How to Make Your Website Secure (What Actually Worked for Me)

You wake up, open your laptop... and your website – your business – is gone.

Hacked. Locked. Blacklisted.

And worse? You didn’t even see it coming.

Every day, approximately 30,000 websites are hacked globally.

Most websites aren't targeted because they're high-profile; they're targeted because they're vulnerable. Outdated software. Weak passwords. No SSL. Small oversights that seem insignificant ... until they're exploited.

When it happens, it's not just files you lose. It's trust. Leads. Sales. The reputation you've spent years building, gone in an instant.

Learning how to make your website secure isn’t optional anymore. It's about safeguarding everything you've worked tirelessly to create.

In this guide, we'll walk through practical steps to fortify your site – solidifying trust, speed, and conversions – without requiring a 6-month cybersecurity course.

Right, let’s lock it down – before someone else does it for you.

Why Website Security Matters (More Than You Think)

Now I know it might be tempting to think, “My site’s small. I’m not some huge brand. Who would even bother?”

But bots don’t care.

They’re scanning the internet 24/7, looking for any crack – outdated plugins, missing SSL certificates, weak passwords – and they don’t discriminate.

And here’s the reality check:

• 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses — and only 14% are prepared to defend themselves.

• 60% of small businesses close within six months of a cyberattack.

• 46% of users won’t trust a site without an SSL certificate.

No SSL? No trust.

No trust? No sales.

And it’s not just about getting hacked. Here’s what’s really at stake if you don't take website protection seriously:

👉 Bottom line: If you want your website to attract visitors, earn trust, and drive conversions, securing it isn’t optional. It’s foundational.

And the good news? You don’t have to be an engineer to know how to protect your site. You just need the right systems, the right tools (preferably ones that don’t break everything else), and a little upfront setup.

Let’s start simple: with the basics most people forget to do.

💬 Feeling a little overwhelmed?
Trust me, I get it. Locking down your site can feel like a lot, especially if you’re not sure where to start or what really matters.

If you’d rather hand this off to someone who lives and breathes WordPress security, we’ve got a done-for-you service built just for that.

👉 Check out our professional site maintenance & security plans — they’re designed to keep your site fast, secure, and stress-free, so you can focus on running your business.

How to Make Your Website Secure (Step-by-Step)

I know thinking about website security can feel like a lot. Honestly, I've been there too, wondering where to even start, worrying if I was missing something important.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

We’re going to walk through this together. Simple, clear, and completely doable.

Here’s where to begin:

1. Start With the Basics (But Actually Do Them)

You know that moment when you’ve just left the house and your brain whispers, “Did I lock the door?” You replay every step. You wonder if you should turn around. You don’t — but you worry about it for the next hour anyway.

That’s what running a website without basic security feels like. Even if things look fine on the outside, there's always that uneasy feeling… because deep down, you know you skipped something.

And the wild part? Most hacks don’t start with some genius hacker in a dark hoodie typing like a movie villain. They start because someone didn’t update a plugin. Or left “admin” as their username. Or used “Password123” because “I’ll change it later” (you won’t — no judgment).

If you want to avoid that stomach-drop moment and actually sleep at night, start here:

✅ Update your CMS, plugins, and themes — and do it regularly.

According to a security report by Sucuri, about 39.1% of hacked CMS websites were running outdated software at the time of infection.

Your content management system (WordPress, Joomla, whatever you’re using), plus every plugin and theme, should be updated the moment new versions are released.

Most updates include security patches. Skipping them is like ignoring a broken lock — just hoping no one notices.

🔐 Use strong, unique passwords.

I know. Obvious, right? But if I had a dollar for every client I’ve seen using their dog’s name plus the year they graduated…

Strong passwords aren’t just about length.

They’re about randomness. Use a password manager. They’re life-saving and brain-saving.

1Password or LastPass are my recommendations.

🔁 Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).

It’s free. It’s quick. And it instantly makes your login 100x harder to break into.

Most decent hosts and plugins offer it — you just have to turn it on. It’s one of the easiest, most high-impact things you can do.

I use Duo Security for all my 2FA, but Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator are good options, too.

🧼 Change your default login settings.

If you’re still logging in as “admin,” that’s the first thing bots will try. It’s like handing out a spare key and hoping no one uses it.Change it to something unique — not your name, not “admin2,” and definitely not “admin123.”

While you're at it, take a moment to check your other default settings too:

• Are your file permissions too loose?

• Is your login page easy to find?

• Are there unused plugins or sample pages still live?

Hackers love default setups because they’re predictable. In recent years, Wordfence blocked over 100 billion credential-stuffing attacks from over 74 million unique IP addresses. These attacks often succeed because of the widespread reuse of passwords leaked from data breaches.

Cleaning these up tells the internet: “Someone’s home — and paying attention.”

🧠 Conversion connection: You have to remember this: visitors don’t hang around on sketchy sites. If your SSL’s expired or your CMS is throwing warnings, most people won’t even wait to see what you sell. They’ll click back and find someone who looks safer.

Secure websites = more trust.

More trust = more conversions. 

It’s not just a tech thing. It’s a money thing, too.

2. Use Tools That Actually Help You Grow (Without Breaking Everything Else)

When you’re building a website, it’s easy to fall into the trap of "just one more plugin."

One for popups. One for forms. Another for testimonials. Before long, your site feels more like a puzzle made of random pieces; and unfortunately, every extra piece can create a new crack in your security.

In a state of WordPress security report created by Patchstack, they reported that plugins were responsible for 96.77% of all new security vulnerabilities, while themes accounted for 3.01% of these vulnerabilities.

Every plugin you install is another potential risk. Especially if it’s poorly coded, rarely updated, or doesn’t work well with everything else you’re using.

Here’s how to protect your site (and your peace of mind):

👀 Prefer to See It in Action?

Our video guy Tony breaks down simple, effective web security tips — with real examples and quick wins you can start using today.

👉 Watch the video here:

4. Add Layers of Protection That Don’t Mess With UX

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s those looong Captcha puzzles that feel like a test. You know, the one that makes you spot all the buses or the fire hydrants? Sometimes that “check” lasts for so long I end up leaving the site before completing them.Sure, sites like these are technically “secure,”.

But it felt like the site didn’t want me there.

That stuck with me. Because good security shouldn't punish real people.

It should quietly do its job, blocking the junk while giving actual visitors a smooth, trustworthy experience.

Here’s how I keep things protected without killing my UX or my conversions:

🛡️ Install a Web Application Firewall (WAF).

A WAF is like a security filter between your site and the rest of the internet. It blocks known threats — like bots, spam, and common hacking attempts — before they ever reach your website.

It’s one of those behind-the-scenes tools that quietly does its job without needing daily attention. Once it’s set up, you can pretty much forget about it (in the best way).

Here are a few good options I’ve used or recommended:

• Cloudflare WAF – Great for beginners, free plan available, bonus: speeds up your site too.

• Sucuri Firewall – Strong protection and great if you want extra support or malware cleanup included.

If your hosting plan includes a WAF, awesome — but adding a tool like Cloudflare gives you an extra layer of protection that’s well worth it.

🔍 Use lightweight security plugins.

I focus on using security plugins that do their job without tanking performance — just enough to monitor, scan, and alert me if something’s off.

Two I trust and recommend:

• Wordfence – Great for WordPress users, with a strong firewall and malware scanner.

• Sucuri – Offers real-time monitoring, firewall protection, and malware cleanup services.

Both give you solid protection without bloating your site or slowing things down — just what you need to stay protected and focused on growing.

I’ve got a list of more WordPress security tools I recommend, right here.

🔄 Set up automated malware scans.

No one has time to manually comb through files or check logs daily – well at least I know I don’t. Automated scans keep an eye on things for you, alerting you early if something’s off — before it becomes a major issue.

Both Wordfence and Sucuri offer scheduled scans and notifications, so you can stay a step ahead without adding another thing to your plate.

📍 Pro Tip: Subtle trust signals — like a small "Secured by [X]" badge — can actually boost conversions. With Thrive Architect, it’s easy to add clean, non-intrusive trust badges exactly where they’ll make the biggest impact (like under your forms, near CTAs, or in your footer).

🧠 Good security doesn’t interrupt the customer journey — it quietly clears the path for them to trust you and buy.

5. Lock Down Your Backend Like a Boss

I once worked on a client site where six people had full admin access — including a part-time intern and someone who hadn’t been on the team in over a year. No one thought it was a big deal… until something broke, and no one knew who touched what.

Your backend is the control panel of your business. It holds your forms, your funnels, your customer data — even your revenue flow. Leaving it wide open is like leaving your store unlocked overnight and hoping for the best.

Here’s how I lock things down now — and what I recommend for every client I work with:

6. Protect Your Visitors, Not Just Your Dashboard

I’ve seen it happen — a site that looks legit on the surface, but the moment you try to fill out a form, something feels… off. No padlock in the browser. A form asking for way too much info. Suddenly, the whole thing feels risky — and as a visitor, you’re out of there in two clicks.

When people give you their information, they’re handing over their trust. It’s up to you to make sure you actually earn it.

Here’s how I keep things safe for my visitors — and why that matters for conversions just as much as compliance:

Pro tip: Try testing a two-step form that asks for just an email first, then shows optional fields on the next step. It feels lighter and converts better.

This step isn’t glamorous, but it keeps you from unknowingly creating risks — and it shows you care about the people behind the email addresses.

7. Train Yourself (and Your Team) to Stop Accidental Security Breaches

You can have the best security tools in the world, but if someone on your team clicks a sketchy link labeled “INVOICE.PDF.EXE,” all bets are off.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Human error is still one of the biggest threats to website security. (Not hackers in black hoodies hammering away at code. It's Janet from accounting clicking "Claim Your Prize.")

If you want a truly secure website, you have to train the people running it — including yourself.

Here’s how to get smarter and safer:

🧠 Smart Process Tip with Thrive:

Use Thrive Apprentice to create internal training mini-courses for your team (even if it’s just a private “how we handle website security” 101). You’ll onboard faster, protect better, and spend way less time cleaning up preventable messes later.

🔒 Secure people = secure websites = secure revenue streams.

8. Turn Your Security Setup Into a Trust-Building Machine

Good security isn’t just about defense — it’s an offense strategy too.Because let’s be honest: even the best offer can fall flat if your site feels the slightest bit sketchy.

Visitors aren’t security experts. But they pick up on the little things — and those little things shape whether they trust you with their email, credit card, or time.

Here’s how to turn your behind-the-scenes security work into a visible trust signal that boosts conversions:

😅 Whew. That was a lot, wasn’t it?

If your to-do list is already packed and the idea of backups, firewalls, and plugin audits just makes you want to close your laptop… maybe it’s time to call in some help.

✨ Our pro team can handle it for you — no arm, no leg, no security headaches.
You get a secure, conversion-ready site. We handle the maintenance, the updates, the monitoring, and everything in between.

👉Explore our done-for-you website care plans — peace of mind (and better sleep) included.

Conclusion: Security Isn’t Just About Protection – It’s About Growth

At the end of the day, website security isn’t just about keeping the bad guys out.It’s about building a site that people trust enough to stay, engage with, and buy from.

Because if your site feels even a little sketchy – a missing SSL certificate, a slow checkout page, an outdated form – visitors won’t send angry emails.They’ll just leave. Quietly. And you’ll never even know what you lost.

The good news?You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert to protect your site and boost your conversions.You just need a few smart systems, the right tools, and a mindset that sees security as part of your growth strategy — not just your "tech debt" list.

Here’s what happens when you put these steps into action:

🔒 Your website gets safer.

⚡ Your site gets faster.

🤝 Your visitors feel more confident.

💸 Your business earns more trust — and more sales.

And that’s what real website security looks like.

So don’t wait until you’re cleaning up a hack to realize you needed this.

Start today. Lock it down. And keep building something worth protecting.

💬 Over to you!
What’s one thing you’re doing (or planning to do) to make your website more secure?
Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear where you’re at or what questions you’ve got.