How to Build a Secure Squarespace Website (And Sleep Better at Night)
So, you've built a stunning Squarespace website, and everything's looking great. It’s sleek, stylish, and ready to show off to the world. But here's the thing—if you're not thinking about website security, you're missing a huge piece of the puzzle. A secure website isn't just about protecting your business; it’s about giving your visitors confidence that their personal information isn’t about to be sold to the dark web.
Cyber attacks, stolen data, and that ominous feeling that your site could go down at any second—it’s the stuff of nightmares. But no worries! We’re going to walk you through the steps to build a secure Squarespace website so you can focus on what you do best (you know, running your business and not screaming into the void because a hacker ruined your week).
Why Website Security Should Be a Top Priority
I know, I know—security feels like one of those things you probably don’t need to worry about until something bad happens. But waiting until your site gets hacked to think about security is like waiting for a flood before you start building an ark. Let’s avoid that disaster altogether.
Here’s why you should care:
Cybercriminals love an easy target. If your site isn’t secure, they’ll take that as an invitation.
Protecting user data is non-negotiable. Even if you only collect emails for a newsletter, keeping that information safe is essential for trust.
Google likes secure sites. Want to rank higher on search engines? Google rewards websites that take security seriously.
Your reputation’s on the line. If your site gets hacked, people will not only stop visiting—they’ll tell their friends. And not in a good way.
Now, let's make sure your site doesn’t become the next target for some cyber creep. Here’s your game plan:
1. Turn On SSL (No, Really, Do It Now)
If your site doesn’t have SSL encryption, then we need to talk. SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer, and it ensures that any data passing between your site and your visitors is encrypted. You’ve seen that little padlock icon next to URLs, right? That’s SSL doing its thing. Without it, your site is basically standing naked in front of the internet, and trust us, no one wants that.
Squarespace offers free SSL certificates for every domain, so enabling it takes about five seconds. Here’s how you do it:
Go to Settings in your Squarespace account.
Navigate to Developer Tools, then click SSL.
Select Secure (Preferred) and bask in the glory of having a secure site.
Boom! Now your site’s a fortress (or at least not a sitting duck).
2. Get Serious About Passwords (And No, ‘password123’ Doesn’t Count)
If you’re still using a password like “admin123,” we need to have a serious chat. A strong password is your first line of defense. You need something long, complex, and unique. Think 12+ characters with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. And no, your cat's name plus your birth year is not a good password.
If you’re overwhelmed at the thought of managing a dozen complicated passwords, welcome to the future: password managers. Tools like 1Password or LastPass make your life easier by generating and storing passwords, so you don’t have to.
3. Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
If passwords are your first line of defense, then Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is the secret weapon that keeps you a step ahead of hackers. Enabling 2FA means you (and only you) can log into your account because it requires a second layer of verification—usually a code sent to your phone or email.
To set up 2FA on Squarespace:
Click on your Profile Photo in the top right corner.
Navigate to Account and Security.
Click on Two-Factor Authentication.
Follow the prompts to set it up with your phone.
Congrats—you’ve just made it 10 times harder for anyone to mess with your site.
4. Don’t Forget About Updates (No, You Can’t Ignore Them)
Whether you're using third-party integrations or tools on your site, it’s vital to keep everything updated. Squarespace keeps its core features tight, but if you’ve got other plugins or extensions working in the background, neglecting updates can expose you to all sorts of vulnerabilities.
Check regularly for updates to integrations like email marketing tools, eCommerce add-ons, or social media widgets. If there’s a new version, hit that update button. Trust me—it’s easier than dealing with a security breach later.
5. Backup, Backup, Backup
While Squarespace does automatic backups, you’re better off having your own backup strategy in place—just in case. Download your content regularly and save it somewhere safe (like cloud storage via Google Drive or Dropbox). This way, if anything goes sideways, you can restore your site and move on with your life.
6. Monitor Your Website Activity
It’s one thing to set up security, but it’s another to stay vigilant. Regularly check your website’s activity, especially if you notice strange spikes in traffic or suspicious login attempts. You can use Squarespace’s analytics tools or set up Google Analytics to keep an eye on things.
If something seems off, don’t ignore it—dig in and figure out what’s happening. A little paranoia in this case goes a long way.
7. Limit Access—Not Everyone Needs the Keys
If you have a team, be mindful of who has access to your site. Squarespace allows you to set different permissions for contributors, so your junior marketing intern doesn’t accidentally delete your home page. Assign roles like Content Editor or Billing Admin based on what team members need access to, and keep the number of admins to a minimum.
To manage permissions:
Go to Settings.
Click Permissions.
Assign roles accordingly.
The fewer people who have full access, the safer your site will be.
8. Secure Your Payment Gateways (If You’re Selling, Keep It Safe)
If you run an online store on Squarespace, protecting your payment system is mission critical. Fortunately, Squarespace integrates with secure payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, which handle the heavy lifting when it comes to transaction security. Ensure your payment gateways are set up correctly and that your store is PCI compliant. This means you’re following industry standards for processing payments securely, keeping both your customers’ information and your business safe.
9. Add Custom Security Features
Squarespace offers several additional features that can further protect your site. For example:
Enable Login Activity Alerts so you’re notified if someone tries to log in from an unfamiliar device.
Add CAPTCHA to your forms to block spam bots.
These small additions can go a long way in keeping your site secure without much effort on your part.
Ready to Take It Up a Notch?
Building a secure Squarespace website doesn’t have to be a headache. By following these steps, you’re not just protecting your content—you’re protecting your brand and your visitors.
Still feeling overwhelmed or not sure if you've covered all your bases? Don’t sweat it—Elodie Cybersecurity has your back. Should you have questions about locking down your site, please reach out to our team. We're here to help you sleep better at night knowing your website is secure and hacker-proof.
Big thanks to Ashley Kesner, Director Creative Marketing & Culture of cherrystreetmarketing.com for this blog, and for the work she and her team are doing to create career opportunities for students, whilst helping people build way better businesses.