“Is my website secure?” is a question most business owners can’t confidently answer — not because it’s complicated, but because it’s rarely explained without jargon. Here’s the plain-English version of what actually matters.
SSL/HTTPS — the padlock icon
If your website address doesn’t start with “https://” and show a padlock in the browser bar, that’s the first thing to fix. It encrypts data between your visitor and your server — essential for any site with a contact form, login, or payment, and increasingly a baseline expectation even for simple brochure sites. Most hosts now offer free SSL certificates, so there’s rarely a good reason not to have one.
Keeping software updated
If your site runs on WordPress (as most business sites do), the platform, theme and any plugins need regular updates. Outdated software is the single most common way small business websites get compromised — not because attackers specifically target that one business, but because automated bots scan the internet for known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
Who has access, and how
Every admin account is a potential entry point. Weak, reused, or shared passwords are a real risk — each person who needs access should have their own login with a strong, unique password, and accounts for people who’ve left the business should be removed promptly.
Backups — the safety net
Even a well-maintained site can have problems. Regular, automated backups mean a bad update or a security incident is a minor inconvenience rather than a lost website.
None of this requires you to become technical yourself — it just requires someone accountable for it. That’s part of what we handle for clients on the technology side of our work.