{"id":19127,"date":"2019-08-29T10:42:42","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T16:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/?p=19127"},"modified":"2022-04-12T09:48:01","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:48:01","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-security-for-your-membership-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/de\/blog\/the-ultimate-guide-to-security-for-your-membership-site\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Security for Your Membership Site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s vital that you do all you can to keep your website secure. <\/p>

WHAT'S INSIDE<\/p>\nToggle<\/span>

Choose a Reputable Web Host<\/a><\/li>
Install a WordPress Security Plugin (or Two)<\/a><\/li>
Protect Your Passwords<\/a><\/li>
Use WordPress User Roles Appropriately<\/a><\/li>
Only Install Official WordPress Themes and Plugins<\/a><\/li>
Keep WordPress, Plugins, and Themes Up to Date<\/a><\/li>
Test Your Membership Site Backups<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
However, it\u2019s even more important that you put in the effort to secure your membership site, due to the fact that you\u2019re handling data regarding your members, not to mention giving them access to parts of your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully, WordPress is secure software. However, its popularity makes it an attractive target for hackers \u2014 if you\u2019re going to learn how to hack a piece of software, why not choose one that powers nearly 35 percent of all websites<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The flip side of this is that due to the popularity of WordPress, a lot has been invested in keeping websites using this software secure. From security-focused web hosts to powerful third-party plugins, there\u2019s a whole industry built around keeping WordPress secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide to security for your membership site, we\u2019ll give you some pointers on securing your WordPress website and keeping your member data safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So with that in mind, let\u2019s begin\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Choose a Reputable Web Host<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With the leading web hosting companies<\/a> offering attractive plans that start at just a few dollars a month, there\u2019s no need to risk your site with an unknown provider in order to save a bit of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the best low-cost shared hosting providers, such as Bluehost<\/a> and SiteGround<\/a>, will help keep your website secure, choosing a pricier managed WordPress hosting plan has many security-related advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if you choose MemberPress hosting from Rapyd Cloud<\/a>, you\u2019ll get access to a whole host of extra security features, including malware scanning and automatic patches for WordPress plugin and theme vulnerabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All Rapyd Cloud packages also come with an automatic cloud backup system, making it even easier to keep your website protected from cyber attacks and data loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good web hosting<\/a> plan will make it easy to secure your membership site with a free SSL certificate, a must for many reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our guide to choosing the best web host for your membership site<\/a> will help you find the right option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Install a WordPress Security Plugin (or Two)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you choose a security-focused web host, many of the tasks related to keeping your membership site secure will be taken care of for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it\u2019s still worth checking out the best WordPress security plugins and installing any that add features to your site that aren\u2019t provided by your web host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The functionality of these security plugins varies, but some common features include site scanning, protection from hacking attempts, blocking traffic from suspicious sources, and more. Many of these tools are freely available from the official WordPress Plugin Directory, with paid upgrades available for extra protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019d like to know more about these tools and get some help choosing the right one for your project, our guide to the best security plugins for membership sites<\/a> looks at this important topic in greater depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Protect Your Passwords<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One key way to keep your WordPress website secure is to use passwords that are unique and difficult to guess. Using a mixture of letters, numbers, and special characters in your WordPress user passwords can make them harder for hackers to guess. Using a password manager like LastPass<\/a> can help you securely store your login credentials and generate strong passwords that will be tough to crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another point to consider is who else has access to your computers. Some browsers will store passwords for you, making them potentially available to whoever is using your computer. Also, if you\u2019re logging in to your WordPress website on public or unsecured Wi-Fi, there\u2019s a chance someone could intercept your traffic and access your passwords and other data. Using a VPN service<\/a> like SurfShark<\/a> can help mitigate this security risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a review of the best VPN providers on the market, head over to\u00a0 PrivacyJournal<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Use WordPress User Roles Appropriately<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As WordPress makes it easy to create multiple user accounts for your website, there\u2019s never a need to share your login details with anyone else. So if you have someone adding content to your site or carrying out maintenance tasks, for example, never give them your login details. Instead, create a new account for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, don\u2019t just give them the all-powerful admin user role. Instead, consider what tasks they will need to complete, and then assign their account an appropriate WordPress user role<\/a>. This way, they won\u2019t have more access to your site than needed, with the ability to, for example, delete your content or change your password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re creating protected content, that only logged in users can access, then a good membership plugin<\/a> is vital for securely managing this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Only Install Official WordPress Themes and Plugins<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the main reasons to choose WordPress for your membership site is the almost unlimited options for enhancing the functionality and design of your website. Through plugins and themes, you can adapt your website for almost any purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, when looking for a plugin or theme, always choose options available from reputable sources. Doing so will significantly reduce the risk that the plugin or theme will contain malicious or easily hackable code that will make your membership site vulnerable to those with bad intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some safe places to source plugins and themes include the official WordPress Plugin Directory and the ThemeForest marketplace, although there are many more reputable outlets out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Keep WordPress, Plugins, and Themes Up to Date<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you choose a good web host, they might keep your WordPress software up to date for you. But in most cases, it will be up to you to update your chosen theme and plugins. If you log in to your WordPress website and see an update notification, it\u2019s best to take care of this straightaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to be extra careful, you can test out the update on a staging version of your site<\/a>. But in most cases, creating a backup of your website before you update any plugins, themes, and the WordPress software will suffice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Test Your Membership Site Backups<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It goes without saying that you should have a backup system in place for your membership site<\/a>. But perhaps it\u2019s worth mentioning that you should regularly test your backups to check that they can be relied on should something go wrong with your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Setting up a test version of your site, then restoring your backups should tell you all you need to know. Doing this should also reveal if the backup restoration process is straightforward enough to ensure you can quickly restore your site when needed, or if it\u2019s a complicated task with the potential to go wrong when performed under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Securing your membership site, and keeping it that way, is an ongoing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s lots you can do from the outset, such as choosing a reputable web host and using secure passwords. However, other tasks, like keeping the WordPress software up to date and monitoring your site, will need regular attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, by using the right tools and providers, you can automate most of the tasks involved in keeping your membership site secure. Combined with a bit of common sense, and avoiding things like sharing passwords and using unsecured internet connections, you can greatly reduce the risk of the security of your membership site being compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How will you keep your membership site secure? Please let us know in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s vital that you do all you can to keep your website secure. However, it\u2019s even more important that you put in the effort to secure your membership site, due to the fact that you\u2019re handling data regarding your members, not to mention giving them access to parts of your site. Thankfully, WordPress is secure [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2122,"featured_media":19214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_strive_editorial_status":"not-started","_strive_copy_of":0,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_strive_checklists":"\"\"","_strive_active_checklist":"62291e2bb2422","_strive_post_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[299],"class_list":{"0":"post-19127","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-advice","8":"tag-security","9":"entry"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t