How to Make Your WordPress Site Secure

Business owners tend to have far more responsibility on their shoulders as compared to the average employee. After all, business owners must strive to keep their customers happy above all other goals. Keeping your website and your customer’s data secure is one of the best methods of retaining loyalty. There are several methods of improving the security of a WordPress site, some of which we will be discussing in the article below. 

Implement Locking Features

Many websites incorporate lock-out security measures in the event of multiple failed login attempts. This is especially true of companies that deal with confidential data, such as banks or insurance agencies. It can be frustrating for the customer that simply forgot their password, but it is a strong security measure and pays off in the long run. 

You can implement a similar feature for your WordPress site. If someone tries to log in and fails three or five times in a row, the site should lock down until someone enters the recovery code. You can set the recovery code to come to your cell phone or email address. 

Use a Reliable Web Host

It can be difficult to choose a reliable web hosting provider since there are so many options available. A good hosting provider will ensure your website is always protected and do the utmost to avoid cyber attacks. A web host should always use up-to-date firewalls and frequently perform scans for malware. They should also provide data backups in case of a worst-case scenario. 

Keep in mind that your security is at a higher risk if you have a shared hosting plan. Shared hosting means that your website is occupying the same server as hundreds or thousands of other sites. This also means that your website will share the same vulnerabilities as the others.

Some providers offer web hosting for WordPress sites specifically. This means that your WordPress site will be completely optimized and include features such as one-click installations and auto-updates. 

Consider Two-Factor Authentication

If you have multiple people working on the same WordPress site, it is a good idea to incorporate two-factor authentication. This typically takes the form of a security question, or a code send to a verified location, usually a cell phone. It may take a little longer for people to log in but keeping customer data safe is the top priority. 

WordPress offers many plugins that can assist with two-factor authentication for your convenience. 

Invest in an SSL Certificate

With an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate, you are encrypting the data that passes between an online visitor’s browser and your server. This prevents hackers from infiltrating the transaction and stealing the data of customers. Most companies that ask for financial information from customers invest in an SSL certificate for security purposes. You can either purchase an SSL certificate on your own or inquire with your hosting provider to see if they offer one for free. 

Having this may also help boost your website’s SEO. Google prioritizes websites with SSL certificates and tends to rank them higher in the search engine results list. 

Perform Software Updates

It is important to regularly check for the latest updates in WordPress. Since it is an open-source management system, there are frequent new updates available for it. Most of these updates involve fixing known-security vulnerabilities or patching bugs. Hackers quickly find out about these weaknesses and take the opportunity to strike at un-updated software. 

WordPress will alert you to newly available updates, but you may need to manually check your plugins for the latest version. Users who have managed hosting plans get these updates taken care of, but these tend to cost extra. 

Auto Logout if Idle

Sometimes people tend to wander away from their computers to socialize with colleagues, leaving their work open on the screen. This is a good opportunity for a security breach, especially if they are currently logged into a WordPress website. Anyone walking by will have access to see confidential information or to change the credentials and settings. 

You can include plugins that automatically log out idle users. You can choose whatever time interval you would like. A good rule of thumb for companies that deal with financial data is to log people out after 5 minutes or less of idleness.