15 WordPress Security Best Practices for Australian Small Businesses 2026

How to do it:

• Create Strong Passwords: Use a password manager to generate and store long, complex passwords with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Enable 2FA: Two-Factor Authentication adds a second layer of security by requiring a code from your phone in addition to your password. Plugins like WP2FA or Google Authenticator make this easy to set up.
• Change the Default “Admin” Username: Never use “admin” as your username. Create a new administrator account with a unique username and delete the default one.

How to do it:

• Choose a Reputable Host: Look for Australian hosting providers with a strong reputation for security, such as SiteGround, Kinsta, or WP Engine.
• Consider Managed WordPress Hosting: These providers specialise in WordPress and offer enhanced security features like daily backups, malware scanning, and automatic updates.
• Check for Security Features: Ensure your host provides a firewall, malware scanning, and SSL certificates.

For a deeper look at how specialised hosting protects your site compared to generic plans, see our guide on Why Your Business Needs Specialised WordPress Hosting.

Backups are your safety net. If your site is hacked, a recent backup can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a catastrophic business loss. You can restore your site to a clean state and be back online quickly.

How to do it:

• Schedule Daily Backups: For active sites, daily backups are essential. For static sites, weekly backups may be sufficient.
• Store Backups Off-Site: Never store your backups on the same server as your website. Use a cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.

Use a Backup Plugin: Plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy can automate the process of backing up your site.

A good security plugin acts as your website’s security guard, actively monitoring for threats and protecting your site from attacks. These plugins provide a suite of tools to harden your site’s security.

How to do it:

• Install a Reputable Plugin: Wordfence Security and Sucuri Security are two of the most popular and effective security plugins for WordPress.
• Configure the Plugin: Don’t just install and forget. Take the time to configure the plugin’s settings, including the firewall, malware scanner, and login security features.
• Monitor Alerts: Pay attention to the plugin’s alerts and take action when a threat is detected.

The WordPress login page is a prime target for brute force attacks, where bots repeatedly try to guess your username and password. Securing this page is a critical step in protecting your site.

How to do it:

• Limit Login Attempts: Use a plugin like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded to block IP addresses after a certain number of failed login attempts.
• Add reCAPTCHA: Implementing Google’s reCAPTCHA on your login form is an effective way to block automated login attempts.
• Hide Your Login URL: By default, the WordPress login page is at yourdomain.com.au/wp-admin. A plugin like WPS Hide Login allows you to change this to a unique URL, making it harder for bots to find.

A firewall acts as a filter between your website and the internet, blocking malicious traffic before it can even reach your site.

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is specifically designed to protect websites from common attacks.

How to do it:

• Use a Plugin with a WAF: Security plugins like Wordfence and Sucuri include a WAF.
• Use a Cloud-Based WAF: Services like Cloudflare offer a powerful WAF that can protect your site at the DNS level.

The principle of least privilege states that users should only have the minimum level of access necessary to do their job. If a user with limited permissions has their account compromised, the damage they can do is significantly less than if an administrator account is breached.

How to do it:

• Assign Roles Carefully: Don’t give everyone administrator access. Use WordPress’s built-in roles (Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, Subscriber) appropriately.
• Use a Custom Role Plugin: For more granular control, a plugin like User Role Editor allows you to create custom roles with specific permissions.

Regularly Audit User Accounts: Periodically review your user accounts and remove any that are no longer needed.

An SSL certificate encrypts the data transmitted between your website and your visitors’ browsers. This is essential for protecting sensitive information like login credentials and payment details. Google also considers HTTPS a ranking factor, and browsers will flag sites without SSL as “not secure.”

How to do it:

• Get a Free SSL Certificate: Most reputable hosting providers offer free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt.
• Install and Configure SSL: Your hosting provider can usually help you install and configure your SSL certificate.

Update Your Site to Use HTTPS: Once SSL is installed, you need to update your WordPress settings to use HTTPS for all your site’s URLs.

Regular scanning and monitoring can help you detect and respond to security threats before they cause significant damage. Many security issues can go unnoticed for months if you’re not actively looking for them.

How to do it:

• Use a Security Plugin for Scanning: Plugins like Wordfence and Sucuri can be configured to run regular malware scans.
• Monitor for Changes: Keep an eye on your site for any unexpected changes, such as new user accounts, modified files, or unusual traffic patterns.
• Use an External Monitoring Service: Services like Sucuri SiteCheck can scan your site for malware and other security issues from an external perspective.

Every plugin and theme on your site is a potential entry point for hackers. Even if a plugin is deactivated, its files are still on your server and can be exploited if they contain a vulnerability. Nulled (pirated) plugins are particularly dangerous as they often contain malware.

How to do it:

• Regularly Audit Your Plugins: Go through your list of installed plugins and delete any that you are not actively using.
• Never Use Nulled Plugins: Only download plugins and themes from the official WordPress repository or reputable commercial developers.

WordPress allows administrators to edit theme and plugin files directly from the dashboard. If a hacker gains access to an administrator account, they can use this feature to inject malicious code into your site.

How to do it:

• Add a Line to Your wp-config.php File: You can disable file editing by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file:

By default, if a directory on your server doesn’t have an index file (like index.html or index.php), your server will display a list of all the files in that directory. This can give hackers valuable information about your site’s structure and vulnerabilities.

How to do it:

• Add a Line to Your .htaccess File: You can disable directory indexing by adding the following line to your .htaccess file:

If a user walks away from their computer while logged into your WordPress site, it creates a security risk.

An unauthorised person could gain access to their account. Automatically logging out inactive users helps to mitigate this risk.

How to do it:

• Use a Plugin: A plugin like Inactive Logout can be configured to automatically log out users after a certain period of inactivity.

Your team can be your biggest security asset or your biggest liability. Educating your team on security best practices is crucial for protecting your site. It’s also important to have a plan in place for what to do if your site is hacked.

How to do it:

• Train Your Team: Teach your team about the importance of strong passwords, phishing scams, and other security threats.
• Create an Incident Response Plan: Document the steps you will take if your site is hacked, including who to contact and how to restore your site from a backup.
• Stay Informed: Keep up to date with the latest WordPress security news and threats.

1. Brute Force Attacks: Automated bots try thousands of username and password combinations to gain access to your site. These attacks are relentless and target every WordPress site on the internet.
2. Malware Infections: Malicious software can be injected into your site through vulnerable plugins, themes, or compromised hosting accounts. Once installed, malware can steal data, redirect visitors, or use your site to attack others.
3. SQL Injection: Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in your site's database queries to gain unauthorised access to your database. This can lead to data theft or complete site takeover.
4. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Hackers inject malicious scripts into your website that execute when visitors load a page. This can be used to steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information.
5. DDoS Attacks: Distributed Denial of Service attacks overwhelm your site with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate visitors. While not always malicious, these attacks can cause significant downtime.
6. Phishing: Attackers create fake login pages that look like your WordPress admin to steal credentials from your team members.

Even with the best security measures in place, a breach can still happen.

If you suspect your site has been hacked, here are the immediate steps to take:

1. Don’t Panic: Stay calm and work through the problem methodically.
2. Contact Your Hosting Provider: They can help you identify the source of the hack and may be able to assist with the cleanup process.
3. Scan Your Site: Use a security plugin to scan your site for malware and malicious code.
4. Restore from a Clean Backup: The fastest way to get your site back online is to restore it from a clean backup taken before the hack occurred.
5. Change All Passwords: Change all your WordPress passwords, as well as your hosting, FTP, and database passwords.
6. Update Everything: Ensure your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are all up to date.

Remember to start with the basics: keep everything updated, use strong passwords with 2FA, and choose a reliable hosting provider.