15 Ways to Harden the Security of Your WordPress Site

This guide by WP Engine offers a comprehensive set of strategies to enhance the security of WordPress websites. The guide focuses on practical measures to mitigate vulnerabilities and protect websites from various online threats.

The guide begins by emphasizing the importance of a secure foundation, highlighting the significance of using strong and unique passwords for all users, including administrators and contributors. It also recommends enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security to user accounts.

The document outlines steps to keep WordPress and plugins up to date, highlighting the role of regular updates in patching vulnerabilities and improving website security. It further suggests removing or disabling unused plugins and themes to reduce the potential attack surface.

The guide delves into securing the WordPress admin area by limiting login attempts, using SSL certificates to encrypt data transmission, and customizing the login URL to thwart automated attacks.

It emphasizes the significance of regular backups, offering insights into implementing reliable backup solutions to ensure data recovery in case of security incidents.

The document also provides guidance on server-level security, including using secure protocols, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF), and securing the server environment to prevent unauthorized access.

Additional recommendations encompass protecting against comment spam, managing user roles and permissions, and limiting file and directory permissions to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files.

Furthermore, the guide addresses common security vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection, offering insights into understanding and mitigating these risks.

In conclusion, WP Engine's Guide offers a comprehensive set of actionable strategies to strengthen the security of WordPress websites. By focusing on various aspects of website security, including user authentication, updates, backups, server-level security, and vulnerability mitigation, the guide empowers website owners and administrators to proactively protect their websites from potential threats and security breaches.