A website is often the cornerstone of your online presence. And it can be a tool for business, personal branding or community engagement. With increasing cyber threats and evolving technology, maintaining your website’s security is worth the investment. One of the most effective ways of protecting your website is through regular updates and monthly maintenance. Here’s a quick guide with tips on how to keep your website secure by staying up-to-date.
Protecting Your Website
Update Your Content Management System (CMS)
Platforms like WordPress and Shopify frequently release security patches and feature updates. Be sure to regularly check for these updates and apply them to your website promptly.
Pro Tip: Enable automatic updates if possible or set reminders to check manually. We recommend a monthly maintenance schedule for your website to make sure everything looks good and is running smoothly.
Update Plugins and Themes
Third-party WordPress plugins, apps and responsive themes can be vulnerable if outdated. Regularly review and update all of your functionality tools and installed extensions.
Pro Tip: Don’t just deactivate your plugins. Remove inactive or unused plugins as well as default themes to reduce vulnerabilities.
Update Server and Hosting Environment
Ensure your server OS, PHP and other backend software are current. Many hosting providers like GoDaddy offer automatic updates. Use them or check periodically.
Pro Tip: Check your WordPress dashboard for update notifications. You can learn about available updates there as well as in your hosting provider’s dashboard.
Backup Before Updating
Always create a backup of your website before installing updates. In case something breaks, you can restore your site quickly.
Pro Tip: Use reliable backup solutions like a staging environment for your website. Create a duplicate version of your site and make updates there. Be sure to test before pushing your staging environment to production.
Monitor for Security Alerts
Subscribe to security mailing lists or alerts related to your CMS and plugins. Stay informed about vulnerabilities and patches.
Pro Tip: You can sign up for email notifications and unsubscribe at any time. Consider creating a designated email address to receive notifications pertaining to your website.
Implement Security Plugins and Firewalls
Use security tools that provide real-time monitoring, malware scanning and firewalls to add an extra layer of protection.
Pro Tip: Consolidate website products and services with the same provider if possible. Having these under the same roof will help make managing your website a bit easier.
Conclusion
Keeping your website secure is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. And regular check-ins can help to patch vulnerabilities, improve functionality and ensure smooth sailing. Make updating a routine by scheduling monthly maintenance and automating where possible. Contact us online or call 323-848-4465 for to learn more about our low-cost monthly website maintenance plan.