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WordPress WordPress User Roles An Overview of User Roles The Subscriber Role in WordPress

ds1291
ds1291
3,398 Points

if you want to give a developer access to come in and help you with your site should you give them administrator?

from the video it looks like if you need help with coding something or styling something with your theme, and you want to hire a developer, you need to give them admin role. how do you go about making sure that they don't do something that could jeopardize the security of your site now or in the future? Do you just have to vet them? I am not familiar with the standard process, but would like to learn.

Thanks

3 Answers

Jason Anders
MOD
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Yes,

If you want a developer to change styling and coding, then you will have to give admin access. It would be the same as letting a plumber (etc.) into you house. Trust and research is something that will be at your own discretion.

You have to remember, however, that if you were to hire a developer from the start. He/she would have admin access to your site from the start. The developer would then hand over basic access to you (often not full access unless you are tech knowledgable, and will usually maintain his/her admin access for when you request changes / updates later on.

:dizzy:

I completely agree with Jason's answer although there are certain steps you may take to ease your concerns in this process.

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your WordPress site is backup WordPress. This can be done with a plethora or free and paid plugins. The free solutions are there but in most cases will require some extra work on your end. If you are looking for a no-brainier, turn-key solution to not only backing up your site automatically but also restoring it then take a look at VaultPress.

The other thing you can do before and after handing over the "keys" to your WordPress site and/or FTP is change your passwords. I have had so many conversations with other who simply give temporary access to others with their standard passwords or without frequently changing passwords.

Hope this helps! :)

Presumably you mean giving them admin access to your WordPress site as opposed to overall admin of your domain.

Of course, you could give them a copy of your site from a backup, ask them to make the required changes then upload the amendments yourself. It's your site after all..

If you do need to give them full domain access then you can set up a separate user and revoke access when they've finished.