How to Keep a WordPress Website Secure: 15 Practical Steps for 2026

/ Website Maintenance & Security

WordPress powers business websites, blogs, online stores, portfolios, membership sites and many other types of websites. Because it is so widely used, WordPress security is also one of the first things business owners worry about.

You may have heard statements such as “WordPress is insecure,” or “just install a security plugin and you will be safe.” Neither statement gives you the full picture.

A WordPress website can be secure, but security does not come from one plugin, one setting or one password. It comes from several layers working together:

  • Keeping software updated
  • Controlling access
  • Using strong authentication
  • Choosing reputable plugins and themes
  • Backing up the website
  • Monitoring for problems
  • Protecting integrations
  • Having a recovery plan

For a business owner, the goal is not to turn yourself into a cybersecurity engineer. The goal is to make sure the website is maintained in a way that reduces unnecessary risk and gives you a clear recovery path if something goes wrong. This guide explains the practical steps that matter most.

Can a WordPress Website Be Secure?

Yes. WordPress itself has an established security process, regular updates and a dedicated security team. The bigger risk is often not simply “WordPress.” Problems can come from the wider website environment, including:

  • Outdated plugins
  • Abandoned themes
  • Weak administrator passwords
  • Insecure hosting
  • Unnecessary user accounts
  • Poorly maintained custom code
  • Pirated software
  • Missing backups
  • Neglected updates

A WordPress installation can therefore be well maintained or poorly maintained. The platform alone does not determine the security of the final website. A better question is: “How well is this WordPress website being managed?” That is what the rest of this guide addresses. If you’re still weighing WordPress against a fully hosted platform in the first place, that maintenance responsibility is one of the central trade-offs covered in WordPress vs website builders.

WordPress Security: Quick Checklist

If you want the short version first, here are the 15 security controls I consider most important:

  • Keep WordPress core updated
  • Keep plugins and themes updated
  • Remove plugins and themes you no longer need
  • Use software only from trusted sources
  • Use strong, unique passwords
  • Enable two-factor authentication
  • Limit administrator access
  • Use HTTPS everywhere
  • Create automatic backups
  • Keep more than one backup and test recovery
  • Choose secure, maintained hosting
  • Protect the login from automated attacks
  • Monitor WordPress and Site Health
  • Protect integrations and application credentials
  • Have a recovery plan before you need one

No single item replaces the others. WordPress security works best as a system.

1. Keep WordPress Core Updated

One of the most basic security tasks is keeping WordPress itself current. WordPress releases updates for reasons that can include security fixes, bug fixes, compatibility, performance and improvements. Leaving an installation outdated for long periods creates unnecessary risk. You can normally check available updates from Dashboard → Updates — see WordPress’s own Updating WordPress documentation for the full process.

However, do not interpret this as “install every update immediately without thinking.” For an important business website, a safer workflow is: back up, then update, then test. After updating, check important functionality such as the homepage, navigation, contact forms, account login, checkout, booking forms and mobile layout. This is especially important for websites with many plugins, custom code or e-commerce functionality.

If you want a broader maintenance schedule, the WordPress Maintenance Checklist covers this in more depth.

2. Keep Plugins and Themes Updated

Updating WordPress core is only part of the job. Plugins and themes also contain code. A website could be running the latest version of WordPress while still relying on a plugin last updated years ago, an old theme, or an extension with a known issue.

Review plugin and theme updates regularly. That includes plugins which may not be visible to visitors but still affect forms, SEO, caching, backups, analytics, security, e-commerce and page builders. The same principle applies: keep important components current, and test after updates.

3. Remove Plugins and Themes You No Longer Need

There is a difference between deactivating a plugin and removing it. If you installed several plugins while experimenting and no longer need them, keeping them around provides little value. Unused software still has to be monitored, updated, reviewed and understood. A cleaner WordPress installation is generally easier to maintain.

Ask: do we still use this plugin? Does another plugin already provide the same feature? Was this installed only for testing? Is this theme still needed? If the answer is no, consider removing it after making sure it is not required by another part of the site.

4. Use Plugins and Themes From Trusted Sources

Avoid downloading WordPress plugins or themes from random websites simply because they are free. This is particularly important with so-called nulled plugins or nulled premium themes — unofficial copies of paid software distributed outside their legitimate source. You do not know what may have been changed inside them.

Instead, use software from sources such as the official WordPress plugin/theme directories, established developers, reputable commercial marketplaces, and vendors you can verify. Also look at whether the software appears actively maintained. Questions to consider: When was it last updated? Is it compatible with current WordPress versions? Does the developer provide documentation/support? Is it still actively maintained? Does the website genuinely need it? Every plugin becomes part of your website’s technical environment. Choose accordingly.

5. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Password security sounds obvious, but password reuse remains one of the easiest ways an account can be compromised. Do not use the same password for WordPress, hosting, business email, domain registrar, cloud storage, or other business accounts. If one service is compromised, password reuse can expose several others.

For important accounts, use long passwords, unique passwords, randomly generated passwords where practical, and a reputable password manager. Pay particular attention to Administrator accounts. An Administrator can potentially install plugins, edit users, modify website settings, change content and access sensitive configuration. That level of access deserves strong protection.

6. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

A password is one layer. Two-factor authentication adds another. With 2FA enabled, knowing the password alone is normally not enough to log in — a second verification step is required. This may involve an authenticator application, a security key, or another supported authentication method.

For important WordPress Administrator accounts, 2FA is strongly worth considering. WordPress core does not currently provide a complete native 2FA system by itself, so websites commonly add this through a reputable security/authentication solution, as covered in WordPress’s own Logging In documentation. At minimum, privileged accounts should receive stronger protection than ordinary low-risk accounts.

7. Limit Administrator Access

Not everyone who works on a website needs to be an Administrator. WordPress has different user roles for a reason. An Administrator has broad control over the website. An Editor can manage and publish content but does not need every administrative capability. An Author can generally create and manage their own content. The exact role should depend on what the person actually needs to do.

This is often described as the principle of least privilege: give users only the permissions required to perform their job. For example, someone hired only to write Blog articles usually does not need access to plugin installation, site settings, user management or theme configuration. Also review old accounts — if a freelancer, employee or agency no longer needs access, remove or downgrade that access.

8. Use HTTPS Everywhere

Your website should load through https:// rather than unsecured HTTP. HTTPS encrypts data transmitted between a visitor’s browser and the website. This is particularly important for WordPress logins, contact forms, account areas and customer information — see WordPress’s own HTTPS documentation for more detail.

But remember: HTTPS is not the same thing as complete website security. A website can have a valid SSL certificate and still contain vulnerable plugins, weak passwords and outdated software. Think of HTTPS as one important layer.

9. Back Up Your WordPress Website Automatically

A security plan without backups is incomplete. If something goes wrong, a usable backup can dramatically reduce recovery time. A complete WordPress backup normally involves both the database (which can contain posts, pages, settings, users, comments, WooCommerce orders and other structured data) and the files (which can include images/uploads, themes, plugins, configuration files and custom code). Backing up only one part may not be enough to restore the full site, a point covered in more depth in WordPress’s own official backup documentation.

How frequently you back up depends on how often the website changes. A mostly static company website may have different needs from an online store receiving orders every hour. For a broader backup and maintenance schedule, refer to the WordPress Maintenance Checklist rather than trying to reproduce the whole maintenance process here.

10. Keep More Than One Backup and Test Recovery

Having a backup is good. Knowing the backup can actually be restored is better. Do not assume “my hosting company says backups are enabled, so everything is covered.” Ask: how frequently are backups made? How long are they retained? Where are they stored? Can I download them? How do I restore one? Have we ever tested the process?

Where practical, avoid relying on only one copy stored in one location. For example, a hosting backup plus a separate off-site backup provides more resilience than one backup living only on the same infrastructure as the site. Another important point: a backup is useful only if it is clean and usable. If you discover a problem long after it started, the newest backup may already contain the same issue. That is one reason keeping more than one recent restore point can be valuable.

11. Choose Hosting With Security in Mind

Hosting quality affects WordPress security and reliability. You do not necessarily need the most expensive hosting plan, but you should understand what your hosting provider handles. Ask whether the service provides SSL, backups, server updates, PHP updates, malware/security monitoring, firewall/WAF features, account-level 2FA, recovery assistance and technical support.

Also protect the hosting account itself. A perfectly secured WordPress password does not help much if someone can access the hosting control panel with a reused password. Your hosting, domain registrar and business email are all part of the website’s security perimeter.

12. Protect the Login From Automated Attacks

Attackers do not need to sit in front of a computer manually guessing passwords. Automated systems can try large numbers of login attempts. This is why login protection can include strong unique passwords, two-factor authentication, rate limiting, firewall/WAF rules, reputable security tools and hosting-level protections.

One common mistake is treating a hidden login URL as the entire security strategy. Changing the WordPress login URL can reduce some unwanted traffic in certain configurations, but it does not replace strong passwords, 2FA, updates, access control or monitoring. Protect the account itself rather than relying only on obscurity.

13. Monitor WordPress Instead of Assuming Everything Is Fine

Security is easier when problems are noticed early. WordPress includes Tools → Site Health, which can help identify issues related to the website’s configuration and maintenance. You should also pay attention to failed updates, backup failures, unexpected new Administrator accounts, plugins you do not recognize, unexpected settings changes, security alerts and unusual login activity.

The goal is not to watch WordPress every minute. The goal is to avoid a website being ignored for six months while problems quietly accumulate.

14. Protect Integrations and Application Credentials

Modern websites rarely operate in isolation. Your WordPress website may connect with analytics tools, email platforms, CRM systems, payment providers, automation tools, mobile applications and APIs. Avoid giving every external application your main WordPress Administrator password.

Where supported, use credentials specifically designed for integrations. WordPress Application Passwords, for example, are designed for application/API authentication and can be revoked independently of your normal account password. That is useful because if an integration is removed, you can revoke its access without necessarily changing every other login. The broader principle is: every integration should have only the access it actually needs, and when that integration is no longer used, remove the access.

15. Have a Recovery Plan Before Something Goes Wrong

Security is not only about prevention. It is also about recovery. Ask yourself:

  • Where is the latest clean backup, and can you actually access it?
  • Who controls the hosting account, and is the login information available to the right person?
  • Who controls the domain, and could you update DNS or security settings if necessary?
  • Who controls the business email? Email access is often critical for account recovery.
  • Who knows how to restore the website — a developer, hosting provider or internal person?
  • What credentials need to be changed if an account is compromised?
  • What happens if the website is unavailable — does the business have another way for customers to contact it?

You do not need a 50-page disaster plan. But someone should know what to do.

Do You Need a WordPress Security Plugin?

Maybe. A reputable WordPress security plugin can add useful features such as login protection, monitoring, alerts, firewall functionality, malware scanning and activity information. But a security plugin should not become an excuse to ignore everything else. Installing one does not make these safe: abandoned plugins, reused passwords, missing backups, old WordPress versions, insecure hosting, or unnecessary Administrator accounts.

Think of a security plugin as one layer, not the entire strategy. Avoid installing several security plugins with overlapping functionality simply because more must be better — too many overlapping tools can create conflicts, duplicate features, performance problems and complicated troubleshooting. Choose a clear security approach.

Should You Enable Automatic WordPress Updates?

There is no universal answer for every website. Automatic updates can be useful because they reduce the time software remains outdated. For relatively simple, stable websites, automatic updates may be appropriate for many components.

However, an important business website may need a more controlled process. For example, back up, then update, then test may be preferable when the site includes WooCommerce, booking systems, many integrations, custom functionality or business-critical forms.

The key is not whether every update is automatic or manual. The key is making sure updates actually happen. A website left untouched for a year is usually a much bigger concern than whether a responsible maintenance process used automatic or controlled updates.

Common WordPress Security Mistakes

Here are some of the mistakes I would avoid.

  • Ignoring updates for months — update notifications should not become permanent dashboard decorations.
  • Installing software from unknown sources — free pirated software can create much larger costs later.
  • Reusing administrator passwords — one compromised account can expose another.
  • Giving everyone administrator access — most people do not need it.
  • Relying entirely on one security plugin — no plugin replaces maintenance.
  • Relying on only one backup — one backup can fail, become corrupted or contain the same issue you are trying to recover from.
  • Keeping abandoned plugins — if you no longer need a plugin, consider removing it.
  • Assuming HTTPS means everything is secure — HTTPS protects traffic in transit; it does not secure every component of WordPress.
  • Never testing backups — a restore process should not be discovered for the first time during an emergency.
  • Having no recovery plan — know who is responsible before the website becomes unavailable.

A 10-Minute WordPress Security Check

You can perform a quick review without becoming a security specialist.

  • Open Dashboard → Updates. Are WordPress core, plugins or themes significantly outdated?
  • Open Plugins. Is there anything inactive or unnecessary?
  • Open Users. Do you recognize every account?
  • Review Administrators. Does every Administrator genuinely require that level of access?
  • Check Two-Factor Authentication. Are privileged accounts protected?
  • Check HTTPS. Does the website and WordPress login load securely over HTTPS?
  • Check Backups. When did the last successful backup run?
  • Open Site Health. Are there any critical issues that need attention?
  • Check Hosting Alerts. Has your hosting provider reported malware, outdated PHP, resource problems or security issues?
  • Ask the Recovery Question. If the website stopped working today, could you restore it?

If several of these answers are unclear, the website probably deserves a more complete maintenance/security review.

What Should You Do If You Think Your WordPress Website Has Been Hacked?

If you suspect a compromise, avoid making random destructive changes without understanding what happened. At a high level:

  • Preserve or identify available clean backups
  • Contact your hosting provider or security professional if appropriate
  • Secure compromised accounts and credentials
  • Identify the cause rather than only removing visible symptoms
  • Update or remove vulnerable components
  • Restore or clean the website safely
  • Verify the website afterward
  • Continue monitoring

For example, simply deleting a suspicious page does not necessarily solve the underlying problem if the original vulnerable plugin or compromised account remains accessible. A separate future guide can cover WordPress incident recovery in more depth.

WordPress Security for E-commerce Websites

Security becomes particularly important for an online store. A WooCommerce website can involve customer accounts, customer details, orders, payment integrations, shipping integrations, API credentials and additional plugins. That makes disciplined maintenance particularly important.

It does not mean WooCommerce is automatically insecure. It means the operational responsibility is different from a fully hosted platform. This is one of the trade-offs discussed in the WooCommerce vs Shopify in Saudi Arabia comparison. If a business chooses WooCommerce because it wants more control and customization, it should also accept the responsibility to maintain that environment properly.

How Often Should You Review WordPress Security?

Not every security task belongs on the same schedule. Some things should be continuous or automated: backups, monitoring, security alerts. Some need prompt attention: important security updates, compromised accounts, failed backups. Other reviews can happen periodically: user access, unused plugins, hosting configuration, recovery procedures.

The correct schedule depends on the website. A simple portfolio website and a busy WooCommerce store do not have identical risk or update frequency. The important point is: security should be an ongoing process, not a once-a-year emergency task. For a more detailed maintenance calendar, use the WordPress Maintenance Checklist.

Final WordPress Security Checklist

Use this as a final reference.

Software

  • WordPress core is current
  • Plugins are current
  • Themes are current
  • Unused plugins/themes are removed
  • Software comes from trusted sources

Access

  • Passwords are strong and unique
  • Privileged accounts use 2FA
  • Administrator access is limited
  • Old accounts are removed
  • Hosting/email/domain accounts are also secured

Website

  • HTTPS is enabled
  • Login protection exists
  • Hosting is maintained
  • Site Health is reviewed
  • Important activity/security alerts are monitored

Backups

  • Backups run automatically
  • Both database and files are covered
  • More than one restore point exists
  • At least one backup is stored independently where appropriate
  • Recovery has been tested

Integrations

  • Third-party integrations use appropriate credentials
  • Unused credentials are revoked
  • Main admin passwords are not casually shared

Recovery

  • Someone knows who to contact
  • Hosting/domain/email access is available
  • Clean backups can be located
  • Compromised credentials can be changed
  • There is a clear process for restoring the website

Final Recommendation

A secure WordPress website is not created by installing one plugin. It comes from several layers working together: updates, strong authentication, controlled access, reliable hosting, backups, monitoring and recovery planning.

You do not need to make WordPress unnecessarily complicated. You need a consistent process. Keep the software current. Protect important accounts. Remove things you no longer use. Back up independently. Know who has access. Monitor for problems. And make sure you can recover if something still goes wrong. That approach is far more useful than relying on one “security trick.”

Need Help Maintaining and Securing Your WordPress Website?

If your business website has outdated plugins, unclear backup coverage, too many Administrator accounts, forgotten user accounts, no clear update process, or uncertain security configuration, it may be worth reviewing the website before those issues become bigger problems.

I can review the WordPress installation, maintenance setup, access controls, backups and general website configuration to identify areas that need attention. The objective is not to scare you into buying unnecessary tools. It is to understand the current setup, reduce avoidable risks and make sure the website has a practical maintenance and recovery process.

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