Why You Should Restrict WordPress Admin Access

Why You Should Restrict WordPress Admin Access
  • 5 min read

Congratulations — your site has grown! New contributors, more editors, SEO changes, maybe a sales team. But as access improves, so does risk. Ever wonder who registered the latest users? Or who accidentally deleted that critical page? Too many cooks spoil the soup, as they say, so let’s fix that.

The Hidden Dangers of Too Much Access

“Only about 15-20% of WordPress roles actually need admin access.”

Giving everyone full admin rights is like handing everyone root access. Sure, it’s easier – but when something goes wrong, customer data, performance, and even your brand reputation are on the line.

Here’s what routinely goes wrong when too many stakeholders share admin access:

  • Accidental plugin/theme changes – One click too many and your storefront breaks mid-sale.
  • Malicious risk – Device or password compromised? An admin account gives near-total control.
  • Untracked edits – No records mean no idea who made what changes. Auditing becomes a nightmare.
  • Performance degradation – A user without permission or skill installs a heavy plugin, and slow page loads ensue.

Remember: Full Admins can do anything.

Who Does Actually Need Admin?

“Most specialized roles can function with limited, task-specific permissions.”

Only three roles generally justify full admin rights:

1. Site owner or lead dev – Manages hosting, themes, server integrations.

2. System admin – Handles configurations, database tasks, or server-level fixes.

3. Superadmin (for WordPress multisite) – Oversees global changes across all network sites.

All other roles? They belong to users with scoped access – editors, authors, marketers, designers — who perform their jobs without requiring access to the entire website.

Role TypeAdmin Needed?PermissionsRiskSource/Plugin
Core WordPress Roles
Super AdminYesNetwork-wide control, all sitesCriticalMultisite
AdministratorYesFull site controlHighCore
EditorNoPublish/edit all posts, manage categoriesMediumCore
AuthorNoPublish/edit own postsLowCore
ContributorNoWrite/edit own posts (unpublished)Very LowCore
SubscriberNoRead content, manage profileVery LowCore
Developer/Technical    
Code EditorYesEdit theme/plugin filesHighCustom roles
Database ManagerYesDatabase accessCriticalDatabase plugins
CustomerNoView orders, account detailsVery LowWooCommerce
VendorNoManage own products onlyLow-MediumMulti-vendor plugins
Multi-site Specific    
Network AdminYesManage network settingsCriticalMultisite
Site ManagerMaybeManage individual sitesMedium-HighMultisite
Membership/LMS Roles
Course CreatorNoCreate/manage coursesLow-MediumLearnDash, LifterLMS
Group LeaderNoManage assigned groupsLowLearnDash
StudentNoAccess enrolled coursesVery LowLMS plugins
InstructorNoCreate courses, grade assignmentsLow-MediumLearnPress, Tutor LMS
Community/Forum Roles
ModeratorNoEdit/delete posts, manage usersMediumbbPress, BuddyPress
Forum ParticipantNoPost in forumsLowbbPress
KeymasterMaybeFull forum controlMedium-HighbbPress
Event Management
Event ManagerNoCreate/manage eventsLow-MediumEvent Calendar, Events Manager
Venue ManagerNoManage specific venuesLowEvent plugins
SEO/Marketing Roles
SEO ManagerNoManage SEO settings, analyticsMediumYoast, RankMath
SEO EditorNoEdit SEO for contentLowSEO plugins
Custom Business Roles
Content ManagerNoManage content, limited adminLow-MediumCustom/Role plugins
Social Media ManagerNoPublish posts, manage social integrationLowSocial plugins
Analytics ViewerNoView reports onlyVery LowAnalytics plugins
Backup ManagerMaybeManage backups, restorationMedium-HighBackup plugins
Specialized Plugin Roles
Form ManagerNoManage forms, view submissionsLow-MediumGravity Forms, Contact Form 7
Gallery ManagerNoManage photo galleriesLowGallery plugins
Booking ManagerNoManage appointments/bookingsLow-MediumBooking plugins
TranslatorNoManage translationsLowWPML, Polylang
Security-Specific
Security ManagerMaybeManage security settingsMedium-HighSecurity plugins
Log ViewerNoView security/activity logsLowSecurity plugins

Better Role Management = Fewer Headaches

“The highest risk comes from roles that can modify code, database, or have network-wide access.”

Implement these best practices to lock down your site while empowering your team.

1. Map what each role really needs

List tasks like “write product pages,” “manage invoices,” or “run reports.” Assign users to the appropriate roles. Shop Manager, SEO Manager, and Editor give specific access to specific tasks.

2. Use capability plugins

Tools like Members by MemberPress or User Role Editor let you fine-tune what each role can (and can’t) do. You can also create custom roles – if you really need them.

3. Use Rocket.net’s Access Controls

With Rocket.net’s platform, separate server-level and site-level roles allow you to grant FTP or Git-level access without compromising WordPress security.

4. Audit regularly

Six months after being let go, Frank still has access to the company website, GSC, and social media. Sound familiar? Every month, run a quick check on your user list. Remove unused accounts and confirm that active ones are assigned to appropriate roles. If someone’s off the team, revoke access ASAP.

“And I don’t know how many times I’ve seen on a WordPress database the bad actor has been a former employee who’s logged in and done something after he’s let go. …So first of all, don’t give everybody the admin access because they said it’s their site and they can have it. My answer is no.”

Rob Cairns

5. Track activity

Plugins like WP Activity Log or Simple History report key actions (login attempts, changes, file updates). You don’t need an admin to turn this on — just an Editor or Manager.

Actionable Tips to Limit Admin Access (Without Creating Chaos)

“Many plugins create unnecessary admin-level roles when custom capabilities would suffice.”

Create Custom User Roles

Use a plugin like User Role Editor or Members to define what each stakeholder really needs access to. You don’t have to settle for “Admin or Nothing.”

Rocket Tip: Custom roles keep your workflows clean and safe. Give editors content access. Let developers deploy. Everyone wins.

Audit Your User List Monthly

Old users = risk. Set a reminder to review users every 30 days. Remove or downgrade accounts for ex-employees, past contractors, or dormant contributors.

Rocket Tip: Use tools like WP Activity Log or our Activity Log to spot inactive or suspicious users.

Enforce Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

If someone must be an admin, they must use 2FA. It’s non-negotiable in 2025.

Rocket Tip: Pair 2FA with strong password policies using a plugin like Wordfence Login Security or WP 2FA.

Use a Staging Site for Stakeholder Feedback

Instead of giving everyone admin access to see updates, deploy a staging site. This gives stakeholders a peek without risking your live environment.

Rocket Tip: Every Rocket.net plan includes free staging with one-click sync. Perfect for safe collaboration.

Log and Monitor Admin Activity

Keep tabs on who’s doing what. If something breaks, you want a paper trail.

Use tools like WP Activity Log, Sucuri, or our built-in hosting and activity dashboards to monitor changes.

Educate Your Team on Roles & Responsibilities

Make sure stakeholders understand the risk of admin access. A quick onboarding doc can go a long way.

Define what each role can and can’t do. Set expectations early so no one’s tempted to “just tweak one thing” at 2 AM.

Remove the “Admin” Username

Back in the day, the default WordPress admin username was, in fact, “admin.” Since usernames make up half of the login credentials, it is easier for brute-force hacker attacks.

If your site still has a generic “admin” user, delete or rename it immediately. It’s hacker bait.

“If you are hesitating to delete your admin account because of existing posts, don’t worry; when you delete it, you can assign all the existing posts to your new user account.”

Rocket.net – 10 Ways To Increase Your WordPress Website Security

In Case of Admin Abuse (Or a Security Incident)

Even if an admin account is compromised, fewer of them means less & less risk. If that happens:

  • Lock them out immediately.
  • Change all admin passwords, and force 2FA for the rest of the team.
  • Check recent activity for unauthorized changes.
  • Roll back with backups – Rocket.net’s one-click restore makes this painless.
  • Review permissions and tighten what users can do from here on out.

The Rocket.net Difference

At Rocket.net, we take role management seriously:

ShopShield protects your site and your WooCommerce shop with Cloudflare Enterprise WAF, but also prevents privilege misuse.

With white-labeled reseller hosting, you control exactly what your clients see and do – no accidental plugin exposures.

Need help implementing a clean role structure? We’re available 24/7 to ensure you launch securely and stay secure.

Wrapping Up

Fewer admin accounts = fewer mistakes, less risk, and a more secure site. By implementing scoped access now, you prevent emergency cleanup later. It’s one of the easiest improvements you can make — and one of the most effective.

Need help auditing user roles on your clients’ sites or rolling out access controls across your business? Rocket.net is ready to help — securely and effortlessly.

Get the fastest WordPress Edge hosting available for the best website performance possible