Why Website Security Matters
Over 30,000 websites are hacked every day. Small businesses are the most common target because they often lack proper security measures. Here's your comprehensive security checklist.
SSL Certificate
- ✅ Install SSL certificate (free Let's Encrypt included with all our plans)
- ✅ Force HTTPS redirect
- ✅ Check for mixed content warnings
Password Security
- ✅ Use strong passwords (12+ characters)
- ✅ Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- ✅ Use a password manager
- ✅ Never reuse passwords
- ✅ Change default admin usernames
Software Updates
- ✅ Keep CMS (WordPress/Joomla) updated
- ✅ Update all plugins and themes
- ✅ Remove unused plugins and themes
- ✅ Use auto-update where possible
Backup Strategy
- ✅ Enable daily automated backups
- ✅ Test backup restoration monthly
- ✅ Keep backups for at least 30 days
- ✅ Store backups off-site
Server Security
- ✅ Use SFTP instead of FTP
- ✅ Disable directory listing
- ✅ Set correct file permissions (644 for files, 755 for directories)
- ✅ Enable ModSecurity WAF
- ✅ Install Imunify360 (included on our hosting)
WordPress-Specific
- ✅ Change default login URL (/wp-admin)
- ✅ Limit login attempts
- ✅ Disable XML-RPC if not needed
- ✅ Disable file editing in wp-config.php
- ✅ Install Wordfence or Sucuri security plugin
Email Security
- ✅ Configure SPF record
- ✅ Enable DKIM signing
- ✅ Set up DMARC policy
- ✅ Use email authentication
Monitoring
- ✅ Set up uptime monitoring
- ✅ Enable login notifications
- ✅ Review access logs weekly
- ✅ Scan for malware regularly
Conclusion
Security is not a one-time task — it's an ongoing process. Start with SSL, strong passwords, and 2FA. Then work through this checklist systematically. Our hosting includes Imunify360, ModSecurity, and daily backups to give you a strong security foundation.