If you run your business on WordPress, you already know it’s a big target. It powers over 40% of the web. Hackers love that.
And no, a security plugin alone won’t save you. Without proper security hardening, even a small vulnerability can become a huge liability.
I’ve worked with site owners who lost everything overnight. Some didn’t even know their site had been hacked until their customers complained.
The good news? You can prevent 99% of these problems by doing a few smart things rooted in WP security best practices and proven hardening processes in cybersecurity. I’ll walk you through what matters most. Don’t skip #7. It’s the easiest win that most people miss.
Table of Contents
The Ultimate Security Hardening Checklist You’ll Ever Need
1. Use a Hosting Company That Takes Security Seriously
Not all web hosts are equal. Some cut corners. I once helped a client whose cheap host didn’t block brute-force login attempts. His site was hit by bots every 3 minutes.
Look for hosts that offer:
- Daily backups
- Server-level firewalls
- Malware scanning
- Automatic updates
If you want names, check out Kinsta, SiteGround, or WP Engine. They cost more, but they protect your site.
2. Install an SSL Certificate
If your site still says “Not Secure” in the browser, it’s a problem. Your visitors won’t trust it. Google might not, either.
SSL is free now. Most hosts let you set it up in minutes using Let’s Encrypt.
And it’s not just about trust. Without SSL, your site can’t send data safely. That means login info, payments, or emails can be exposed.
3. Keep WordPress, Plugins, and Themes Updated
This one sounds boring. But outdated plugins are the top way hackers get in.
In fact, keeping your plugins updated is one of the basic steps in WordPress security hardening.
Every time I clean up a hacked site, I check the plugin versions. 9 times out of 10, something was outdated.
Do this:
- Turn on auto-updates if you trust the plugin
- Use a dashboard tool like ManageWP to track all your sites
- Check your site weekly if you don’t use auto-updates
And delete plugins you’re not using. Less code means less risk.
4. Use Strong Passwords and Limit Login Attempts
This part is easy. Yet so many site owners reuse weak passwords. Use a password manager. I recommend 1Password or Bitwarden.
Also, block brute-force attacks by limiting logins. Use a plugin like:
- Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
- WP Limit Login Attempts
Set it to lock out anyone who fails 3 times. That alone blocks thousands of attacks a week.
5. Set the Right User Roles
I once had a client who gave an intern full admin access. They installed a sketchy plugin. The site got infected.
Only give admin access to people you fully trust. Assigning correct user roles is part of hardening in cybersecurity, which minimizes exposure by limiting privileges.
If someone’s just writing blog posts, they don’t need admin. WordPress has built-in roles for this:
- Admin
- Editor
- Author
- Contributor
- Subscriber
Use a plugin like “Members” to fine-tune who can do what.
6. Hide Your Login Page and Disable XML-RPC
Hackers know your login page is usually at /wp-login.php. They also target xmlrpc.php, a file WordPress uses for remote access.
You can:
- Change your login URL with WPS Hide Login
- Disable XML-RPC unless you need it (Jetpack, mobile apps)
Most sites don’t need XML-RPC. Disabling it is a small yet crucial part of the hardening process in cybersecurity. This works well as it shuts the door on thousands of bots.
7. Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
This is the hack most people skip — and it’s a big mistake.
Adding 2FA is the best way to protect your login. Even if someone has your password, they still can’t get in.
You’ve used 2FA before — it’s the code you get from Google Authenticator or your phone.
Set it up using:
- Wordfence
- Google Authenticator plugin
- miniOrange 2FA
I use Wordfence’s built-in 2FA. It takes 2 minutes to turn on.
And yes, use it for every admin. Not just yourself.
I had a client who ignored this advice. His editor’s email got hacked, and someone logged into his WordPress site from that. It was a mess.
If you are running a growing business or working with a WordPress development company, this step is non-negotiable. Planning to hire a WordPress developer? Make sure they know this baseline for WordPress Security—2FA isn’t optional.
Yes, we’ve done this before—check out how we helped clients with end-to-end WordPress security hardening.
8. Set Up Daily Backups
No system is perfect. If something breaks, you need a way back.
Use a plugin like:
- UpdraftPlus
- Jetpack Backup
- BlogVault
Set it to back up both files and the database every day.
Store backups off-site — Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3. That way, even if your host crashes, you’re safe.
Bonus tip: Test your backups once in a while. A broken backup is no backup at all.
9. Add a Firewall
If you are hosting on a VPS or cloud assistance, do not forget Linux security hardening practices like disabling root login, setting up UFW/iptables and SSH key authentication. A firewall blocks bad traffic before it even touches your site.
You’ve got two options:
- Cloud-based: Cloudflare, Sucuri
- Plugin-based: Wordfence, All in One WP Security
10. Bonus: Security Hardening for AWS-Hosted WordPress Sites
Hosting WordPress on AWS (EC2, Lightsail, etc.)? Congrats—you’re the sysadmin now. And that means security hardening is all on you.
What is an example of security hardening?
Well, in the AWS world, it means doing things like:
- Lockdown Security Groups & NACLs: Only open the ports you need. 80, 443, 22—then stop.
- Ditch root access: Use IAM roles with the least privilege. Your root account should be a ghost.
- Turn on AWS Shield & WAF: Because bots don’t take coffee breaks.
- Enable CloudTrail & GuardDuty: These tools watch your back even when you forget to.
- Encrypt it all: SSL, EBS volumes, RDS.
- Automated updates & backups: AWS Backup + Systems Manager = your lazy day insurance.
This is hardening in cybersecurity with an AWS twist. If it sounds like a lot, it probably is. That’s where a good WordPress development company or pro-level WordPress developer can save you a lot of “oops.”
Final Thoughts
Security isn’t hard — but it’s easy to ignore until it’s too late.
If you only do one thing from this list, make it #7: Two-Factor Authentication. It’s fast, and free, and it shuts the door on most attacks.
Think of this checklist as your crash course on what is hardening in cybersecurity, adapted for WordPress. Take 10 minutes right now to set it up. Then go through the rest of this list when you have time.
You worked hard to build your site. Don’t let one click ruin it.
