Website Security Audit: What Business Owners Need

43% of cyber attacks target small businesses (Verizon). Most of those businesses assumed they were too small to be a target. They weren’t.

A website security audit finds the vulnerabilities in your site before attackers do. It’s not a luxury reserved for enterprises with dedicated security teams. For SMEs handling customer data, processing payments, or simply trying to protect their reputation, it’s become essential.

This guide explains what a website security audit actually involves, what it costs, and how to determine whether your business needs one. No jargon. No scare tactics. Just practical information to help you make an informed decision.

What Is a Website Security Audit?

A website security audit is a systematic review of your site’s security posture. It examines how your site is built, how it handles data, what vulnerabilities exist, and how well protected you are against common attack methods.

Think of it as a health check for your digital presence. A doctor doesn’t wait until you’re seriously ill to recommend tests. Similarly, a security audit identifies problems before they become crises.

The audit process typically covers:

• Infrastructure review - How your hosting, SSL certificates, and server configuration stack up against security best practices
• Vulnerability scanning - Automated and manual testing to find known weaknesses in your software, plugins, and custom code
• Access control assessment - Who can access what, and whether those permissions are appropriate
• Data handling analysis - How sensitive information moves through your systems and where it’s stored
• Compliance check - Whether you meet relevant standards like GDPR, PCI DSS, or Cyber Essentials

The output is typically a report detailing what was found, how serious each issue is, and what needs to be fixed.

Why Your Business Needs a Security Audit

The average cost of a data breach for small businesses is £3,600 (UK Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024). That figure doesn’t include reputational damage, lost customers, or the time spent dealing with the aftermath.

Here’s what a security audit actually protects:

Your customers’ trust. 81% of consumers say they would stop engaging with a brand online after a data breach (Ping Identity). Once trust is broken, it’s expensive to rebuild.

Your search rankings. Google actively penalises sites flagged as unsafe. A hacked site can disappear from search results entirely, sometimes for months.

Your payment processing. If you handle card payments, a breach can result in your merchant account being suspended. No payments means no revenue.

Your legal standing. Under UK GDPR, you’re legally required to protect personal data. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to £17.5 million or 4% of annual turnover.

A security audit isn’t about fear. It’s about knowing where you stand and fixing problems while they’re still manageable.

Signs You Need a Security Audit Now

Some situations demand immediate attention. If any of these apply to your business, don’t wait for your annual review.

You’ve never had one. If your site has been running for more than a year without a security assessment, you’re overdue. Vulnerabilities accumulate over time, especially if your site uses third-party plugins or themes.

You’ve recently been hacked. A cleanup isn’t enough. Without understanding how attackers got in, you’re likely to be hit again. 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyber attack go out of business within six months (National Cyber Security Alliance). If you’re dealing with a compromised site right now, our WordPress recovery guide covers immediate steps.

You’re handling more sensitive data than before. Expanded your e-commerce operation? Our e-commerce security guide covers fraud prevention essentials. Started collecting customer information for a new service? Your security needs have changed.

Your site runs on WordPress. WordPress powers 43% of all websites (W3Techs), making it the most targeted platform for automated attacks. Our guide to WordPress security issues explains the common vulnerabilities. If you’re running WordPress, regular security audits aren’t optional.

You’re preparing for a tender or partnership. Increasingly, larger organisations require proof of security practices before doing business with smaller suppliers. A recent audit demonstrates due diligence.

You’ve added new functionality. Every new feature, plugin, or integration is a potential attack vector. Major changes warrant a fresh assessment.

What a Website Security Audit Covers

Not all audits are created equal. Here’s what a thorough assessment should include:

Technical Vulnerability Assessment

This is the core of any security audit. It involves scanning your site for known vulnerabilities using a combination of automated tools and manual testing.

Key areas examined:

• Outdated software - CMS versions, plugins, themes, and server software with known security flaws
• Injection vulnerabilities - SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other code injection risks
• Authentication weaknesses - Weak passwords, missing two-factor authentication, insecure login pages
• Configuration errors - Exposed admin panels, default credentials, misconfigured file permissions
• SSL/TLS issues - Certificate validity, protocol versions, cipher suite strength

Automated scanners catch the obvious issues. Manual testing catches the subtle ones that automated tools miss.

Security Header Analysis

Your server sends security headers with every page request. These headers tell browsers how to handle your content securely.

A proper audit checks for:

• Content Security Policy (CSP) - Prevents cross-site scripting and data injection attacks
• HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) - Forces secure connections
• X-Frame-Options - Prevents clickjacking attacks
• X-Content-Type-Options - Stops MIME type sniffing
• Referrer-Policy - Controls what information is shared with other sites

Missing or misconfigured headers are common findings. They’re also relatively easy to fix once identified.

Access Control Review

Who has access to your website’s admin panel? Who can modify content, install plugins, or access customer data?

The audit should examine:

• User accounts and roles - Are there accounts that shouldn’t exist? Users with more permissions than they need?
• Password policies - Are strong passwords enforced? Is there a lockout policy for failed attempts?
• Multi-factor authentication - Is MFA available? Is it required for admin access?
• Session management - How long do sessions last? Are they properly invalidated on logout?

Many breaches start with compromised admin credentials. Access control is often the weakest link.

Data Handling Assessment

If your site collects, stores, or processes personal data, this section is critical.

The audit examines:

• What data you collect - Is it necessary? Are you collecting more than you need?
• How it’s transmitted - Is all data transfer encrypted?
• Where it’s stored - Database security, backup procedures, encryption at rest
• Who can access it - Staff permissions, third-party access, data sharing
• Retention policies - How long do you keep data? How is it disposed of?

This overlaps with GDPR compliance but goes beyond the legal minimum to assess actual security practices.

Third-Party Risk Assessment

Your site probably relies on external services: payment processors, analytics, marketing tools, hosting providers. Each one represents a potential risk.

A thorough audit considers:

• What third parties have access to your data
• Their security practices and certifications
• Whether their integrations introduce vulnerabilities
• How you’d be affected if they were breached

The SolarWinds attack demonstrated how third-party compromises can cascade through supply chains. Your security is only as strong as your weakest vendor.

Website Security Audit Checklist

If you want to assess your own site’s security posture before commissioning a professional audit, here’s a starting point. This isn’t comprehensive, but it covers the essentials.

Infrastructure Basics

• SSL certificate installed and valid (check expiry date)
• HTTPS enforced on all pages (no mixed content warnings)
• Hosting provider has security certifications
• Regular backups configured and tested
• Server software and PHP version up to date

CMS and Software

• CMS updated to latest stable version
• All plugins and themes updated
• Unused plugins and themes removed
• Only plugins from reputable sources installed
• File permissions correctly configured

Access Control

• Default admin username changed
• Strong password policy enforced
• Two-factor authentication enabled for admin accounts
• User accounts reviewed (remove former staff, unused accounts)
• Admin area protected with additional authentication if possible

Security Configuration

• Security headers implemented (test at securityheaders.com)
• Login attempt limiting configured
• XML-RPC disabled if not needed (WordPress)
• Directory listing disabled
• Error messages don’t reveal sensitive information

Monitoring and Response

• Uptime monitoring in place
• Security monitoring or scanning scheduled
• Malware scanning configured
• Incident response plan documented
• Contact details for hosting provider’s security team available

This checklist helps identify obvious gaps. A professional audit goes deeper, testing how well these controls actually work under attack conditions.

Website Security Audit Cost

The cost of a website security audit varies significantly based on scope, depth, and who performs it.

DIY Scanning Tools

Cost: Free to £50/month

Basic vulnerability scanners like Sucuri SiteCheck, Qualys SSL Labs, or SecurityHeaders.com are free. They catch surface-level issues but miss anything that requires authenticated access or manual testing.

Suitable for: Quick checks between professional audits. Not a replacement for comprehensive testing.

Automated Audit Services

Cost: £100 to £500

Services like SiteLock, Wordfence (for WordPress), or Detectify run more comprehensive automated scans. They cover more ground than free tools and often include ongoing monitoring.

Suitable for: Small sites with limited budgets. Better than nothing, but still miss issues that require human judgment.

Professional Security Audit

Cost: £500 to £3,000

A professional audit by a security consultant or agency includes automated scanning plus manual testing, configuration review, and a detailed report with prioritised recommendations.

The price depends on site complexity. A 10-page brochure site costs less than an e-commerce platform with customer accounts and payment processing.

Suitable for: Most SMEs. The sweet spot between cost and thoroughness.

Penetration Testing

Cost: £2,000 to £15,000+

Penetration testing goes beyond audit. Ethical hackers actively attempt to breach your systems using the same techniques real attackers would use. This reveals vulnerabilities that scanning alone can’t find.

Suitable for: Businesses handling significant sensitive data, financial services, healthcare, or anyone with regulatory requirements for penetration testing.

What Affects the Price

Several factors influence what you’ll pay:

• Site size and complexity - More pages, features, and integrations mean more to test
• Technology stack - Custom applications require more manual analysis than standard CMS installations
• Depth of testing - Basic vulnerability scanning versus comprehensive manual testing
• Compliance requirements - Audits mapped to specific frameworks (PCI DSS, ISO 27001) take longer
• Remediation support - Some providers include help fixing issues; others just report them

The cheapest option isn’t always the worst value, but extremely low prices usually indicate automated-only testing with minimal human review.

How Often Should You Audit?

The right frequency depends on your risk profile and how quickly your site changes.

Minimum recommendation: Annual comprehensive audit plus quarterly automated scans.

Higher frequency needed if:

• Your site handles payment card data (PCI DSS may require quarterly scanning)
• You frequently add new features or integrations
• You operate in a regulated industry
• You’ve been targeted by attacks before
• Your site is business-critical (downtime means significant revenue loss)

After any major change:

• CMS major version upgrades
• New e-commerce functionality
• Significant plugin additions
• Infrastructure changes (new hosting, CDN, etc.)
• Merger, acquisition, or rebranding involving site changes

Security isn’t a one-time project. Threats evolve, software changes, and new vulnerabilities emerge constantly. Regular assessment is the only way to stay ahead.

What Happens After the Audit?

A security audit report is only valuable if you act on it. Here’s what should happen next:

1. Review and Prioritise

The report will categorise findings by severity. Critical and high-risk issues need immediate attention. Medium and low-risk items can be scheduled for later.

Don’t try to fix everything at once. Focus on what matters most.

2. Create an Action Plan

For each finding, determine:

• Who will fix it (internal team, developer, security specialist)
• What resources are needed
• Realistic timeline for completion
• How you’ll verify the fix worked

3. Implement Fixes

Work through the list systematically. Some fixes are simple configuration changes. Others require code modifications or architectural changes.

If you don’t have in-house expertise, this is where a security-focused development partner adds value. They can implement fixes correctly the first time.

4. Verify and Document

After implementing fixes, verify they actually work. Re-scan or retest the specific vulnerabilities that were identified.

Document what was done and when. This creates an audit trail for compliance purposes and helps with future assessments.

5. Establish Ongoing Monitoring

An audit is a snapshot in time. Continuous monitoring catches new issues as they emerge. At minimum, set up:

• Automated vulnerability scanning (weekly or monthly)
• Uptime and availability monitoring
• Malware detection
• Log monitoring for suspicious activity

Choosing a Security Audit Provider

If you’re commissioning a professional audit, here’s what to look for:

Relevant experience. Have they worked with sites similar to yours? A WordPress security specialist will find different issues than a generic IT auditor.

Clear methodology. They should explain what they’ll test and how. Vague promises of “comprehensive security assessment” aren’t enough.

Actionable deliverables. The report should include specific, prioritised recommendations you can actually implement. A list of findings without guidance isn’t helpful.

Remediation support. Can they help fix what they find, or do they just report problems? The best providers offer both assessment and remediation.

Ongoing relationship. Security isn’t one-and-done. Look for providers who offer ongoing monitoring, regular reassessment, and support as your needs evolve.

Appropriate certifications. Relevant credentials include CREST, CHECK, Cyber Essentials certification, or ISO 27001. These indicate formal security expertise.

Communication style. They should explain findings in terms you understand. If they can’t translate technical issues into business impact, they’re not the right fit.

In Summary…

A website security audit isn’t about paranoia. It’s about understanding your actual risk and making informed decisions about how to manage it.

For most SMEs, the question isn’t whether you can afford a security audit. It’s whether you can afford the consequences of not having one. A professional assessment typically costs less than a single day of downtime from a successful attack.

The businesses that take security seriously don’t wait until something goes wrong. They identify vulnerabilities proactively, fix them systematically, and build security into their ongoing operations.

Whether you start with a basic self-assessment using the checklist above or commission a comprehensive professional audit, the important thing is to start. Every vulnerability you find and fix is one less opportunity for attackers.

Need help assessing your site’s security? Three Lions Technology offers security audits designed for SMEs. We combine automated scanning with manual testing, deliver clear reports you can actually act on, and provide remediation support to fix what we find. No enterprise pricing, no jargon, no scare tactics.

Book a free consultation →

Key Resources:

• NCSC Small Business Guide
• Cyber Essentials Certification
• Security Headers Test
• Sucuri SiteCheck

References:

• Verizon (2024). “Data Breach Investigations Report.” Analysis of 30,000+ security incidents.
• UK Government (2024). “Cyber Security Breaches Survey.” Annual survey of UK businesses.
• Ping Identity (2024). “Consumer Attitudes Toward Digital Security.” Survey of 3,400 consumers.
• W3Techs (2024). “Usage Statistics of Content Management Systems.” Web technology surveys.
• National Cyber Security Alliance. “Small Business Cyber Attack Statistics.”