Easily Improve Your WordPress Security
Easily Improve Your WordPress Security
I’ve talked before about WordPress security — and for good reason. Your website is the digital front door to your business or organization. It needs to stay open to the right people and closed to the wrong ones.
The good news?
While WordPress developers and security experts do an incredible job protecting the platform itself, there are several simple, practical steps you can take to strengthen your own website’s security. No advanced technical skills required.
Security doesn’t always have to be complicated. In fact, focusing on a few high-impact habits can dramatically reduce your risk of malware, unauthorized access, or data loss.
Here are four easy ways to improve your WordPress security.
1. Back Up Your Website Regularly
Backups are your safety net.
If something goes wrong — hacking, a plugin conflict, a server crash, corrupted files — a backup is what allows you to restore everything quickly and easily.
Why backups matter:
- Malware attacks are more automated than ever
- Hosting outages happen without warning
- Plugin or theme updates occasionally break layouts
- Human error is still one of the top causes of website issues
What your backup should include:
- Your WordPress database
- All pages and posts
- Themes and plugins
- Media files
- Widgets and settings
- Custom fields (ACF)
- Your entire file structure
A partial backup is helpful — but a complete backup ensures you won’t have to rebuild anything from scratch.
How to automate backups
I recommend using a reputable backup tool. BackupBuddy used to be the standard, but many developers have transitioned to:
- UpdraftPlus
- Jetpack VaultPress Backup
- BlogVault
- Solid Backups (formerly BackupBuddy)
Whatever tool you choose, the key is to:
- Run daily automated backups
- Store copies off-site (not just on your host)
- Download monthly backups for your own records
And always back up your site before updating WordPress core, your theme, or any plugins.
2. Limit Login Attempts to Protect Against Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attacks — automated bots trying to guess your username and password — remain one of the most common threats on WordPress sites.
By default, WordPress allows unlimited login attempts.
That’s where problems begin.
Installing a login limit plugin helps block suspicious attempts and keeps bots from hammering your login page.
Recommended tools
- Limit Login Attempts Reloaded (free)
- WP Limit Login Attempts
- Wordfence Login Security (free)
These tools help:
- Block repeated failed logins
- Set temporary lockouts
- Add CAPTCHAs or other challenges
- Log suspicious activity
- Prevent automated password guessing
WP Limit Login Attempts is still a strong choice if you want something lightweight. The free version works well, and the premium upgrade is affordable if you want extra protection.
Extra login security options worth considering:
- Changing your login URL
- Adding two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Using strong passwords and password managers
- Limiting administrator accounts to only the people who truly need them
Just these changes alone can stop most common attacks.
3. Keep Your WordPress Core Updated
WordPress releases regular updates to improve:
- Security
- Speed
- Performance
- Stability
- Compatibility
These updates are not optional. If you do not update WordPress regularly, you leave your site vulnerable.
Why updates matter:
According to multiple security reports (Sucuri, Wordfence), the majority of hacked WordPress sites were running outdated versions of core or plugins.
Updating WordPress takes just a few clicks — but always back up your website first.
If you’re not comfortable updating your site on your own, that’s exactly what a website maintenance plan is for. We handle it for you so you never have to worry about it.
4. Update Your Plugins Frequently
Your plugins are what give your website extra functionality — but they’re also one of the biggest security risks if not maintained properly.
Why plugin updates matter:
- Developers patch vulnerabilities in updates
- Updated plugins stay compatible with newer WordPress versions
- Outdated plugins are the number one source of malware infections
- Old plugins can cause conflicts with themes and other tools
How often should you update?
- Weekly (recommended)
- Immediately for security releases
- After a full site backup
Always check:
- When the plugin was last updated
- Whether it’s compatible with your current WordPress version
- Whether the developer is still actively maintaining it
If a plugin hasn’t been updated in 1–2 years, it’s time to replace it.
Bonus: Keep Your Plugin List Lean
Fewer plugins = fewer vulnerabilities.
While WordPress can safely support dozens of plugins, you should only install what you actually need — and choose high-quality tools from reputable developers.
At Graybill Codeworks, we rely on:
- Kadence Pro (theme + blocks)
- Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
- Gravity Forms
These plugins are:
- Actively maintained
- Secure
- Stable
- Lightweight
- Built for long-term use
A leaner site is a safer, faster site.
These Four Steps Will Dramatically Improve Your Site’s Security
You don’t need to be a developer to make your website more secure.
You don’t need to spend hours tweaking settings or installing complicated tools.
Just focus on:
- Backing up your website
- Limiting login attempts
- Updating WordPress core
- Updating your plugins
Small steps. Big impact.
And if you’d rather not worry about security at all, we can take that off your plate.
Want Help Strengthening Your Website Security?
Let’s make sure your site is protected, stable, and ready to grow.
Schedule a website audit, and we’ll review your hosting, plugins, updates, backups, and overall security strategy.