Skip to content
Secremedy.

Most WordPress compromises do not begin with a sophisticated zero-day. They usually start with an overlooked update or an old administrator account. Hardening means closing these ordinary gaps.

Your baseline should be boring and complete.

The goal is not to install every security product you can find. You just need to reduce the ways an attacker can get in and make sure you can recover if they do.

The five controls to put in place first

Updates are a security control, not housekeeping.

Create a simple patching rhythm. Review critical updates promptly and test material changes on a staging copy. Unused plugins deserve no place in production, so delete them.

Treat every administrator account as a key to your business.

Use named accounts, strong unique passwords, and multi-factor authentication. Remove access the moment a contractor or employee no longer needs it. Avoid shared logins since they make incident investigation almost impossible.

A backup is only real if it restores. Keep a separate, off-site copy and rehearse a restore before you need one. Ransomware and accidental deletion both become manageable when recovery is proven.

Give the site less to defend.

Review file permissions, disable features you do not use, and keep production separate from testing tools. Your host, forms, and third-party integrations all belong on the same security inventory.

Monitoring catches the small changes.

File-integrity checks and regular vulnerability scans are practical early-warning systems. Pair them with a clear incident contact.

What to do next

Start with the areas you can verify today like current updates and a tested backup. Then ask for an independent view of the gaps your team may not be equipped to see.

Cyber Essentials is most useful when it becomes a clear operating baseline rather than a once-a-year paperwork exercise.

Start with a clear baseline.

Before buying another tool, document what you run and who has access. A short, accurate inventory makes security decisions easier.

Focus on the gaps attackers can use.

Certification preparation works best when ownership is clear and checks happen on schedule. Keep a record of what you find and assign every fix to a specific person.

Simple controls applied consistently prevent more incidents than a long list of tools nobody owns.

Turn the findings into action.

Set a review date and test the plan. If an area is difficult to verify internally, ask for an independent assessment.

A compromised website creates urgency, but the fastest route to recovery starts with containment and good evidence.

Start with a clear baseline.

Before buying another tool, document what you run and who has access. A short, accurate inventory makes security decisions easier.

Focus on the gaps attackers can use.

Incident response works best when ownership is clear and checks happen on schedule. Keep a record of what you find and assign every fix to a specific person.

Simple controls applied consistently prevent more incidents than a long list of tools nobody owns.

Turn the findings into action.

Set a review date and test the plan. If an area is difficult to verify internally, ask for an independent assessment.

Automated scanners are excellent at repeatable checks, but they cannot understand how your application is meant to work.

Start with a clear baseline.

Before buying another tool, document what you run and who has access. A short, accurate inventory makes security decisions easier.

Focus on the gaps attackers can use.

Manual penetration testing works best when ownership is clear and checks happen on schedule. Keep a record of what you find and assign every fix to a specific person.

Simple controls applied consistently prevent more incidents than a long list of tools nobody owns.

Turn the findings into action.

Set a review date and test the plan. If an area is difficult to verify internally, ask for an independent assessment.

Ransomware readiness means rehearsing your recovery before an attacker forces the test.

Start with a clear baseline.

Before buying another tool, document what you run and who has access. A short, accurate inventory makes security decisions easier.

Focus on the gaps attackers can use.

Ransomware preparation works best when ownership is clear and checks happen on schedule. Keep a record of what you find and assign every fix to a specific person.

Simple controls applied consistently prevent more incidents than a long list of tools nobody owns.

Turn the findings into action.

Set a review date and test the plan. If an area is difficult to verify internally, ask for an independent assessment.

Good phishing awareness gives people a simple decision process and a safe way to report uncertainty.

Start with a clear baseline.

Before buying another tool, document what you run and who has access. A short, accurate inventory makes security decisions easier.

Focus on the gaps attackers can use.

Phishing prevention works best when ownership is clear and checks happen on schedule. Keep a record of what you find and assign every fix to a specific person.

Simple controls applied consistently prevent more incidents than a long list of tools nobody owns.

Turn the findings into action.

Set a review date and test the plan. If an area is difficult to verify internally, ask for an independent assessment.

Good incident records let you judge risk quickly and show what was done to protect affected people.

Start with a clear baseline.

Before buying another tool, document what you run and who has access. A short, accurate inventory makes security decisions easier.

Focus on the gaps attackers can use.

UK GDPR incident reporting works best when ownership is clear and checks happen on schedule. Keep a record of what you find and assign every fix to a specific person.

Simple controls applied consistently prevent more incidents than a long list of tools nobody owns.

Turn the findings into action.

Set a review date and test the plan. If an area is difficult to verify internally, ask for an independent assessment.