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Security is one of the biggest concerns for a business that is setting up a website. WordPress is probably the most popular option for website building due to its ease of use and versatility, but is it secure enough for your needs? The answer is somewhat complex. There are several factors that go into determining the security of your website. This is an overview of the security of WordPress, how your hosting provider affects security, and steps you can take to make your website more secure.
WordPress Security
Is WordPress secure? The short answer is yes. The complete answer is more complicated and depends on many factors.
One thing that makes WordPress secure is its frequent updates. New versions are released and updated often. Minor versions, such as security fixes, are provided via automatic updates. All WordPress versions come in the same format: three numbers separated by periods. For example, the current version is 5.0.3. If a security fix were released, the version would become 5.0.4 and your site would be updated automatically. However, for updates that do are not minor versions, your site will not be automatically updated. Keeping your core application updated will keep you up to speed.
Plugins are a different story. Most plugins do not provide updates. A few do, but they are rare. It’s up to you to keep your plugins updated. This can be taken care of by choosing a hosting company that includes core, theme, and plugin updates in your plan. There is one situation in which WordPress will update plugins for you, and that is when there is a severe vulnerability. WordPress will then force plugin security updates.
While the updates provided by WordPress will protect you most of the time, there is a delay between the moment a vulnerability is discovered and the release of a security fix to address it. During this time, your site is vulnerable and it’s up to you to protect it. A firewall can help with this.
Overall, WordPress is secure, though. There are four stages that a content management system (CMS) will go through, and each affects its security. These stages are invention, discovery, growth, and maturity. WordPress is in the maturity stage, which means it has learned and grown over time, becoming more secure than a younger system. This doesn’t mean that it’s perfect, but it will continue to grow in the future.
How Web Hosting Affects Security
Even though WordPress will update your site when needed, there are times when you need to protect your site. A good hosting provider will help you do that. Core, theme, and plugin updates should be included in your plan. You should also look for security scans and backups. Many providers provide a free SSL certificate with their plans, but you should check to make sure. You’ll have some major problems without that certificate, since Google will label your site as unsafe. You should also look for a hosting provider that offers protection against distributed denial of service (DDoS). This massive attack will overwhelm your website and cause it to shut down. In addition to these features, you should look for a web hosting provider that is reputable and responds quickly to security issues and questions.
Secure Your Website
Here are some steps you can take to secure your WordPress website:
- Choose a hosting provider that includes updates, scans, and backups in all their plans.
- Make sure your hosting includes an SSL certificate.
- Look for DDoS protection in your hosting plan.
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
- Log in with your email.
- Set up a lockdown feature, which will lock out users with failed login attempts.
- Use firewalls that are updated in real time.
- Remove unnecessary applications and accounts to reduce the activity that can be targeted.
- Automatically log users out when they have been idle for a set period of time.
- Disallow file editing, so that users cannot edit files even they gain access.
- Use a security plugin to hide your WordPress version number.
Choose a Web Hosting Provider That Will Help You Protect Your WordPress Website
BionicWP can help make your website as secure as possible. Each of our hosting plans includes the following security features:
- 90 days of off-site backups
- Updates for core applications, themes, and plugins
- Daily security scans for malware
- Hack promise
- CDN integration to protect your site from viruses
- Free SSL certificate
Our plans also include real-time uptime monitoring, monthly hosting reports, and free WordPress migration of an existing site.
Should you find yourself with questions or facing a specific issue, you can contact us for support. We offer comprehensive support plans that can help you with any aspect of building and maintaining your site. We are available to answer your questions 24/7.
Contact BionicWP today to discuss your WordPress security concerns.