The 6-point hosting security checklist
SSL on every page, not just checkout
Browsers now flag any non-HTTPS page as "Not Secure," including contact forms and login pages, not just payment pages. See SSL certificates for certificate types and free vs. extended-validation options.
Automated, restorable backups
A backup you can't easily restore isn't much better than no backup. Confirm your host runs backups automatically and lets you restore them yourself without a support ticket.
Timely core and plugin updates
Most real-world site compromises exploit a known, already-patched vulnerability in outdated software. If you're on WordPress hosting, confirm your plan handles core updates automatically.
Strong, unique passwords everywhere
This applies to your hosting account, your admin/CMS login, and your business email — reused passwords are one of the most common ways small business accounts get compromised.
Malware scanning and a basic firewall
Hosting-level scanning catches problems before they reach your visitors — this should be part of the hosting plan itself, not a separate product you have to install and manage.
Secure, spam-filtered business email
Email is a common entry point for phishing attempts against a business. See professional email hosting for spam-filtered, encrypted mailboxes.
Extra care for online stores
If your site handles orders and customer information, security isn't optional — it's part of earning and keeping customer trust at checkout. WooCommerce hosting is built around this: SSL, backups, and hardening tuned specifically for store checkout and account pages, not just the rest of the site.
Hosting security FAQ
Is free SSL as secure as paid SSL?
For encryption strength, yes — a free domain-validated certificate encrypts traffic just as strongly as a paid one. Paid certificates add identity verification (organization or extended validation), which is about visible trust signals, not stronger encryption. See SSL certificates for the differences.
How often should backups run?
Daily automated backups are the standard for an actively-updated business site. If you rarely change your site, less frequent backups may be acceptable, but daily is the safer default.
What should I do if my site gets flagged for malware?
Restore from your most recent clean backup, update all software immediately, and change every password tied to the site and hosting account before bringing it back online.
Does SSL affect my search rankings?
Search engines have confirmed HTTPS is a ranking signal, though a minor one compared to content quality and relevance. It's still effectively required, since browsers actively warn visitors away from non-HTTPS pages.