If your business website runs on WordPress you’re in very good company. It’s the world’s most popular website platform and it’s trusted by millions of companies across the globe. But because it’s so popular it’s also a prime target for hackers. The good news is that keeping your WordPress site secure doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. With a few smart habits and the right tools in place you can protect your website and your reputation with ease.
Stay on Top of Updates
WordPress releases regular updates to improve performance, patch vulnerabilities and keep everything running smoothly. The same goes for your plugins and themes. Ignoring these updates is like leaving your front door unlocked while you’re out. Even a small delay can expose your site to unnecessary risk.
At Portal Creative we always recommend enabling automatic updates for minor WordPress releases and checking your plugins weekly. Major updates are worth reviewing manually to ensure compatibility with your theme or any custom features. It’s a small task that can save a lot of headaches later.
Backup Like a Pro
Imagine waking up to find your website has vanished overnight. It’s every business owner’s nightmare but one that’s completely avoidable with regular backups. A backup is essentially your website’s safety net. If something goes wrong whether it’s a hack or a broken plugin you can restore your site in minutes instead of starting from scratch.
We use automated backup solutions that store copies of websites offsite meaning even if your server goes down your files are still safe. If you prefer to handle it yourself there are plenty of WordPress backup plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy that make it simple to schedule and manage backups. The golden rule is to back up your site often and always test that your backups actually work.
SSL Certificates Are a Must
If you’ve ever noticed a small padlock icon next to a web address in your browser that’s SSL in action. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and it encrypts the data between your visitor’s browser and your website. In short it keeps information like contact form submissions and payments safe from prying eyes.
Google now flags sites without SSL as “Not Secure” which doesn’t inspire much confidence in potential customers. Every Portal Creative website includes an SSL certificate as standard so you can rest easy knowing your visitors’ data is protected and your site meets Google’s best practices. If your website doesn’t have that padlock now’s the time to fix it.
Use Wordfence for Powerful Protection
Wordfence is one of our favourite WordPress security plugins and for good reason. It acts like a bouncer for your website blocking malicious traffic and alerting you to suspicious activity. With features like a real-time firewall and malware scanner Wordfence can spot and stop attacks before they cause damage.
We install and configure Wordfence on all our client sites as part of our ongoing maintenance and support packages. It’s a simple way to add an extra layer of defence without slowing your website down. Think of it as a security guard who never sleeps.
Monarx Server Security
While WordPress plugins like Wordfence protect your site from within Monarx keeps things safe at the server level. Our hosting platform includes Monarx server security software which actively monitors and blocks malicious scripts before they even reach your WordPress installation. It’s an intelligent system that identifies suspicious behaviour in real time and isolates threats before they spread.
This two-tier security setup means you’re protected both on the surface and behind the scenes. It’s like having CCTV outside and a lock on the door inside your building. Between Wordfence and Monarx your website gets comprehensive protection that most off the shelf hosting packages simply don’t offer.
Strong Passwords and User Control
It might sound obvious but weak passwords are still one of the biggest security risks out there. Always use complex passwords with a mix of letters numbers and symbols and avoid reusing them across accounts. If your team needs multiple logins assign them the correct roles in WordPress to limit access where possible. The fewer people with full admin rights the safer your site will be.
Using a password manager can make life easier while keeping everything secure. Encourage your team to update passwords regularly and never share credentials over email or text.
Keep an Eye on User Activity
If multiple people work on your WordPress site it’s worth keeping track of who’s doing what. Audit logs and activity trackers can alert you if someone makes unexpected changes or if a new plugin is added without approval. It’s a simple way to spot issues early and maintain accountability across your team.
Educate Your Team
Even the best technology can’t protect your website if your team isn’t security-aware. Encourage everyone who has access to the site to understand the basics of website safety. Avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading random files and always log out of the dashboard when you’re done. A little awareness goes a long way in keeping your site secure.
Work with a Trusted Partner
Managing website security can be daunting especially if you’re trying to run a business at the same time. That’s where we come in. At Portal Creative we build and maintain WordPress websites that not only look great but stay safe around the clock. From regular updates and automated backups to SSL setup, Wordfence configuration and Monarx server protection we handle the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.
If you’re a Scottish business owner looking to keep your website secure get in touch with Portal Creative today. We’ll help you safeguard your online presence and keep your digital doors firmly locked against intruders.
