How to Improve Your Website Security: A Practical Guide

Website security is not a one-time task. It involves protecting your website, server, administrator accounts, data, and visitors while continuously monitoring for vulnerabilities and keeping the software behind the site up to date.

For a WordPress website, for example, security extends beyond WordPress itself. The hosting environment, plugins, themes, user accounts, database, file permissions, and third-party integrations can all introduce security risks. WordPress’s own security guidance recommends keeping software updated, securing file and database access, maintaining backups, and monitoring the site.

Here are practical steps you can take to improve website security.

1. Use HTTPS

Your website should use HTTPS rather than sending visitors to an unsecured HTTP connection.

HTTPS uses TLS encryption to help protect information exchanged between a visitor’s browser and your website. This is particularly important when visitors:

Log into an account
Submit contact forms
Enter personal information
Make payments
Access private areas of a website

Make sure your SSL/TLS certificate is valid and that important pages load correctly over HTTPS.

Also check for mixed content, where a secure HTTPS page attempts to load resources such as images, scripts, or stylesheets through an insecure HTTP connection.

2. Keep WordPress, Plugins, Themes, and Server Software Updated

Outdated software can contain known vulnerabilities.

A website may depend on several layers of software, including:

WordPress core
Plugins
Themes
PHP
Database software
Web server software
Third-party libraries
Server operating system

Keeping these components updated reduces exposure to vulnerabilities that have already been identified and patched.

WordPress specifically recommends keeping WordPress up to date because older versions may no longer receive security fixes.

However, updates should not simply be installed without consideration. On important websites, test significant updates where possible and maintain a current backup before making major changes.

OWASP also identifies vulnerable and outdated components as a major category of web application security risk.

3. Use Strong Authentication and Multi-Factor Authentication

Administrator accounts are an important target because compromising one can give an attacker significant control over a website.

Use:

Unique passwords
Long, difficult-to-guess passwords
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available
Separate administrator accounts for different users
Secure password-reset procedures

Avoid using predictable usernames and passwords such as admin or passwords that are reused across multiple services.

MFA provides an additional authentication factor beyond a password and can help reduce the impact of stolen credentials. OWASP specifically recommends multi-factor authentication as a defense against credential stuffing, brute-force attacks, and reused stolen credentials.

4. Limit User Access

Not everyone who works on your website needs administrator privileges.

Use the principle of least privilege: give each user only the permissions necessary to perform their responsibilities.

For example:

A content writer may only need content-editing access.
A customer service employee may need access to specific systems.
A developer may require technical access during a project.
An administrator may need broader privileges.

Review user accounts periodically and remove accounts that are no longer needed.

Poorly implemented access controls can allow users to view, modify, or delete information they should not be able to access. Broken access control is identified by OWASP as a major web application security risk.

5. Maintain Reliable Backups

Backups are an important part of your recovery strategy.

If your website is compromised, accidentally damaged, or affected by a failed update, a reliable backup can provide a way to restore the site.

A useful backup strategy should consider:

Website files
Database
Configuration
Uploaded media
Frequency of backups
Backup storage location
Retention period
Restoration procedures

Do not assume that a backup is useful simply because it exists.

Test your backups periodically.

A backup that cannot be restored when needed does not provide much protection. WordPress also recommends regular backups as part of website security.

For more guidance, see Archer IT Solutions’ website backup guide.

6. Use a Web Application Firewall

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) can inspect HTTP traffic going to and from a web application and apply security rules designed to block or reduce certain types of malicious requests.

Depending on the service and configuration, a WAF can help address threats such as:

Malicious web requests
Common application attacks
Automated abuse
Some forms of injection
Suspicious traffic patterns

A WAF should not be treated as a replacement for secure software, strong authentication, updates, backups, and proper access controls. It is one layer within a broader security strategy.

7. Scan for Vulnerabilities and Malware

Regular monitoring can help identify problems before they become larger incidents.

Depending on your website and hosting environment, monitoring may include:

Malware scanning
Vulnerability scanning
Failed login monitoring
File-change monitoring
Plugin and theme vulnerability checks
Server logs
Uptime monitoring
Suspicious traffic detection

The objective is not simply to run a scan and ignore the results. Security findings should be reviewed and addressed according to their potential impact.

OWASP recommends having a process for identifying and addressing vulnerable components rather than allowing known vulnerabilities to remain indefinitely.

8. Secure Your Hosting Environment

Website security depends partly on the environment in which the website is hosted.

Review whether your hosting environment provides appropriate controls such as:

Firewall protection
HTTPS/SSL support
Secure server configuration
Regular backups
Malware or vulnerability monitoring
Appropriate access controls
DDoS protection where appropriate
Secure file transfer methods

WordPress recommends using SFTP rather than unencrypted FTP when supported by the hosting provider because SFTP encrypts the connection used to transfer information.

For businesses that need help reviewing their hosting environment, Archer IT Solutions’ web hosting service provides a relevant starting point.

9. Disable Unnecessary Features and Directory Listing

A secure website should expose as little unnecessary functionality as possible.

Remove or disable:

Unused plugins
Unused themes
Unnecessary accounts
Old development files
Unused services
Sample applications
Unnecessary server features

Directory listing should also be disabled where it is not required.

If directory listing is enabled, visitors may be able to see files and folders that were not intended to be publicly browsable.

OWASP identifies unnecessary features, services, accounts, privileges, and exposed directories as examples of security misconfiguration.

10. Protect Website Files and Configuration

Important configuration files should not be unnecessarily exposed or writable.

For WordPress installations, this includes paying attention to:

File permissions
wp-config.php
Database credentials
Administrative files
Upload directories
Server configuration
Backup files

WordPress recommends restricting file permissions as much as practical and taking care with files that need to be writable by the web server.

Avoid storing sensitive credentials or backup files in publicly accessible website directories.

11. Secure Forms and User-Submitted Data

Contact forms, registration forms, comment systems, search functions, and other input fields can create security and privacy considerations.

Where applicable, websites should protect against malicious or unexpected input and ensure that sensitive information is handled appropriately.

This includes considering:

Input validation
Authentication
Authorization
Spam protection
Rate limiting
Secure data transmission
Appropriate data storage
Error handling

OWASP’s Top 10 identifies risks such as injection, broken access control, security misconfiguration, and authentication failures among important web application security concerns.

12. Review Third-Party Plugins and Integrations

Every plugin, theme, API, tracking script, payment gateway, or external integration can become part of your website’s security environment.

Before installing a component, consider:

Is it actively maintained?
Does it receive security updates?
Is it compatible with your current software?
Does it require unnecessary permissions?
Does it collect sensitive information?
Does it communicate with an external server?
Do you actually need it?

Remove components that are no longer required instead of leaving them installed and inactive.

13. Monitor Security Logs and Alerts

Security monitoring should not stop after a website is launched.

Depending on the website and hosting setup, monitoring can help identify:

Repeated failed login attempts
Unexpected administrator activity
Suspicious file changes
Server errors
Malware detections
Unusual traffic
Changes to important configuration files

Logging and monitoring are also recognized in the OWASP Top 10 as an important area of web application security.

The value of monitoring comes from having a process for responding to meaningful alerts rather than simply collecting large amounts of log data.

14. Train Everyone Who Has Website Access

Website security is not only a technical problem.

Employees, contractors, and other users with access to your website can unintentionally introduce risks through:

Reused passwords
Phishing attacks
Unsafe file uploads
Sharing login credentials
Installing unapproved plugins
Giving excessive permissions
Using unsecured devices

Make sure everyone with website access understands basic security practices and knows how to report suspicious activity.

15. Have a Recovery Plan

Even a well-secured website can experience an incident.

Prepare for the possibility that you may need to:

Identify the problem.
Restrict or disable compromised access.
Preserve relevant logs and evidence.
Restore from a known-good backup if appropriate.
Change affected credentials.
Remove the vulnerability that allowed the incident.
Update compromised software.
Review the website for additional signs of compromise.
Monitor the site after recovery.

The goal of website security is not to assume that an incident can never happen. It is to reduce the likelihood and impact of incidents and improve your ability to recover.

A Simple Website Security Checklist

Use this checklist when reviewing your website:

HTTPS is enabled and working correctly.
WordPress/CMS is up to date.
Plugins and themes are maintained and updated.
Unused plugins and themes have been removed.
Administrator accounts use strong, unique passwords.
MFA is enabled where available.
User permissions are reviewed regularly.
Regular backups are being created.
Backups have been tested for restoration.
A suitable firewall/WAF is in place where appropriate.
Vulnerability and malware monitoring is performed.
Directory listing is disabled where unnecessary.
Sensitive configuration files are protected.
Hosting security controls have been reviewed.
Security logs and alerts are monitored.
Website users receive basic security training.
There is a recovery plan for security incidents.

Final Thoughts

Website security works best as a layered process, not as a single plugin or security tool.

HTTPS, software updates, strong authentication, access controls, backups, vulnerability monitoring, secure hosting, and proper configuration all contribute to a stronger security posture.

For WordPress websites, WordPress’s official hardening guidance provides additional technical recommendations, while the OWASP Top 10 is a useful reference for understanding common web application security risks.

If your business website needs help with hosting, website maintenance, technical configuration, or IT security, Archer IT Solutions provides web hosting and IT support services. You can also contact Archer IT Solutions to discuss your website’s requirements.