Secure WordPress hosting
Multiple layers of security protect your WordPress site against every threat
- Free SSL certificate with every plan
- WAF and ModSecurity against attacks
- Network-level DDoS protection
- Daily automatic backups
Multiple layers of security for your WordPress site
Free SSL certificate
Every plan includes a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate that's activated and renewed automatically. Your WordPress site is instantly secured with HTTPS and the green padlock in the browser.
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
ModSecurity with specialized WordPress rules blocks SQL injections, XSS attacks and other common exploits before they reach your site. Automatically updated with the latest threat intelligence.
Network-level DDoS protection
Distributed attacks are automatically detected and filtered at the network level. Your WordPress site stays online, even when attackers send millions of requests per second.
Daily automatic backups
A full backup of your files and database is made every night. Restoring takes a single click via your control panel. Larger plans offer up to 90 days of retention.
Malware scanning and removal
Automated malware scans detect suspicious files, backdoors and known malware patterns. Upon detection you receive an immediate notification with removal instructions.
WordPress auto-updates
Security updates for WordPress core are installed automatically as soon as they're available. This way your site is always protected against known vulnerabilities without you needing to take any action.
The 7 security layers in detail
Theory7 protects your WordPress site with a multi-layered security architecture. Each layer is designed to neutralize a specific type of threat. Together they form an impenetrable shield around your website.
- Layer 1: SSL/TLS encryption - encrypts all traffic with 256-bit encryption. Free Let's Encrypt certificate, renewed automatically. Prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and data theft
- Layer 2: Web Application Firewall (WAF) - ModSecurity with OWASP and WordPress-specific rule sets. Blocks SQL injections, XSS, CSRF and file inclusion attacks in real time
- Layer 3: DDoS mitigation - detection and filtering at the network level. Absorbs attacks up to multiple Gbps with no impact on your website. Legitimate traffic isn't hindered
- Layer 4: Brute-force protection - automatic IP blocking after failed login attempts. Protects wp-login.php, xmlrpc.php and wp-admin. Configurable thresholds per account
- Layer 5: Malware scanner - daily scans for known malware signatures, backdoors, web shells and suspicious file changes. Immediate notification upon detection
- Layer 6: Automatic backups - daily full backups (files + database + email). Up to 90 days of retention. Restore with one click via DirectAdmin. Stored separately from your hosting environment
- Layer 7: Auto-updates - security patches for WordPress core are installed automatically. Minimal window for exploitation of known vulnerabilities
All security layers are active by default on every WordPress hosting plan. No extra costs or add-ons are needed. Check out our SSL certificates page for more information on website encryption.
Choose your secure WordPress plan
Includes SSL, WAF, DDoS protection and daily backups
- 10 WordPress sites
- 15GB NVMe SSD storage
- Free SSL certificate
- WAF + DDoS protection
- 30-day backups
- 25 WordPress sites
- 30GB NVMe SSD storage
- Free SSL certificate
- WAF + DDoS protection
- 60-day backups
- 50 WordPress sites
- 60GB NVMe SSD storage
- Free SSL certificate
- WAF + DDoS protection
- 90-day backups
WordPress security checklist for website administrators
Besides Theory7's server-level security layers, there are measures you as a website administrator can take yourself to optimally protect your WordPress site. Use this checklist as a guide for a secure WordPress installation.
Account security:
- Use a strong password of at least 16 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters
- Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) on all administrator and editor accounts
- Change the default "admin" username to something unique
- Limit the number of users with administrator rights to the absolute minimum
Plugin and theme security:
- Only install plugins and themes from the official WordPress repository or from trusted developers
- Completely remove unused plugins and themes (deactivating isn't enough)
- Keep all plugins, themes and WordPress core up to date
- Regularly check whether installed plugins are still actively maintained
Configuration security:
- Disable file editing in the WordPress dashboard (define DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT in wp-config.php)
- Hide your WordPress version number from the source code
- Restrict directory listing via .htaccess or the web server configuration
- Use a separate database password that's not used anywhere else
Combine these measures with Theory7's seven server-level security layers and you have the best possible protection for your WordPress site. Check out our WordPress hosting plans and choose the plan that fits your security needs. With Theory7 web hosting, security is always included.
Frequently asked questions about secure WordPress hosting
WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites worldwide, making it the most popular target for hackers. Every day thousands of WordPress sites are hacked via vulnerable plugins, weak passwords or outdated software. A hacked website can lead to data loss, malware spreading to your visitors, and removal from Google search results. Good hosting with multiple security layers is the first line of defense.
Theory7 offers seven layers of security: (1) free SSL certificate for encrypted traffic, (2) Web Application Firewall with WordPress-specific rules, (3) network-level DDoS protection, (4) daily automatic backups, (5) malware scanning, (6) brute-force protection and (7) automatic WordPress security updates. All layers are active by default on every plan at no extra cost.
Yes, every plan includes a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate that's installed automatically and renewed every 90 days. You don't need to configure anything yourself. With some competitors you pay €10 to €50 per year for an SSL certificate; at Theory7 it's included by default. More information about SSL can be found on our SSL certificates page.
The WAF runs at the server level and analyzes every incoming request before it reaches your WordPress installation. ModSecurity rules specifically tuned for WordPress recognize and block SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), file inclusion attacks and other exploits. The rule sets are automatically updated when new threats are discovered.
Backups are made automatically every day, every night. The Basic plan retains backups for 30 days, Medium for 60 days and Deluxe for 90 days. You can restore a full backup at any time via your DirectAdmin control panel, including files, database and email. You can also manually create extra backups whenever you want.
Should an incident occur despite all the security layers, our support team will help you recover. We restore your site from the most recent clean backup, identify the cause of the breach and take additional measures to prevent recurrence. At Theory7 we don't leave you stranded after a security incident.
Yes. Brute-force attacks on wp-login.php and xmlrpc.php are automatically detected and blocked. After a set number of failed login attempts, the IP address is temporarily blocked. This prevents automated scripts from trying to guess your password. Combine this with a strong password and two-factor authentication for maximum protection.
Basic protection is handled at the server level and requires no plugins. We do recommend installing a two-factor authentication plugin for extra login security. Heavy security plugins like Wordfence aren't necessary at Theory7 and can even slow down your site, since the firewall and malware scanning are already active at the server level.
WordPress is the most popular target for hackers
According to W3Techs, more than 43% of all websites worldwide run on WordPress.
With a market share of more than 43%, WordPress is the most widely used content management system in the world. That popularity also makes it the most attractive target for cybercriminals. Every day, tens of thousands of WordPress sites worldwide are attacked by automated scripts that exploit known vulnerabilities. Without adequate security, it's not a question of if you'll be hacked, but when. Secure WordPress hosting at Theory7 offers multiple layers of protection that proactively defend your site.
What are the most common attacks on WordPress?
To understand why good security is essential, you need to know how hackers operate. The most common attack methods on WordPress sites are:
- Brute-force attacks - automated scripts try thousands of password combinations per minute on your login page
- SQL injections - malicious code is inserted via forms or URL parameters to manipulate your database
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) - malicious scripts are injected into your pages to steal visitor data
- File inclusion exploits - vulnerable plugins are abused to execute external files on your server
- DDoS attacks - your site is flooded with millions of requests to take it offline
- Malware injection - malicious code is hidden in theme files or the database to redirect visitors to fraudulent sites
What security layers does Theory7 offer for WordPress?
Theory7 uses a defense-in-depth strategy with seven layers of security. Each layer catches a different type of threat, so your WordPress site is protected against the full spectrum of attacks:
Layer 1: SSL encryption
Every plan includes a free SSL certificate that encrypts all traffic between your visitors and your server. This prevents passwords, personal data and payment information from being intercepted. SSL is also a Google ranking factor: sites without HTTPS rank lower and browsers show a warning to visitors.
Layer 2: Web Application Firewall
ModSecurity with WordPress-specific rule sets analyzes every incoming request in real time. SQL injections, XSS attacks and file inclusion attempts are blocked before they reach your WordPress installation. The rule sets are automatically updated whenever new vulnerabilities are discovered.
Layer 3: DDoS mitigation
Distributed attacks are detected and filtered at the network level. Legitimate traffic is let through while attack traffic is blocked. Your site stays reachable for real visitors, even during an active attack.
Layer 4: Brute-force protection
Automated login attempts on wp-login.php and xmlrpc.php are detected and blocked after a set number of failed attempts. This effectively stops password-guessing attacks without hindering legitimate users.
Layer 5: Malware scanning
Regular scans check your files for known malware patterns, backdoors and suspicious code changes. Upon detection you receive an immediate notification so you can act quickly. Google PageSpeed Insights recommends a load time under 2.5 seconds for an optimal user experience. Combine this with the web hosting security features for complete protection.
Layer 6: Automatic backups
Daily backups are your last line of defense. If every other layer fails, you can always restore your site to a clean version. Backups are stored separately from your hosting environment so they aren't compromised along with an attack.
Layer 7: Automatic updates
Security updates for WordPress core are installed automatically. Most hacks exploit known vulnerabilities for which patches are already available. By applying updates immediately, the window during which your site is vulnerable is kept to a minimum.
WordPress security checklist
Besides good hosting, there are steps you can take yourself to further secure your WordPress site:
- Use strong, unique passwords for your WordPress admin, database and FTP
- Activate two-factor authentication on all administrator accounts
- Keep plugins and themes up to date and remove unused plugins
- Only use plugins from trusted sources such as the official WordPress repository
- Limit the number of administrator accounts and only give users the permissions they need
- Change the default admin username so attackers can't guess it
Security and speed go together
At Theory7, security doesn't come at the cost of speed. All security measures run at the hardware level or as optimized server modules. The WAF, DDoS protection and SSL encryption add less than 5ms to the load time. Combined with LiteSpeed Enterprise and NVMe SSD, you get a WordPress site that's both lightning fast and thoroughly secured. Check out all plans on the WordPress hosting page.
Why WordPress hosting is different from regular hosting
WordPress runs on PHP and MySQL, but not all hosting is optimized for WordPress. Dedicated WordPress hosting offers pre-configured caching (such as LiteSpeed Cache), PHP versions tuned for WordPress, and server-level optimizations that regular hosting doesn't offer.
At Theory7 all WordPress sites run on LiteSpeed Enterprise with object caching and optimized PHP settings. The result: load times up to 5x faster than standard shared hosting. Includes a free staging environment to safely test updates before going live.
The most common WordPress security risks
WordPress is the most widely used CMS in the world, which also makes it a popular target for hackers. The three most common attack vectors are outdated plugins, weak passwords and unsecured login pages. According to Wordfence, 56% of all WordPress hacks are caused by plugin vulnerabilities. Regular updates are therefore the most important security measure you can take.
At the hosting level, Theory7 offers multiple security layers. ModSecurity (WAF) filters malicious traffic before it reaches your website, while Imunify360 detects malware and automatically quarantines it. Daily backups ensure you can recover quickly in the event of an incident. PHP is also regularly updated to the latest version, closing known vulnerabilities.
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- Compare web hosting - Compare all plans at a glance
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Sources and references
- W3Techs - w3techs.com
- WordPress.org - wordpress.org
- Google - Core Web Vitals, web.dev
"Theory7 is an excellent web host, for beginners too. Always a quick response to your questions and with plenty of patience if the penny didn't drop right away - even on scorching hot days! Top team, top quality, top prices. What more could you want? Absolutely delighted that my website is in such good hands!"
