Protect Your Website from Threats
WordPress security has never been more important. The reputation of your business is crucial. Losing your WordPress site to a cyber attack, malware infection, or data breach will do exactly that. Malicious software and data breaches could potentially cripple your website. If you are looking up “WordPress security audit UK,” it’s time to take proper measures.
Everything about auditing your wordpress site, its importance, how to do one reliably and other professional security options in the UK will be discussed in this guide.
Why a WordPress Security Audit is Essential
A WordPress security audit is an in-depth analysis of your WordPress site to identify loopholes and fortify its defenses. Here is what they can help you with:
✅ Prevent Hacking Attempts – WordPress is the backbone of more than 43% of websites worldwide, which puts it at the top of hackers to-do list.
✅ Protect Sensitive Data – Customer information, payment details, and even login credential should remain confidential.
✅ Avoid Google Blacklisting – Google can flag a hacked website as flagged site which can hurt its SEO and traffic.
✅ Maintain Business Reputation – Losing customer trust as a result of a security breach can devastate businesses.
✅ Ensure Compliance – Specialized fields like healthcare and finance follow strict rules so they can operate securely.
The risk increases if audits haven’t been performed in a long time, so don’t procrastinate if you want your WordPress site secure.
Conducting a Security Audit of WordPress: A Comprehensive Guide
As a business owner or as a developer, here’s how you can conduct a self WordPress security audit:
1 Big Step: Check for Updates in WordPress Core, Themes & Plugins
- Plugin – Update plugins regularly.
- Delete Unused Themes and Plugins – Purge obsolete themes immediately as they pose a significant risk.
- Use Trusted Sources – Avoid arbitrary sites and download everything from wordpress.org as well as branded developers.
2 Scan for Malware & Vulnerabilities
Ensure that those external files posing as legitimate sites aren’t plugins/themes, as they are invaluable assets in enhancing security, e.g.
- Wordfence (Malware Scanner & Firewall)
- Sucuri (Security Hardening & Monitoring)
- MalCare (Deep Malware Scans)
- Manually check suspicious files in and including wp content and wp, this is normally the root folder.
3 Review User Access and Permissions
- Delete Inactive User Profiles – Apathetic dead accounts.
- Use StrongPASSWORDS – People hate long boring sessions. Implement 2 factor authentication (2FA) login.
- Restrict Administration Access – Authorize only known trusted people, everyone else is denied, nullified, zeroed.
4 Restrict Access to Your Login Page
- Change the endpoint login URL (Custom paths can be generic) i.e. transform /wp-admin into anything more exciting.
- Uses of Loginizer to limit login attempts.
- enforce CAPTCHA or more precisely enforced bot measures programmable CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA.
5 Check File Permissions
- set wp-config.php to be 600.
- set directories to 755 and files to 644, both are free as well.
6. Backup Your Website
- Enable automated backups with UpdraftPlus or BlogVault.
- Offsite storage includes Google Drive or Dropbox.
7. Enable a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Cloudflare (Free and paid plans)
- Sucuri Firewall (Blocks malicious traffic)
8. Monitor for Suspicious Activity
- Security Logs (Plugin: WP Security Audit Log)
- Unexpected file changes (Plugin: Wordfence)
When to Hire a Professional WordPress Security Audit Service in the UK
While DIY audits help, here are some scenarios that warrant a professional’s help:
🔹 Your site was hacked. Professionals can remove malware and reinstall firewalls.
🔹 You operate an eCommerce site. Payment information requires more advanced protection.
🔹 You do not have the technical skills. Lack of know-how may increase misconfiguration security threats.
🔹 You require compliance (GDPR, PCI DSS). Compliance requires severe legal audits.
Where to Find WordPress Security Experts in the UK
- Web Security Agencies – Sucuri UK or Wordfence-certified partners offer website audits.
- Freelance Security Specialists – UK WordPress security experts are available on Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour.
- Managed WordPress Hosting – Security audits are part of the service for Kinsta and WP Engine.
- Local IT Security Firms – Search for WordPress security audit London or other major UK cities to find firms.
What is a WordPress Security Audit’s Cost in the UK?
| Type of Service | Estimated Rate |
|---|---|
| Basic Plugin Check | £50 – £150 |
| Security Audit (Manual) | £200 – £800 |
| Malware Cleanup and Removal | £150 – £1000+ |
| Security Sustained Monitoring | £30 – £200/month |
Conclusion: Enhance Security on Your WordPress Today
An UK WordPress security audit isn’t a single task you can check off and forget about: it’s a repetitive procedure—guarding the website requires constant monitoring. Whether you do it yourself or hire an expert, taking steps today will save you expensive security breaches down the line.
Want Support? Hire a UK WordPress security professional today!
If your website’s security is ambiguous to you, request a professional audit to pinpoint known and unknown vulnerabilities and mitigate them before threats can exploit them.