Most successful attacks against WordPress don't rely on sophisticated techniques. They take advantage of outdated software, weak passwords and avoidable configuration issues. The good news is that the most effective security improvements are also the simplest to implement.
Security works best as a series of layers rather than a single product or plugin. This checklist covers the practical steps we recommend to help reduce risk and improve the security of any WordPress website.
Secure administrator access
Administrator accounts provide full control of your website, making them a common target.
We recommend enabling multi-factor authentication for administrators, using long, unique passwords stored in a password manager, removing or renaming default administrator accounts, and restricting access to trusted users only.
Where practical, limiting wp-admin access by IP address or VPN provides an additional layer of protection.
Disable dashboard file editing
WordPress includes a built-in editor for modifying theme and plugin files.
While convenient, it also increases the impact of a compromised administrator account.
Disabling file editing through wp-config.php removes this unnecessary attack surface while still allowing changes through your normal deployment process.
Keep WordPress up to date
Regular updates remain one of the most effective security controls.
Keep WordPress core, themes and plugins updated, and test major changes in a staging environment before deploying them to production.
Timely patching helps protect your website from vulnerabilities that are already publicly known.
Review installed plugins
Every plugin introduces additional code to your website.
Review your plugins regularly and remove anything no longer in use, replace plugins that are no longer actively maintained, and choose reputable developers with a history of regular updates.
Keeping your plugin footprint lean reduces both security risk and maintenance overhead.
Use a Web Application Firewall
A managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) filters malicious traffic before it reaches WordPress.
It provides an additional layer of protection against common attacks, including attempts to exploit newly disclosed vulnerabilities before updates have been applied.
Combined with quality hosting, a WAF can significantly improve your overall security posture.
Check file permissions
Correct file permissions help prevent unauthorised access. As a general guide, directories should be 755, files 644, and wp-config.php 640 or 600 where appropriate.
Quality managed hosting platforms will normally configure these correctly, but they should still be reviewed periodically.
Back up your website
Backups are an essential part of security.
Ensure backups run automatically, are stored away from the production server, and are tested regularly to confirm they can be restored.
A backup only provides value if recovery is fast and reliable.
Strengthen the remaining essentials
A few additional settings can further reduce risk: limit repeated login attempts, disable XML-RPC if it isn't required, force HTTPS across the entire website, apply the principle of least privilege to user accounts, and monitor WordPress, plugin and server security updates.
These changes require little ongoing maintenance but contribute to a stronger overall security posture.
Final thoughts
WordPress security isn't about chasing every new threat. It's about consistently applying proven best practices and maintaining them over time.
With the right combination of secure hosting, proactive maintenance, regular updates and layered protection, most common attacks can be prevented before they become business problems.
Since 2008, Network Dynamics has been helping Australian businesses secure and manage WordPress websites. Our managed WordPress platform incorporates many of these recommendations by default, allowing you to focus on your business while our engineers look after the underlying infrastructure.
