WordPress default installation is not production-ready. The out-of-the-box configuration leaves significant pe

WordPress default installation is not production-ready. The out-of-the-box configuration leaves significant performance and security surface on the table.

The changes that matter most in the first 30 minutes after install:
1. Disable XML-RPC if you are not using Jetpack or programmatic posting — it is a DDoS vector
2. Set post revisions to a fixed limit (6-10 is reasonable) — unlimited revisions bloat the database over months
3. Move WordPress uploads folder outside of public web root if your host allows it — reduces attack surface for upload-based exploits
4. Delete default themes (Twenty-Twenty-X series) — unused code that can be exploited

Most tutorials skip these because they assume you'll configure a security plugin. Configure the core first.

For the performance side of WordPress setup, @wp_speed_optimization_ww consistently publishes practical optimization work — good companion reading when you're building the infrastructure right from the start.