Is Your Website Secure – Or Just Online?
For many small businesses across Plymouth and the wider South West, having a live website feels like a job done. But here’s the truth: being “online” doesn’t mean being secure.
At Fresh Digital Media, we’ve worked with dozens of local businesses and many international ones whose websites looked fine on the surface but were quietly leaking data, redirecting leads, or scaring away customers due to hidden vulnerabilities. It’s time to change the way business owners think about web security, and to act before the damage is done.
Why Website Security Should Be a Business Priority
Website security isn’t just an IT problem. It’s a business problem. A compromised site can:
- Leak your customer data and violate GDPR
- Be blacklisted by Google, wiping out your search rankings
- Redirect visitors to spam or competitor websites
- Destroy hard-earned trust with potential clients
The cost of these failures goes beyond a simple fix. Lost leads, reputational damage, and downtime can cripple operations. According to a 2024 report by the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 32% of businesses reported cybersecurity breaches or attacks in the past 12 months, and that figure rises to 59% for medium-sized businesses. Yet, most of these risks are preventable with proactive security measures.
A Plymouth Business Case: When Good Sites Go Rogue
One Plymouth-based business contacted us after noticing a dramatic drop in online enquiries. Their contact form looked normal, but we discovered it had been modified by a former employee to redirect every submission to a personal email account. For three months, every customer message bypassed the business entirely.
Another local client found their domain had expired and was quickly purchased by a third party. Visitors to their site were met with popups and phishing scams – an SEO and brand nightmare. In another case, a South West builder had his WordPress site infected with malicious code through an outdated plugin. The result? The site loaded slowly, tripped browser security warnings, and caused a 70% drop in quote requests within a week.
These aren’t technical one-offs. They’re examples of how lack of routine checks and a false sense of security can cost real money.
Where Small Businesses Are Most at Risk
Based on our experience providing WordPress security, and several other platforms, in Plymouth and Devon, these are the top vulnerabilities we see:
- Outdated plugins and themes: Common entry points for malware.
- No SSL certificate: Essential for trust and search engine rankings.
- Weak passwords or shared admin access.
- Forms without spam protection or validation.
- No backups or security scans in place.
- Default login URLs and no two-factor authentication.
- Excessive plugin use without regular audits.
- Insecure web hosting environments (especially on shared hosting).
Even websites built by professional developers can become vulnerable if they’re not maintained. That’s why ongoing monitoring and routine patching are essential, especially for WordPress sites that rely on third-party components.
SEO and Security: A Hidden Link
Google rewards fast, secure, and trustworthy websites. It punishes those that appear compromised. If your site:
- Loads slowly due to injected scripts
- Shows malware warnings
- Lacks HTTPS (secure encryption)
- Is flagged as deceptive or harmful
…your rankings will fall. Even worse, users will leave immediately. One site we helped in South Devon saw its bounce rate jump to over 90% after being flagged as deceptive. Their Google Ads campaign was suspended, and they lost valuable leads as a result.
Security isn’t just about protection – it’s about visibility and credibility. It supports Core Web Vitals, reduces bounce rates, and increases the time users spend engaging with your site. If you’re investing in SEO, it’s critical not to let security undermine your gains.
What You Can Do Today to Make your Website Secure
You don’t need to be a tech expert to secure your site. Here are 7 steps we recommend to every client:
- Change admin login details and hide your login page.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
- Install a reputable security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri.
- Set up daily off-site backups with version history.
- Update plugins, themes, and your CMS regularly.
- Add CAPTCHA to forms to stop spam and injection attempts.
- Schedule a monthly security scan and audit with a trusted agency.
Many of these are included in our Website Maintenance Packages for Plymouth businesses. We can also advise on choosing secure hosting, domain management, and email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
Why Work With a Local Partner
Fresh Digital Media is not just a web agency – we’re your partner in digital protection. We work with businesses throughout Plymouth, Devon, and Cornwall to ensure their websites aren’t just live, but resilient.
Unlike generic hosting platforms or one-size-fits-all security tools, we offer hands-on support, ongoing audits, and proactive monitoring. Our team understands the platforms local businesses rely on (especially WordPress), and we act fast when issues arise.
We also understand the importance of clear communication. You won’t get baffled with technical jargon, we provide simple, actionable advice tailored to your business goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my site has been hacked? Look out for sudden traffic drops, browser warnings, unexpected popups, slow performance, or redirects to unrelated pages. If in doubt, get a professional website audit.
Can I secure my own WordPress website? You can improve security by keeping plugins up to date, using strong passwords, and installing a security plugin. However, without technical knowledge, it’s easy to overlook critical risks, that’s why professional support is highly recommended.
What does a website security audit include? Our audits assess plugin vulnerabilities, hosting configuration, form security, domain status, SSL, user access control, and more. We provide a clear, jargon-free report with next steps.
Is website security a one-off job? No. It’s an ongoing process. Threats evolve, and so must your defences. That’s why we recommend monthly checks and long-term maintenance.
Contact us Today for a Secure Website
If you’re not 100% sure your site is secure, let’s change that. We offer a confidential website security review for businesses in Plymouth and the South West.
📲 Message us directly on WhatsApp: 07928 963422
📧 Or email: info@freshdigitalmedia.co.uk
Let’s make sure your first impression online is a safe one
Author Details
Mark Field is the Founder and Director of Fresh Digital Media. With more than two decades of experience in web design and digital strategy, Mark has helped hundreds of businesses improve their online presence. As a Google-certified specialist, he leads a team of talented designers and developers based in Plymouth, with clients across the UK. Mark’s mission is to combine creativity with performance-led solutions to deliver real results.
