5

RunCloud is an excellent cloud hosting management panel that simplifies deploying and managing web applications, including WordPress. By combining the power of cloud infrastructure with RunCloud’s intuitive interface, you can streamline your WordPress deployment and ensure optimal performance. Below are the best practices to consider when deploying WordPress on RunCloud.

1) Choose the Right Server for Your WordPress Installation

>> Resource Requirements: The number of visitors to your WordPress site will determine your server’s resource needs (RAM, CPU, disk space). A basic WordPress site can run on a server with 512MB – 1GB of RAM, 2GB Disk Storage but high-traffic websites or those with heavy plugins might require more resources.

>> Operating System Compatibility: RunCloud supports Ubuntu versions 20.04, 22.04, and 24.04. When selecting an OS version, it is important to consider PHP compatibility, as some versions have limitations on supported PHP versions. Ubuntu 20.04 supports PHP 7.2 and later, while Ubuntu 22.04 supports PHP 7.4 and later. For those using Ubuntu 24.04, only PHP 8.1 and later are supported. Therefore, choosing the appropriate OS version should align with the PHP requirements of your WordPress site.

>> Server Stack: RunCloud provides two excellent server stack options for WordPress: OpenLiteSpeed and Nginx. Both offer solid performance, but OpenLiteSpeed is known for handling higher loads more efficiently.

To find the best fit for your web app, it’s recommended to test both server stacks. By comparing their performance under real-world conditions, you can determine which one best meets the needs of your website, ensuring optimal speed and reliability.

2) Domain name selection for your WordPress Web Application

Choosing the right domain name is essential for branding, accessibility, and overall user experience. With RunCloud, you have the flexibility to connect your own domain or use a test domain before making your site live.

Using a Test Domain for Verification:

If you want to ensure that your WordPress web app is functioning correctly before configuring DNS settings, RunCloud provides test domains. These allow you to preview and troubleshoot your website without committing to a live domain.

Connecting Your Own Domain:

Once you’ve confirmed that everything is working as expected, you can seamlessly switch to your custom domain. Simply navigate to the domain section in the RunCloud panel and update the primary domain for your web app

3) Secure Your WordPress Installation

Securing your WordPress web app is essential to protect both your data and your users. RunCloud offers several tools and features to help safeguard your website from potential threats. Below are some important practices to follow:

>> SSL/TLS Encryption

To secure data transmission between your users and your server, it’s important to install an SSL certificate. RunCloud makes this easy by integrating Let’s Encrypt or allowing the use of a custom SSL. SSL encryption ensures that all data exchanged is private and secure.

>> Web Application Firewall (WAF)

For added protection against common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), consider enabling a Web Application Firewall (WAF). This is available for websites using the Nginx or LiteSpeed stacks on RunCloud. Please note, WAF is only accessible on the Business and Enterprise plans.

>> Strong Authentication

Strong passwords are a fundamental security measure, particularly for administrators and users with high-level access. To enhance security further, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of protection.

>> Redis ACL
RunCloud provides an added layer of security for your web applications through Redis Access Control Lists (ACL). This feature allows you to control and define who can access your Redis database and specify what actions they can perform. By implementing ACL, you can ensure that only authorized users or services have the necessary permissions to interact with your Redis database, significantly enhancing the overall security of your application

4) Enable Caching for Performance

When managing your website on RunCloud, caching plays a crucial role in enhancing performance and speed. Here’s how you can enable caching based on your server stack:

>> For Nginx Users: If your website runs on the Nginx server stack, you can take advantage of RunCloud Hub, a caching solution designed to optimize website performance. It can be easily installed directly from the RunCloud panel, streamlining the caching process. RunCloud Hub can be managed from both the RunCloud panel and the WordPress admin dashboard.

>> For OpenLiteSpeed (OLS) Users: If you’re using the OpenLiteSpeed stack, RunCloud Hub is not available. However, you can still enable caching by utilizing the official LiteSpeed Cache plugin, which offers robust performance enhancements tailored for LiteSpeed servers.

5)  Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

For optimal website performance, especially if you serve global visitors, using a CDN is highly recommended. A CDN caches your website’s static content and delivers it from a server closest to your visitors. This helps lower latency and improves page load speeds.

Cloudflare: Integrate Cloudflare with your WordPress site to take advantage of its global CDN and security features. It also offers caching and DDoS protection.

6) Backup and Restore Plan

A reliable backup system is crucial for WordPress websites to recover from crashes or data loss. RunCloud provides automated backups with three storage options: RunCloud Backup, External, and Local Backup Storage.

You can configure backups on RunCloud with the following frequencies: 12 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, and 1 week.

For external and local backups, you can set the Backup File Retention to 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.

However, if you’re using RunCloud backup storage, you can only select retention periods of 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 1 month.

7) Diagnosing Web Application Performance with RunCloud Monitoring

RunCloud Monitoring provides valuable insights to diagnose and analyze your web application’s performance. Designed to help users track resource usage, it allows better management of scalability and performance bottlenecks.

Monitoring can be easily enabled through the web application dashboard in the RunCloud panel.

Here are the key monitoring features available in RunCloud:

>> Top Path Monitoring – View which paths consume the most bandwidth and requests, helping you understand high-traffic areas.

>> IP Address Hit Monitoring – Track the number of requests and bandwidth usage per IP address to detect unusual activity or potential security threats.

>> Slow Script Monitoring – Identify long-running scripts, allowing you to assess their impact on your web application’s performance.