Pillar
Best Web Design Practices in 2026
The web design practices that still move the needle in 2026: speed, clarity, accessibility, and pages that answer the query in the first screen.
Security · 8 min
Website security essentials
Security for a marketing site is mostly hygiene: encryption, headers, least privilege, backups, and not installing random plugins. You do not need a red-team theatre to be a responsible UK business.
The launch minimum
- HTTPS everywhere (Let’s Encrypt is fine). No mixed content.
- Headers: CSP, nosniff, frame denial, referrer policy, HSTS once HTTPS is stable.
- Forms: CSRF token, honeypot, server-side validation, no file uploads unless you truly need them.
- Secrets: no API keys in public JavaScript. No
.envin git. - Updates: PHP version current, CMS and plugins patched, unused themes deleted.
- Backups: automated, off-server, tested restore.
WordPress-specific risk
Most defacements we see are abandoned plugins and admin/admin culture. Limit login attempts, 2FA, disable file editing in the dashboard, and do not give authors administrator. Or skip WordPress — our default PHP stack has a smaller attack surface for brochure sites.
What security is not
A padlock badge in the footer. An expensive “military grade” plugin. Hiding your email with JavaScript (spammers still find forms). Security theatre that slows LCP without reducing risk.
Pair this with GDPR (data you should not keep cannot leak) and technical SEO (malware listings destroy rankings). We implement the headers and form hardening on every build — request a review.
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