WordPress Security Hardening for Enterprise Sites

Threat model for public WordPress

Enterprise WordPress sites face automated scanning, credential stuffing, and plugin vulnerabilities. Assume compromise attempts are continuous, not hypothetical.

Hardening checklist

• Disable file editing in wp-config.php
• Enforce MFA for all admin users
• Limit login attempts and hide default paths where feasible
• Keep plugins minimal and updated

Hosting and TLS

Use managed hosting with WAF rules, isolate staging, and enforce TLS 1.2+. Offload media to object storage with signed URLs when appropriate.

Monitoring

Alert on failed admin logins, unexpected admin users, and checksum changes in core files. Centralize logs to your SIEM.

Maintenance windows

Schedule plugin updates weekly, test in staging, and snapshot databases before major releases.