Most security checklists are long because covering everything looks thorough. Here's the shorter, more honest version — the items that address how sites actually get compromised.
The majority of website compromises happen through known, already-patched vulnerabilities in outdated software — not sophisticated zero-day attacks. If you run WordPress or a similar CMS, an outdated plugin is the single most common entry point.
Reused passwords mean one breach elsewhere becomes a breach of your site too, via credential-stuffing attacks that try leaked password lists against your login page.
Free SSL certificates removed any excuse for this years ago. Beyond the trust signal, HTTPS prevents attackers on shared networks from intercepting login credentials.
Not just backups that exist — backups you've actually restored from at least once, so you know the restore process works before you need it under pressure.
Brute-force login attempts against admin panels are constant background noise on the internet. Rate-limiting or lockout after failed attempts stops the vast majority of it.
Every installed plugin is a potential vulnerability, even one you never activated. Unused software isn't neutral — it's attack surface with no benefit.
Covered in more depth in our WAF vs firewall guide — this catches malicious form submissions and injection attempts before they reach your application.
If your site accepts file uploads (images, documents, resumes), make sure uploaded files can't be executed as scripts — a common path for attackers to gain code execution.
File integrity monitoring or even a simple alert on unexpected admin account creation catches a compromise early, before it escalates.
Knowing who to call, how to take the site offline quickly, and how to restore from backup — decided in advance, not figured out during the incident.
