Improve Your Website Security with these Easy Steps

I know… website security is one of those boring topics no one really wants to talk about. Until you’re hacked, and…

Your website is redirecting to an overseas pharmaceutical sales page, or worse!

Trust me, my friend, I’ve seen it happen. If we were sitting by the fire sipping a good bourbon, I could share a story about the Christian author whose website was hacked and redirected to one of those “or worse” scenarios. But let’s save that for another day!

For now, let’s grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and spend a few minutes talking about website security. It’s a lot easier than you think to safeguard your site, and I promise these steps will help you avoid the dreaded “or worse” scenario altogether.

First thing to remember is…

Setting up your website security isn’t a to-do list item that can be pushed off.  It is about safeguarding a whole lot of things like, your…

• business
• website
• clients

And it goes along way to building

• client trust
• smooth running systems
• a profitable business.

So let’s get this done!

Step 1: Get a STRONG password

This one’s easy, but most people don’t do it. Weak passwords are like an open invitation for hackers. And while passwordless authentication is becoming more common, strong passwords are still essential. We are talking non-negotiable 

Here’s what makes a password strong, according to CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency):

• Long: At least 16 characters, though longer is even better.
• Random: A mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols—or a passphrase of 4–7 random words.
• Unique: Used for one account only.

Check out CISA’s full guide on password security here.

I know what you’re thinking: How am I supposed to remember all of those passwords? It’s not as hard as you think. Here are some fun ways to make your passwords both strong and memorable:

• Personalize with a nickname: “ChrisTheAce$2025” or “AmandaPanda2004!”
• Blend hobbies or interests: “YogaWithJess!24” or “FishingWithMike22!”
• Incorporate an event: “JennyLuvsGradDay!” or “BestTrip2Italy26!”
• Add a pet’s name: “LucyLuvsWalks24!” or “Oscarwants5Treats$.”
• Make it a personal affirmation “Livingthegoodlife2021!”

Keep It Unique: Use each password for just one account. And to help make it easier to remember you can customize it for the platform—like “2026!LisaTravels2Rome” for travel bookings or “MoviesAreBetter2025!” for your streaming service.

Time for a little homework!

1. Start resetting your passwords. No need to tackle them all at once. Just update them as you log in.
2. Don’t forget personal accounts! A hacked personal account can cause just as much drama in your day.

Extra Credit:

• Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra security.
• Require 2FA for anyone accessing your business accounts.
• Step 2: Update Your Website!

Now be honest… when was the last time you updated your website’s CMS, plugins, or themes? If it’s been a while, you’re not alone, but hackers love outdated software.

It’s an easy way in for them, and once they’re in, it’s not just your site at risk, it’s also your visitors. Again, I could share stories about how a client nearly lost 10 years worth of blogs because her website was so outdated and vulnerable. Not only that, her clients were getting infected from simply visiting her website! Talk about a nightmare! But that too is a story for another day.

The good news is you can avoid all of that by simply staying on top of updates.  Regular updates close these vulnerabilities. Here’s how to stay on top of them:

Ready for a little more homework?

1. Log into your site and check for updates. (This is specifically for my WordPress users out there!)
2. Update plugins and themes one at a time (trust me, this is important).
3. Remove any plugins or themes you no longer use.

Check out my previous blog: Protecting Your WordPress Website for more tips on updating

Extra Credit:

• Set a reminder to do this weekly.
• Avoid automatic updates! Manually updating gives you control and ensures everything works properly.

Step 3: Use Security Plugins Wisely

Tools like Wordfence or Sucuri are another way to protect you, and often what groups, forums and online advice suggest. They do offer great protection, but they’re not perfect for everyone.

Here is why they may not be a good fit for you… 

• They can be complex for beginners, making setup tricky.
• They may slow down your site, especially on shared hosting.
• Frequent alerts can be overwhelming if you’re unsure how to respond.
• They flag legitimate actions or plugins as threats, leading to confusion or unnecessary troubleshooting

If that sounds like more than you want to handle, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with my Monthly Website Care Plan.

My WordPress Security Plan…

This plan makes sure your website is secure and operating at it’s best so you can focus on the business at hand. It takes care of just about everything, except passwords (those are on you, my friend!), and all of this happens like magic in the background while you go about your day to day operations.

Here’s what it includes:

• 24/7 website uptime monitoring
• Emergency response to any website outages
• Twice weekly website security updates
• Post-update website functionality testing
• Daily automatic backups
• 90 days of backup retention
• Automatic malware scans
• Instant malware removal
• Real-time firewall
• Bot protection
• Vulnerability scans

That’s a lot I know, but every single one of those bullet points above is way more important than we realize!

Ready to take the stress out of website security?

I might be able to help you with that!  You can learn more about my WORDPRESS SECURITY at https://caffeinecreative.io/services/wordpress-security/  or book a call with me and let’s chat!