Prevention is Better Than the Cure: Securing Your Sites With WP Engine
Taking steps to prevent cyber attacks is the best course of action in today’s growing landscape of evolving threats.
Taking steps to prevent security incidents remains the best course of action, particularly as the threat landscape shifts from simple automated scripts to enterprising adversaries using Generative AI. The security of a website is critical to business success, and in today’s fast-paced digital world, failure to employ a robust security strategy (or choosing to neglect it for too long) will almost certainly result in a security event.
While those incidents can range from the spread of malware to Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks to identity-based intrusions, each carries with it a massive setback to a business and the reputation it has worked hard to create. Remedying a security breach involves many factors. In addition to fixing the immediate disruption to digital channels, it includes repairing damage to customer relationships, which can take years to fix or may be irreparable.
Putting the right measures in place to prevent security incidents is a far more favorable path than dealing with their aftermath. However, focusing on prevention is increasingly difficult in a world where adversaries use Generative AI to increase the speed and sophistication of their attacks. In this guide and the accompanying ebook, WP Engine helps sort the noise with detail on the specific types of threats that websites face today, the measures required to recover from an attack, and the techniques used to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Download the ebook to find out more, or read on for a closer look at the areas covered.
Today’s cybersecurity landscape
Today’s cybersecurity landscape is full of challenges. An increasing threat environment coupled with an expanding attack surface has made it harder than ever to stay ahead of what can feel like a high-stakes race. This is due in part to the widespread availability of tools and technology used for cyber attacks today, as well as the proliferation of remote work, unsecured networks, and sophisticated malware and phishing techniques that continue to evolve.
According to the 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report from IBM, the global average cost of a data breach has reached $4.4 million. This represents a 10% increase over the previous year, the largest jump since the pandemic.
While proactive measures are effective at preventing many incidents, security remains a moving target for many businesses. It requires exhaustive diligence and regular evaluation to maintain site health.
Growing challenges require new solutions
In addition to the rapid digital acceleration of recent years, the evolving slate of cyber threats includes a list of risks both new and old. Adversaries are no longer just individuals in basements; they are often organized groups using advanced technology to scale their efforts.
The rise of Generative AI in cyber attacks
The emergence of Generative AI has provided cyber criminals with a powerful new toolset. Adversaries use AI to create more convincing phishing emails, automate the discovery of vulnerabilities, and even generate malicious code. This technology allows attackers to move faster and with more precision than ever before.
For example, AI-driven phishing attacks can be tailored to specific individuals with high levels of personalization, making them much harder to detect than traditional “spray and pray” methods. This shift requires businesses to look beyond basic security measures and adopt a managed platform for websites built on WordPress®¹ that integrates intelligent defense mechanisms.
Geopolitical disruptors and big game hunting
Recent years have seen an increase in malicious cyber activity as a result of global instability. Conflict and escalating tensions often lead to a rise in state-sponsored attacks affecting everything from individual companies to global supply chains. Furthermore, “big game hunting” continues to be a trend, where large businesses are targeted specifically because they are viewed as more likely to pay a higher ransom to resolve an attack.
Seemingly-endless exploits and vulnerabilities
While keeping software up to date is a basic security requirement, exploitable vulnerabilities continue to plague millions of websites every year. Sites built with WordPress are bolstered by updates to core software, plugins, and themes. However, other vulnerabilities extend beyond the codebase of a specific CMS, affecting web applications using many different systems.
An ineffective security strategy stands little chance against these persistent threats. It can drain budgets with costly remediation and derail plans for digital transformation. Some businesses choose to remain tied to out-of-date, legacy systems due to a belief that they are more secure than other options. This is a misconception, as open source software and WordPress specifically offer secure foundations on which the largest digital projects are built.With the right partner for hosting for websites built on WordPress, large-scale enterprises and small businesses alike can meet rigorous security benchmarks while leveraging the agility of open source to build fast, modern digital experiences.open source agility to build fast, modern digital experiences that reach audiences around the globe.
Find out more about WP Engine’s powerful WordPress security solutions here.
Proactive prevention: the key to secure sites
While a proactive security posture benefits any website, keeping WordPress®¹ sites secure is closely intertwined with keeping them up to date. The WordPress core software has matured over more than two decades. The global community of contributors, along with the WordPress Bug Bounty Program, plays an active role in flagging and patching vulnerabilities.
Professional plugin and theme authors also regularly update their software to provide patches when a bug is discovered. This allows users to secure their sites before they are affected. However, updates are only effective when they are put to use. A strategy for keeping WordPress®¹ core, plugins, and themes up to date is essential.
The most common types of attacks: causes and prevention
While threats continue to evolve, many types of attacks remain persistent, growing in sophistication and causing significant disruptions.
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack
A DDoS attack is a harmful attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a network or server by overwhelming the infrastructure with a flood of traffic. The goal is to make the system unable to respond to legitimate requests, effectively stopping a business from running.
- The cure: If a site experiences a DDoS attack, it may require defensive measures such as complicated DNS configurations or a proxy network to absorb the traffic. These are difficult to implement during an active attack.
- The prevention: One of the best ways to safeguard a site is to use a service like Cloudflare, which absorbs distributed attack traffic at the edge. WP Engine includes Layer 3 and 4 DDoS protection for all customers. For advanced protection, Global Edge Security offers a managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block attacks before they reach the server.
Malware and privilege escalation
Malware is malicious software designed to gain unauthorized access or cause damage. Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker gains access to a low-level account and then exploits a vulnerability to gain higher-level (administrative) permissions.
- The prevention: Keeping software updated is the first line of defense. WP Engine’s Smart Plugin Manager automates this process, ensuring that plugins are updated safely. WP Engine also performs regular malware scans and blocks known malicious scripts at the platform level.
Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM) attacks
In an AiTM attack, an adversary inserts themselves into a communication session between two parties, such as a user and a website. They can then steal sensitive information like login credentials or session tokens.The prevention: Implementing Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates is essential to encrypt data in transit. WP Engine provides automated SSL installation and management to ensure all traffic is encrypted. Furthermore, enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a critical layer of defense against identity-based intrusions.
The true cost of security incidents
The cost of a security incident involves many factors and changes based on the size of the business. Beyond the $4.88 million average financial loss, incidents leave a mark on a brand’s reputation that can manifest for years.
Lost time and engineering expenses
If a site is compromised, it requires “remediation and recovery” measures. This involves discovering how the attack took place, fixing the vulnerability, and recovering lost data. This often requires hiring expensive consultants or taking time away from internal teams. This impact affects the larger roadmap, as teams focus on recovery instead of optimization and growth.
Lost sales and regulatory fines
During an incident, a website may experience significant downtime. If customers cannot reach the site to purchase products or services, sales take an immediate hit. Furthermore, in some industries, security incidents come with heavy financial penalties. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) includes severe fines for businesses that fail to properly secure customer data.
Customer trust and loyalty
Perhaps the biggest cost is the loss of trust. Even if no data is stolen, the optics of a breach cause customers to lose faith. Many customers prefer to find a more reputable solution rather than risk their data in the future.
Secure your future with WP Engine
Failure to employ preventative measures leads to unhealthy outcomes. While the threat landscape will continue to grow, there are steps to take to beef up security practices. When a business partners with WP Engine, it gains the knowledge and expertise collected from more than a decade of hosting WordPress®¹ sites.
WP Engine provides everything needed to keep sites secure, from automatic plugin updates and SSL implementation to consistent monitoring by a team of experts. This expertise, combined with the scalability of the WP Engine Platform, gives businesses the power to create with WordPress®¹ securely.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a WAF and DDoS protection?
DDoS protection focuses on stopping high-volume traffic from overwhelming the network, while a Web Application Firewall (WAF) inspects individual requests to block malicious activity like SQL injection or cross-site scripting. WP Engine’s Global Edge Security provides both.
How does AI affect website security?
AI is a double-edged sword. Adversaries use it to automate attacks, but security providers like WP Engine and Cloudflare use it to detect patterns and block threats faster than human intervention could allow.
Is open source software secure?
Yes. Because the code is open, it is constantly reviewed by thousands of developers. When a vulnerability is found in WordPress®¹, the community works quickly to release a patch. This collective vigilance often makes it more secure than proprietary software.
Why is managed hosting better for security?
A Managed Platform for websites built on WordPress®¹ software takes the burden of security off the business. WP Engine handles core updates, daily backups, and real-time threat monitoring, allowing teams to focus on their core business goals.
Next steps
Download the full ebook to access a preventative security checklist and learn more about hardening your digital defenses. Ready to secure your site today? Speak with a WP Engine expert to learn about advanced security solutions.
[1] WP Engine is a proud member and supporter of the community of WordPress® users. The WordPress® trademark is the intellectual property of the WordPress Foundation. Uses of the WordPress® trademarks in this website are for identification purposes only and do not imply an endorsement by WordPress Foundation. WP Engine is not endorsed or owned by, or affiliated with, the WordPress Foundation.
