Threats to Enterprise Websites and How to Mitigate Them
The biggest security threats to enterprise WordPress are phishing and human error. Learn the best practices to protect your digital assets.
Table of Contents
Today, software becomes obsolete and insecure in relatively short order, driving the need for timely updates. Fortunately, zero-day exploits are very rare, and software vendors issue security patches quickly. According to Verizon, phishing attacks and human error are the highest risks. These two sources currently account for 68% of all breaches.
WordPress powers over 43% of all websites globally and over 60% of all websites using a content management system (CMS). Within that universe — hundreds of millions of sites — WordPress powers 26% of the top 100,000 and 25% of the top 10,000. Such popularity and market dominance make WordPress a prime target for cyberattacks and the scene for much potential human error.
What are the Biggest Threats?
Enterprise web applications and sites have many potential targets. These range from third-party platforms and dependencies to server, application, and user-level vulnerabilities.
- Third-party services like Stripe, Salesforce, and Google Analytics can expose critical data. This is a significant risk in enterprise environments with complex third-party service interactions.
- Misconfigurations in hosting environments, such as outdated server software, open ports, and weak file permissions, increase the attack surface. This is a significant risk to the integrity of web servers and applications like WordPress.
- Core application vulnerabilities are rare but significant. In the past 21 years, they have accounted for only 2% of all vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem. The WordPress core security team has detected most of them and quickly issued patches. However, end users must apply them. Enterprise agencies and hosting partners deploy core security updates rapidly when they become available, so their role is essential.
- Plugins and themes accounted for 97% and 3% of all vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem in 2023, respectively (Patchstack). These third-party dependencies can expose enterprise sites to attack if they are not diligently selected, monitored, and updated.
- Phishing and human error account for 68% of all breaches (Verizon). Phishing attacks target key users with social engineering and rely on victims making mistakes. Additionally, security configuration and management lapses may increase the scope of the harm done in a breach.
Two common human errors inside enterprise organizations increase the possibility of a breach and pose significant operational risks:
- Improper user role configuration, such as over-assigning permissions, increases the risk of unauthorized access; limiting roles to necessary permissions and conducting regular audits ensures tighter control.
- Poor password practices by users expose sites to being compromised by brute-force and credential-stuffing attacks when two-factor authentication (2FA) and other security measures are not used.
Enterprise Security Solutions for WordPress
Large WordPress deployments for the enterprise require technical and procedural layers of security directed by an overall strategy and backed by practical policies.
- Multisite management requires centralized security policies, version control, and separate development/staging/production environments. This allows updates to be safely tested and rolled back if necessary.
- Compliance requirements mandate security measures like comprehensive audit logging and data handling procedures specified in regulatory frameworks like SOC 2 and the GDPR.
- Change control requires formal review procedures for updates, deployment documentation, and automated notifications for security events.
- Vendor security is established through requirements for third-party integrations, regular audits, and incident response plans that include vendor coordination.
Choose an Enterprise Hosting Provider
Choose a hosting provider with infrastructure engineered for security and performance at scale. Enterprise hosting provides fast, reliable, secure network and server infrastructure, data centers, cloud-based applications, and other managed services. You should expect and require per-site/system user isolation of processes in a fully containerized and hardened application/server environment that leverages an immutable file system. Multiple upstream layers of security and tools or support for maintenance, backups, and recovery are standard enterprise features.
In partnership with an enterprise host and agency partner, you will have the team you need to define and implement the security solutions your organization needs. They will help you:
- Establish a reliable software update management system
- Diligently manage users and access privileges
- Harden your server and application environment
Finally, you'll need to establish an incident response plan and train your teams to be alert for potential breaches and attempts to compromise your systems. Knowing how to recognize and contain breaches, analyze the root cause, and maintain business continuity can be the difference between your company brushing off a minor annoyance and a major disaster. Integrate the best practices with existing security frameworks for compliance and protection.
Security for Enterprise WordPress — with Multidots
Security should never be ignored for enterprise and publishing websites. Multidots delivers all-in-one website maintenance and optimization services so your WordPress investment remains secure and performant.
Major companies trust Multidots because they understand the unique security demands of content-heavy WordPress sites.
Multidots incorporates the best security practices into every client project. Our services include application and database security hardening with ongoing proactive maintenance. By partnering with Multidots, enterprises gain peace of mind knowing their WordPress sites are protected against ever-evolving security threats.
Secure Your Site Today
Protecting your digital assets is a necessary, ongoing responsibility. As threats escalate, prioritizing security is essential for protecting your enterprise.
Multidots is your trusted partner for mission-critical WordPress sites. Our expert team will assess your unique security needs and implement a tailored strategy to fortify your website against evolving threats.
Trust us, it's better to be proactive than reactive. So don’t wait for a breach to compromise your business – schedule a consultation with Multidots and build a strong defense for your WordPress site!
Schedule a consultation call and discuss your migration requirements.
Contact Us
