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The security of your WordPress website is becoming increasingly important as the digital age continues to mature. As security evolves in tandem with technological advancements, failing to keep up with the latest developments leaves your site open to unnecessary risks.
Two-factor authentication has been around since 2013 to add an extra layer of security to the login process. This means a password and an authorization code are required for your phone (by SMS) or email account to log in to your site.
Implemented by Google and Twitter, it has become an extra layer of website security for users’ peace of mind. Two-factor authentication will likely become more widespread as more businesses understand why it’s a valuable security measure.
How Two-Factor Authentication Works
Since WordPress is a popular platform powering approximately 25% of all websites, security vulnerabilities are inevitable. They are prone to hacker attempts, such as brute force attacks.
Brute-force attacks refer to the trial-and-error method of trying multiple username and password combinations until a successful combination is discovered. As WordPress doesn’t limit the number of login attempts you can make before being locked out of your account, bots can use brute force to gain access through your login page.
Even if the bots don’t gain access to your website, an unusually high frequency of login attempts can overload your system, leading to suspension from your hosting platform (particularly if you’re on a shared hosting plan).
A simple way to prevent brute-force attacks from being successful is to require a secondary step in the login process where the user has to verify their identity. This method is known as two-factor authentication
The system requires the user to enter the correct login details (typically a username and password). Once this stage has been successful, a unique passcode will be sent to the registered user’s mobile device or email account. The user must then enter this time-sensitive code to complete the log-in successfully.
Having two stages of identity verification makes it much harder for a hacker to access your website.
Things to take into consideration before implementing two-factor authentication
Implementing two-factor authentication is a no-brainer. One thing to consider is that you’ll need to provide training for your employees or anybody else who accesses the site so that they don’t end up locked out of their accounts. As some of your users may find it cumbersome to use a second device or account each time they want to log in, you will need to reinforce why it’s an important security measure to take.
Since security continues to be the most prevalent issue for businesses of all shapes and sizes, it’s essential to reduce unnecessary risks by implementing extra security measures and keeping them updated. Two-factor authentication is an excellent start to keeping your customer’s sensitive information safe by adding a layer of security to your WordPress website.
Keeping your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated and secure is incredibly important to the overall success of your business. For complete peace of mind, you may outsource your website security to somebody with the necessary expertise, such as WP Tech Support.
At WP Tech Support, your website’s security is our priority, and we know exactly what we’re looking for regarding site vulnerabilities. We can implement measures like two-factor authentication to improve your current security level and back up your entire website to our secure cloud server daily. Look at our WordPress Maintenance Plans to find the one best suited to your requirements.