Did you know that 43% of companies have experienced some sort of data breach within the last year? This figure only includes companies that were aware of the breach and the number of unknown data breaches may take that number much higher. With so many companies turning to the cloud for storage, you can bet that data theft will only become an increasingly difficult problem for businesses around the world.

For businesses that use WordPress as their content management system for their website, data security is a very important consideration as well. Because WordPress is the largest content management platform in the world, that makes it the target of hackers and other data thieves. Luckily, there are some simple steps that you can take to secure your WordPress installation, through the use of simple to install plugins. There are some really high quality security plugins that can secure your website and greatly reduce the chances that it is a target for data theft.

1. WordFence – Comprehensive WordPress Security

WordFence is the go-to security software for WordPress, providing a range of different security features that allow you to lock down your WordPress installation and keep it safe from hackers and data thieves. The plugin features real-time blocking mechanisms to block known attackers and malicious networks while adding additional security features like brute force security and real-time monitoring. WordFence is easy to use and is known as the most comprehensive solution for small businesses that use WordPress as their content management solution.

2. BulletProof Security – WordPress Security Plugin

BulletProof Security is a popular WordPress security plugin with many features that overlap the features that are offered by WordFence. BulletProof allows you to limit login attempts that fail and block code scanners and fake traffic. BulletProof Security continually monitors your WordPress installation for changes within the code and other malicious changes that can occur.

3. BruteProtect – Brute Force Protection for WordPress

One of the most common forms of attacks on WordPress installation is what is known as a Brute Force Attack. These attacks essentially bombard your WordPress installation with login attempts into your admin account. They try one password at a time, thousands or millions of times until they are able to break into your account. Brute Protect is an excellent option for eliminating this thread. It currently is used on more than 200,000 WordPress installations and has blocked more than 270,000,000 attacks in total. BruteProtect is absolutely the best solution for reducing and eliminating the threat of Brute Force Attacks on your website.

4. Google Authenticator – 2-Step Authentication Security for WordPress

Google Authenticator isn’t an excellent security addition for any WordPress installation. This simple addition adds a 2-step authentication process when logging into your website. You enter your login details, then receive an additional secure password through email, adding an extra step to the login process and keeping your account safe.

5. Simple Security Firewall – WordPress Security Firewall

Simple Security Firewall is an excellent addition to any WordPress installation. It is known for being very easy to set up and use. With no premium version available, all features are available through the free version of the app. Its features include the blocking of malicious URLs, blocking spam comments, preventing brute force attacks, two-factor authentication and monitoring user activity. This is a simple and well-rounded plugin for companies that are seriously concerned about the security of their WordPress installation but want something that will be easy to understand and use.

Extra Mention:  Really Simple SSL – Automatically Detects & Applies SSL

1. Get an SSL Certificate
2. Activate the Really Simple SSL plugin
3. Enable SSL for entire website

Conclusion

WordPress is the most popular content management system in the market today. Unfortunately, that makes it one of the most targeted systems for malicious activities. It is important that you are able to take some initial steps to protect your website and business data from would-be hackers that could pose a risk to your business.