Black Friday / Cyber Monday Prep: Checklists for Website Security, Performance, and Monitoring

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, ensuring your website is ready to handle the surge in traffic is crucial. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare your website for these major sales events, focusing on security, performance, and monitoring.

Website Security Checklist

1. Update Software and Plugins

• Ensure your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are updated to the latest versions.
• Remove any unused or outdated plugins to minimize security vulnerabilities.

2. SSL Certificate

• Verify that your SSL certificate is active and configured correctly.
• Check the expiration date of your SSL certificate to avoid any sudden issues. Use tools like the WPMissionControl SSL Checker to ensure everything is in order.

3. Firewall and Security Plugins

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic.
• Install security plugins such as Wordfence or Sucuri to add an extra layer of protection.

4. Backup Your Website

• Schedule regular backups and store them in multiple locations (e.g., cloud storage, local storage).
• Test your backups to ensure they can be restored without issues.

5. Strong Password Policies

• Enforce strong passwords for all user accounts.
• Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.

Website Performance Checklist

1. Optimize Images and Media

• Compress images and use the correct file formats to reduce load times.
• Implement lazy loading for images and videos.

2. Caching

• Enable browser caching and server-side caching to improve load times.
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute content globally and reduce server load.

3. Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML

• Minify and combine CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files to reduce file sizes.
• Remove any unused code to streamline your site’s performance.

4. Database Optimization

• Clean up your database by removing unnecessary data such as post revisions, spam comments, and transient options.
• Use plugins like WP-Optimize or WP Rocket for database optimization.

5. Test Load Times

• Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, and Pingdom to test your site’s load times.
• Address any issues highlighted by these tools to improve performance.

6. Scalability

• Ensure your hosting plan can handle increased traffic. Consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan if necessary.
• Test your site’s scalability using load testing tools like Loader.io or k6.

Website Monitoring Checklist

1. Uptime Monitoring

• Set up uptime monitoring to receive alerts if your website goes down.
• Use services like UptimeRobot, Pingdom, or WPMissionControl to monitor your site’s availability.

2. Performance Monitoring

• Monitor your site’s performance in real-time to identify and fix issues quickly.
• Use tools like New Relic or Google Analytics for performance monitoring.

3. Traffic Analysis

• Monitor traffic patterns to understand peak times and user behavior.
• Use Google Analytics to gain insights into your site’s performance and user engagement.

Final Preparations

• Conduct a Full Audit
  • Perform a comprehensive audit of your website to ensure all security, performance, and monitoring measures are in place.
  • Address any remaining issues before the sales events begin.
• Prepare a Contingency Plan
  • Have a contingency plan in place in case of unexpected issues. This should include contact information for your hosting provider, developers, and support team.
  • Ensure your team is aware of the plan and knows their roles and responsibilities.

By following these checklists, you can ensure your website is secure, performs well, and is thoroughly monitored during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Preparing in advance will help you handle the influx of traffic and maximize your sales opportunities.