In 2025, choosing secure web hosting is precisely essential. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, your website’s first line of defense is your hosting provider. Do you want to launch a small business site, manage a blog, or deploy client applications? Understanding core hosting security features could be the difference between protection and disaster.

Recent cybersecurity data paints a sobering picture. In early 2025, a coordinated brute-force attack using over 2.8 million IPs targeted VPNs and firewall systems around the world. Ransomware has surged by 84% year-over-year, now accounting for nearly one-third of all cyberattacks. Even more alarming, 70% of those attacks targeted small and medium-sized businesses. This proves that no one is too small to be targeted. Meanwhile, phishing scams, many powered by AI, have risen over 1,200%, now making up nearly 40% of all email-based threats.

In this guide, we’ll break down the web hosting protection features you need to look for. This includes firewalls, malware scanning, SSL encryption, and two-factor authentication. These security essentials help you protect your site, your users, and your business reputation. If you’re comparing providers, these features should be non-negotiable in any secure web hosting package.

SSL Certificates

If you’re building a blog or running a small business, having SSL protection in place protects your website from modern threats. Top providers like Hostinger, Bluehost, HostGator, Cloudways, HostArmada, Namecheap, and Liquid Web all offer free SSL certificates, with most enabling them automatically. Should you want truly hands-free website security, look for hosting with malware scanner support and automatic SSL renewals.

Hosts like HostArmada and Hostinger provide unlimited free SSLs with easy setup, whilst Namecheap’s SSL is free for just the first year. Developers may prefer Cloudways or Liquid Web for flexible SSL and manual control. When evaluating hosting security features, prioritise SSL, malware scanning, and firewall integration as core parts of your web hosting protection. If you want a secure padlock in your browser bar, choose a host that puts security first right from the start.

DDoS Protection

DDoS protection is a critically important hosting security feature. These attacks overwhelm your website with fake traffic, causing downtime or crashes, even on small business or personal sites. Secure web hosting providers use multiple layers of protection to keep your site safe. This includes firewalls, smart traffic filters, and systems that automatically block harmful requests before they can reach your server.

Top hosts like Hostinger, Bluehost, and Namecheap include basic DDoS protection in shared plans. Cloudways and Liquid Web offer advanced filtering on cloud and VPS hosting. HostArmada and HostGator combine WAF, IP blocking, and machine-learning to boost website security.

If you want reliable hosting with solid DDoS defense, choose providers that actively monitor threats and support scale. For developers or businesses, VPS and cloud plans offer stronger, more flexible security layers.

Firewalls (WAF)

Firewalls are a key part of any secure web hosting setup. Hardware firewalls guard your server at the network level. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), on the other hand, work at the application level, filtering out dangerous requests like SQL injections or cross-site scripting. A good WAF ensures only safe traffic reaches your website. It’s an essential feature for beginners, developers, and small businesses.

Most leading providers now include WAFs in their shared or managed plans. Hostinger combines hardware firewalls with a custom WAF for bot filtering and injection defense. Cloudways offers Imunify360-based WAF across all plans, blocking OWASP-level threats automatically. Bluehost and HostGator both rely on SiteLock and ModSecurity for threat filtering. HostArmada integrates AI-powered WAF in its shared and VPS tiers. Liquid Web provides one-click WAF setup in managed plans, whilst Namecheap adds WAF functionality through PremiumDNS. When comparing hosting security features, WAF support is a must-have for strong, reliable website security.

Malware Scanning and Removal Tools

Malware remains a major threat to websites in 2025. It often hides in outdated plugins or vulnerable scripts. These infections can steal sensitive data, harm your SEO, or redirect visitors to unsafe sites without warning. That’s why modern hosting security features now include automated malware scanning.

Secure web hosting providers use tools like Imunify360 and SiteLock to monitor your files, detect threats, and remove malware in real time. This proactive approach is far more reliable than manual cleanup, which can miss hidden code.

Hostinger offers built-in malware scanning via Imunify360 on most plans. Bluehost, HostArmada, and HostGator also bundle scanners with cleanup support. Cloudways and Liquid Web support third-party tools, whilst Namecheap includes only basic scanning on shared hosting.

Choosing hosting with malware scanner support ensures consistent website security, even for beginners. In case you’re running a blog or managing clients, this layer of web hosting protection is essential.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for Admin Access

Relying solely on a password to protect your hosting account is no longer enough. Two-factor authentication (2FA) helps keep your hosting account secure by adding a second step to the login process. After entering your password, you’ll need to enter a time-sensitive code sent to your phone, app, or email. This protects your website from brute-force attacks and account hijacks, which makes it a must-have for secure web hosting.

Most major providers now offer 2FA, even on shared hosting. Hostinger and HostArmada let you secure your login using an authenticator app, whilst Bluehost and HostGator default to email codes for added protection. Cloudways provides app-based 2FA and SMS backup, which gives developers more flexibility. Namecheap stands out with support for security keys (U2F/WebAuthn), and Liquid Web’s portals also support authenticator apps. If you’re managing sensitive data or client sites, enabling 2FA is one of the simplest and most effective hosting security features available today. Always turn it on.

Account Isolation

One of the most critical hosting security features is account isolation; particularly for shared hosting users. Providers like Hostinger, Bluehost, HostGator, Namecheap, and HostArmada use CloudLinux OS with CageFS and LVE to “cage” each user’s files and limit resource usage. This prevents one compromised site from affecting others on the same server.

Cloudways takes it further with application-level isolation on cloud instances. Liquid Web (via Nexcess) uses containerized environments to keep every WordPress site in its own secure silo. These methods protect performance, enhance website security, and minimize the risk of cross-account threats. If you’re running a basic blog or managing client websites, account isolation ensures your hosting environment stays stable; even when other users run into issues. Are you a beginner or a developer? Going with a provider with strong isolation and web hosting protection is key to building a secure web hosting foundation from day one.

Automated Daily Backups

Daily backups are a critical part of any secure web hosting plan. Having automated backups ensures you can recover quickly from crashes, hacks, or user errors. Most top providers include daily backups on select plans. HostArmada stands out with 7–21 days of remote backups included on all plans. Cloudways lets you set custom frequencies (even hourly) and stores backups off-site. Hostinger and Namecheap offer daily backups on higher tiers, whilst Bluehost and HostGator bundle CodeGuard with premium plans.

Liquid Web’s managed servers include 30-day rolling backups with off-server storage. Look for retention length, off-site storage, and one-click restoration when comparing hosts. Besides protecting files, backups ensure uptime, reputation, and peace of mind. Choose a host with strong hosting security features like daily backups, web hosting protection, and real-time restore tools.

Secure FTP (SFTP/FTPS)

Plain FTP is outdated and insecure. It sends your files and login details without encryption, exposing them to cyberattacks. In contrast, SFTP and FTPS encrypt your file transfers, protecting your credentials and keeping your site safe. If you care about hosting security features and reliable website security, secure FTP hosting is a must.

As of 2025, most top hosts support encrypted transfers. Hostinger, Bluehost, HostGator, Cloudways, and Namecheap all offer SFTP via SSH across shared and VPS plans. HostArmada and Liquid Web also support SFTP/FTPS through cPanel or Plesk. These secure options ensure your site stays protected, even during uploads.

Being a beginner or a developer, choosing a host with SFTP access adds a key layer of web hosting protection. Make sure your provider offers secure FTP hosting before going live. If you want help setting it up, most dashboards offer one-click SFTP access. Or just ask support for quick setup help.

Patch Management and Server Updates

Timely software updates are a very part of hosting security features. Be it your server’s OS, PHP version, or WordPress core, staying current protects against known vulnerabilities and ensures secure web hosting.

In 2025, most top providers handle this for you. Hostinger offers automatic WordPress and plugin updates with rollback options via hPanel. Cloudways includes kernel-level patching and vulnerability scanning, with SafeUpdates for WordPress testing. Bluehost and HostGator auto-patch server software and support PHP switching via cPanel. Namecheap relies on cPanel’s EasyApache for updates, with auto-patching on shared plans. HostArmada uses CloudLinux and hardened PHP for hands-off security patching. Liquid Web provides nightly updates, kernel patching, and plugin control through Nexcess or Acronis tools.

Choosing managed hosting with proactive patching ensures better website security. If you’re a developer who needs version control or a beginner seeking web hosting protection, these features will make your site safer automatically.

Spam and Email Filtering

Email attacks remain a common entry point for phishing, malware, and compromised logins. This makes strong spam filtering a must-have for secure web hosting. Top hosts include built-in protections and offer advanced add-ons to strengthen your web hosting protection. Check out the following:

• Hostinger includes free email hosting with spam filters, SPF, and DKIM to boost website security.
• Cloudways doesn’t offer built-in email, but integrates easily with Google Workspace or SpamExperts for secure email hosting.
• Bluehost includes basic spam tools and supports enterprise add-ons like Google Workspace for business-grade filtering.
• HostGator provides cPanel-based filtering via SpamAssassin and BoxTrapper, plus SpamExperts as a premium upgrade.
• Namecheap enables spam filtering on shared plans and supports outbound filtering with its PremiumDNS and SpamExperts integrations.
• HostArmada includes SpamAssassin and supports SpamExperts for growing businesses.
• Liquid Web provides professional email services with built-in filtering, malware scanning, and optional SpamExperts protection.

Conclusion

Over 70% of cyberattacks now target small and medium businesses, and nearly 40% of email threats are AI-powered phishing attempts. The stakes are real. If your web host doesn’t offer firewalls, daily backups, malware scanning, SSL, and 2FA, you’re exposed. Leading providers like Hostinger, Cloudways, Bluehost, HostGator, Namecheap, HostArmada, and Liquid Web offer these features across shared, managed, and VPS plans; often with automation included.

Each feature like account isolation, patch management, spam filtering, and secure FTP matter. Regardless of what you’re doing online, choose a host that treats website security as a priority; not a paid add-on. Do you need peace of mind and uptime you can trust? Pick a provider that bakes hosting security features into every plan. Anything less puts your data, users, and brand at risk.