Every WordPress website owner must prioritize security. Diligent security practices protect your information and that of your customers while preventing search engines like Google from flagging or blocking your site.

Should your site become a source of malware, you risk being blocked by Google, which can be easily orchestrated by a hacker.

It is critical, therefore, to employ every strategy available to shield your website. There’s ample guidance available for enhancing site security.

WordPress is inherently secure and becomes more so with regular updates. Yet, because it powers over 44% of all websites, it’s often targeted by malicious actors.

Therefore, immediate steps must be taken to fortify your site’s defenses. The wealth of plugins and customizations in WordPress can be confusing, hence the usefulness of the security checklist we will discuss today.

The Importance of WordPress Security

Websites are digital storefronts for businesses, and security breaches can lead to monetary loss and reputational damage.

Securing a site is essential to safeguard the data it contains. Consider an eCommerce website, which may store sensitive customer information – a breach could have disastrous personal and professional consequences.

Many countries have stringent cybersecurity laws, and failure to comply can result in severe penalties. It is thus wise to maintain stringent security to mitigate these risks.

Security regulations constanty evolve and differ globally, making it essential to keep your website up-to-date and secure, lest even a minor oversight lead to complications.

Our checklist will spell out the necessary actions to secure a new WordPress installation.

Foundational Security Steps

The basics of WordPress security are straightforward and can significantly bolster your site’s defenses.

Without these foundational measures, any further security efforts might be built upon a shaky foundation.

Let’s dive into the details of enhancing WordPress security.

1. Keep Themes, Plugins, and Core WordPress Files Updated

Consistently updating your site’s components is crucial. Outdated elements can have vulnerabilities that are easy targets for hackers. Thankfully, WordPress notifies you of pending updates.

To check for updates, navigate to Dashboard > Updates within your WordPress admin panel.


A tiny red indicator next to the Updates menu option means updates are waiting. Within the Updates section, the WordPress Updates area will show your current version. As long as it indicates you’re up to date, you’re in good shape.


Below that, the available updates for plugins and themes will be listed. Select and update each as needed. To avoid constantly monitoring for updates, consider automating the process for plugins, themes, and core files.

Remember, even unused plugins and themes should be updated or, better yet, deleted to remove potential vulnerabilities.

2. Enforce Strong Passwords

The importance of robust passwords cannot be overstated. Even the best security software is ineffective if you use predictable passwords.

While WordPress offers a built-in strong password generator, you should ensure that all users adopt such passwords through policies, even possibly deploying a plugin like the Password Policy Manager for enforcement.

For those who struggle with remembering complex passwords, a password manager can be a convenient and secure solution.

3. Choose a Reputable Hosting Provider

A host’s security measures are as critical as those you take on your site. Providers like GreenGeeks equip accounts with defenses against brute-force attacks and regular updates to PHP versions and other files, alongside routine backups.

The right hosting service does more than speed up your site; it fortifies it against attacks.

4. Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds an extra login layer, safeguarding the site even if credentials are compromised. Plugins like WP 2FA are easy to use and greatly enhance security.

5. Install an SSL Certificate

SSL certificates encrypt data between a visitor and your site, making HTTPS protocol a marker for secure sites. Hosting services like GreenGeeks often provide it as part of their package.

6. Modify the Default Admin Username

An “Admin” username signals a vulnerability. Creating a new admin user with a unique name and deleting the default one might be the simplest solution.

7. Assign Appropriate User Roles

Access should be proportional to users’ roles within WordPress. Custom roles can be crafted with plugins like the User Role Editor.