. Regular data backups are your life insurance in the digital space.

Professional Backup Strategy:

• Daily automatic database backups
• Weekly full backups of the entire website
• Storage in at least two separate locations
• Monthly testing of the restore function

Proven backup plugins include UpdraftPlus and BackupBuddy.

7. Consistently Use SSL Encryption

SSL encryption is now standard and is considered a ranking factor by Google. Websites without HTTPS are classified as “not secure” by modern browsers.

Benefits of SSL encryption:

• Protection of all data transmissions
• Building trust among website visitors
• Improving search engine rankings
• Compliance with PCI-DSS standards for online stores

8. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A web firewall application pre-filters questionable traffic and visits. Reputable WAF services are provided by well-known services like Sucuri and Cloudflare.

WAF prevents Trojan attacks, malware transmissions, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. They also safeguard your website against cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection attacks.

9. Establish Continuous Website Monitoring

Early detection is crucial for successful cyber defense. Professional monitoring tools often detect suspicious activity before major damage occurs.

Comprehensive monitoring includes:

• Monitoring file changes
• Analysis of unusual login activity
• Detection of performance anomalies
• Regular automated malware scans

10. Choose a Trustworthy Hosting Provider

Your hosting provider forms the foundation of your website security. When selecting a provider, pay attention to the following security features:

• Regular server updates and patches
• Server-level firewall protection
• Professional DDoS protection
• Automatic malware detection
• 24/7 security monitoring by experts

WordPress Development and Web Design Company in the UAE

As one of the market leaders for WordPress development and web design in the United Arab Emirates, Inter Smart has built an excellent reputation through innovative solutions and the highest security standards. Our comprehensive expertise in WordPress technologies makes us the preferred partner for companies of all sizes.

Specialized WordPress Services

Top-Level WordPress Development:

• Custom WordPress Websites with State-of-the-Art Security Features
• Performance-Optimized Solutions for Fast Loading Times
• Scalable Architectures for Growing Businesses
• Multilingual WordPress Websites (Arabic/English)

Professional WordPress Design:

• Mobile-First Responsive Design for All Devices
• SEO-Optimized Structures for Better Search Engine Rankings
• User-Centered UX/UI Design
• Corporate Design Integration

WordPress Security Expertise

Inter Smart Implements Industry-Leading WordPress Security Measures:

• Preventative security architecture:

Multi-layered security approach thought through from the ground up.

• Proactive monitoring:

Round-the-clock monitoring of all WordPress installations.

• Regular security checks:

Monthly penetration tests and vulnerability assessments.

• Automated backups:

Multiple, redundant data backups.

• Malware protection:

Real-time scanning and automatic remediation of threats.

Proven Track Record in the UAE

With many successfully implemented WordPress projects in the UAE, Inter Smart has unparalleled market knowledge:

Industry Expertise:

• E-commerce platforms for the regional market
• Corporate websites for international companies
• Multilingual solutions for diverse target audiences
• Compliance with local data protection regulations

Technical Excellence:

• WordPress development according to international best practices
• Integration with local payment providers and services
• Optimization for regional search engines and directories
• Performance tuning for the regional internet infrastructure

End Note: Security is a strategic investment.

WordPress security is a smart investment, as it protects you from data leaks and other problems.

Professional security measures pay off in the long run because they help you:

• Avoid costly downtime.
• Maintain your customers’ trust.
• be found more easily on Google and other search engines.
• Meeting legal compliance requirements.

At the same time, the growing importance of digital security opens up excellent career opportunities in digital marketing. With the right partner like Inter Smart, companies in the UAE can establish both their digital presence and their cybersecurity at the highest level.

Digital transformation doesn’t wait for those who hesitate. Start professionally securing your WordPress website today and discover the diverse opportunities a career in digital marketing offers.

As a leading provider of web development and digital solutions in the UAE, Inter Smart supports companies in making their online presence secure and successful. 

Contact us for a security consultation.