Is your website reliably secured? Is the website delayed for launch because of timing? Does the website have the correct messaging?
If you own a WordPress website, you might be right to be worried about WordPress security issues. The site remains a popular target for hackers especially due to its extensibility. Most alarming is that your site is often at risk as you engage with the WordPress themes or plugins. Specifically, your WordPress website is vulnerable to brute force attacks, file inclusion exploits, SQL injections, and cross-site scripting.
Risk Assessment Matrix Explained
A Risk Assessment Matrix is an assessment tool that checks on the probability of risk against the category of the severity of consequence. It is an integral part of the qualitative and quantitative risk analysis process that ensures that you do not waste your efforts when troubleshooting. The matrix yields a risk response plan that ensures you have a corrective action plan that takes on any potential risk.
Possible Risks Encountered During the Building of a WordPress Website
WordPress powers 35% of all the websites on the internet. Its flexibility and modularity continue to attract companies, professionals and individuals to the platform. Most probable, you have felt compelled to sign up with the provider, especially with the plugins and services provided to you.
Still, as a WordPress site manager, you probably preview to the possible risks that are associated with being on the most popular website building environment. These include:
Brute Force Attacks
Hackers can try to get backdoor entry into your WordPress website by trying multiple usernames and password combinations until they get a successful set. On your WordPress login screen, the attacker can then have access to your website, introducing malware. These backdoor attempts make for an ever-present risk, especially since WordPress does not restrict the number of login trials.
2. Malware
A potential risk during the building of your WordPress website is the introduction of malicious software that can gain unauthorized access to your website. Hackers often inject this code into the website’s file which gives them access to the site’s private data.
3. Cross-Site Scripting
While making your WordPress website, you are vulnerable to hijacking via cross-site scripting. Specifically, the hacker entices the site manager to load web pages that contain harmful code scripts. If you go ahead to input any data into the website, your data can easily be stolen.
4. SQL Injections
Attackers can gain access to your WordPress website through the WordPress database. By manipulating the SQL code, attackers can insert new data into your database, which could introduce spam messages into your website.
5. File Inclusion Exploits
While building your WordPress Website, you are vulnerable to remote loading of files that allow an attacker to access your site.
Harnessing the Potential of Risk Assessment Matrixes in the Creation of Your Website
Employing a Risk Assessment Matrix has moral, legal and financial benefits. To fully take advantage of the tool, you should design a comprehensive risk assessment matrix that:
1. Identifies the hazard
Relating to the security of your WordPress website, you should brainstorm over any potential hazards. This could include inspecting why the site is delayed for the launch because of timing or understanding why the site doesn’t have the correct messaging.
2. Calculates likelihood
You measure the likelihood of a hack or the introduction of malware in percentage. This results in a bracket of five probabilities. The highest probability is definite where there is 90 to 199 percent likelihood of the risk while unlikely hazards represent less than 10 percent likelihood.
3. Calculates the consequences
Your risk assessment matrix should include a calculation of the potential loss you will face.
4. Calculates risk rating
It would be best if you assign a corresponding risk rating to each of the hazards you identified in step one. Notably, this risk rating is based on your own opinion based on how likely the risk is and its consequences.
5. Creates an action plan
For your WordPress website, your action plan should include what steps you have in mind to address the risk and its impact. This action plan is often based on the severity of the projected risk.
6. Plugs the data into the matrix
You should then input this data into the risk assessment matrix, which then provides you with a tool that pinpoints the most probable risks at a glance.
WordPress remains the world’s most popular website running on a CMS platform. While the company works with approximately two dozen programs to safeguard you from hackers and has dedicated support staff to deal with security concerns, you are still vulnerable to threats, especially SQL injections. Risk assessment ensures that your website keeps up with current website technologies and trends. Consider trying out niche WordPress Plugins in combination with regular backups, which provides you as the site administrator security through obscurity.
