How to Secure a Business Website

A Guide for Small Business Owners

In today’s marketplace, it’s critical for companies to have a website and WordPress is a tool designed to help you accomplish this. WordPress is an open-source platform that benefits from a community of contributors actively looking to improve the software in terms of style and functionality. To protect your business and your customers, it’s further important that your website is secure. The Heritage Foundation reveals that cyber threats are posing an increasing risk.

Choose a reliable hosting company

The ability to choose your own hosting company with WordPress gives you flexibility and plenty of options. Pick reputable providers offering  multiple layers of security, such as daily malware scans. And price point shouldn’t be your only consideration, the least expensive provider may not offer the level of resources and technical support you will need. Take the time to read reviews. This CNET guide to choosing a hosting provider is a good starting point.

Pick a premium theme and avoid ‘nulled’ themes

WordPress offers many themes, some free and some requiring a fee. You may find unlocked premium themes on websites at no cost. These are known as nulled themes; it’s best to avoid them at all costs. Greta Themes explains that nulled themes have been cracked by a hacker to allow them to be accessed for free, illegally. This is a security risk for your site and is one of the top reasons WordPress sites are hacked. Read more about threats to your website in this WordFence article.

Install relevant security plugins

Take the time to install available security plugins when setting up your WordPress site. WP Forms offers a list of useful plugins for businesses. Sucuri is a general all-in-one protective measure, for example, while Wordfence monitors hack attempts and visits — and can even provide you with the IP address of attempted hacks.

Set a strong password and change your login URL

Be sure to set a strong password. McAfee offers a tutorial on setting a password that’s strong but memorable. They explain that the longer the security code is, the better. They also recommend using two-factor authentication.

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Disable file editing

When you set up your WordPress site, you’ll personalize the theme and plugins. Once your site is live, it’s best to disable these file-editing features; otherwise, hackers may try to inject malicious code into your theme and plugin. Sometimes, this will be done so subtly that you won’t even notice. WP Shout has a quick primer to disabling file editing. Start by heading to your WordPress admin area and follow the guide from there.

Add SSL Certificates

Single Sockets Layer, SSL, certificates are a valuable means of boosting website security. Norton explains that SSL certificates are required for sites that process sensitive data, such as customer passwords or credit card information. SSL encrypts such personalized information before it’s transferred from the browser to the server. This makes it more difficult for ill-intended third parties to gain access.

Hire a professional to take your security to the next level

The aforementioned pointers are just a starting point. If you want to ensure your website is secure, enlist the help of a cybersecurity professional. They can upgrade your site to protect you and your customers. Work-for-hire platforms let you find the experts you need and sort through profiles based on factors like cost and reviews.

Taking the steps to secure your WordPress website will help protect your business and the people who use it from cyber threats. The above guide offers some tips to get started. Here’s and excellent article with some additional information about WordPress security.