Most website attacks aren't a person deliberately targeting your Jacksonville business — they're automated bots scanning millions of sites for known, unpatched vulnerabilities. Being small doesn't make you invisible to that kind of scan. Here's the checklist worth actually going through.

Keep everything updated — core, plugins, and themes

The majority of website compromises exploit a known vulnerability in outdated software, not some sophisticated novel attack. Staying current on updates closes off the easiest and most common path in.

Use strong, unique credentials — and limit who has them

Weak or reused passwords remain one of the most common ways a site gets compromised. Use a password manager, enable two-factor authentication where available, and remove admin access for anyone who no longer needs it.

An active SSL certificate is non-negotiable

Beyond the browser warning an unsecured site triggers, SSL encrypts data moving between your visitor and your server — essential for any form submission, and non-negotiable for anything involving payment.

Back up regularly, and actually verify the backups work

A backup you've never tested restoring isn't a real safety net. Confirm your backups are current and that you (or your host) actually know how to restore from one before you ever need to.

A web application firewall catches what you can't watch for manually

A firewall filters malicious traffic before it ever reaches your site — blocking common attack patterns automatically, rather than relying on you to notice something's wrong after the fact.

Know what normal looks like, so you notice when it isn't

Unexpected admin accounts, unfamiliar files, or a sudden traffic spike to strange URLs are all signs worth investigating immediately. The businesses that catch a compromise early are usually the ones who knew their site's normal behavior well enough to notice the deviation.