Launch Checklist · WordPress

Launching a WordPress site? Here is the pre-flight checklist.

The most-targeted CMS on the internet needs the most deliberate security pass, not the least.

WordPress runs a huge share of the web, which is exactly why it is the most probed platform on the internet, automated bots scan for outdated plugins and default admin credentials constantly, often within hours of a new site going live. The checklist below is weighted toward the items that matter disproportionately more on WordPress than on a custom-built stack.

Plugin sprawl is the other WordPress-specific risk: every plugin is a piece of third-party code with its own update cadence and its own security history. A site with 20 plugins has 20 separate attack surfaces to keep current, not one.

WordPress-specific

What gets missed on WordPress apps.

Default /wp-admin login exposed

The default admin login path is the single most probed URL on the internet. Rate limiting or relocating it meaningfully cuts brute-force attempts.

Outdated plugins

Each installed plugin is a separate update cadence and a separate vulnerability history. Set a recurring reminder to check and update, not just "when something breaks."

No malware scanning

WordPress-specific malware (often injected through a vulnerable plugin) can sit undetected for weeks without a scanner like Wordfence or Sucuri.

FAQ

Common questions.

Is WordPress secure enough for a real launch?

Yes, with the standard hardening pass: strong admin credentials, two-factor auth on wp-admin, plugins kept current, and a security plugin (Wordfence, Sucuri) installed. The platform's popularity makes it a bigger target, not inherently less secure.

How often should I update WordPress plugins?

Check weekly at minimum, and subscribe to security advisories for any plugin handling payments, forms, or user accounts, since those are the highest-value targets when a vulnerability is disclosed.

Other stacks