Website Security Checklist for Canadian Small Businesses

Security needs an operating routine

A website can be visually complete and still be exposed by outdated software, shared administrator accounts, weak recovery planning, leaked credentials, insecure integrations, or unmonitored forms.

What to prioritize

• Keep the CMS, plugins, themes, frameworks, dependencies, and server software supported and patched.
• Use unique accounts, strong authentication, least privilege, and multi-factor authentication where available.
• Maintain tested backups with a recovery process that is documented and owned.
• Protect forms, API keys, secrets, and administrative routes from unnecessary exposure.
• Monitor uptime, errors, suspicious activity, certificate health, and unexpected content changes.

A practical implementation path

1. Inventory

   List hosting, domains, accounts, integrations, software versions, secrets, and owners.

2. Reduce exposure

   Remove unused software and accounts, patch supported components, and tighten permissions.

3. Prepare recovery

   Test backups, document contacts, and rehearse the first actions after a security incident.

Measure useful outcomes

Track patch age, backup success, restore tests, access reviews, certificate status, security alerts, spam volume, and incident response time. For sensitive systems, use qualified security review appropriate to the risk.