Monitor WordPress server resources with htop vmstat and iostat
Use htop, vmstat, and iostat to identify CPU, RAM, and disk I/O bottlenecks on a WordPress VPS before they cause downtime or slow page loads.
Harden WordPress file permissions and disable PHP execution in uploads
Set correct Linux file permissions for WordPress directories and use .htaccess rules to block PHP execution in the uploads folder, stopping a common malware vector.
Secure a WordPress VPS with UFW firewall and fail2ban
Lock down a WordPress VPS by enabling UFW to allow only necessary ports and configuring fail2ban to block repeated login attempts.