Drupal Security: Best Practices in 2025

Drupal Security: More Than Just Updates

"Update your site regularly"—it's advice you've probably heard hundreds of times. But real Drupal security in 2025 requires much more. Modern threats have evolved far beyond simple vulnerabilities that can be fixed with an update.

Recently, we worked with a European financial service that, despite regular updates, faced a data breach. The reason? Architectural vulnerabilities in custom modules that weren't detected by standard security scanners. Only an in-depth code audit and architectural rethinking allowed us to seal the system.

Today, Drupal offers a powerful arsenal for protection—from built-in security mechanisms to specialized modules. But the key to success lies in their proper combination and customization for your business's specific needs.

GDPR: Not Just for Europeans

"Our company is based in Ukraine, why should we worry about GDPR?" a client recently asked us. The answer is simple: if you process data of even one EU citizen, you automatically fall under the regulation.

Moreover, GDPR has become a global standard for data protection. Its principles are permeating legislation in various countries, from the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to new regulations in Australia and Japan.

For Drupal sites, GDPR compliance requires a comprehensive approach. It's not just adding a "I agree to the terms" checkbox—it's restructuring all processes of collecting, processing, and storing data.

For example, one of our client companies implemented "digital forgetting"—the ability for users to initiate deletion of all their data from the system with one click. This required a thorough analysis of all places where personal data might be stored, including order history, comments, and system logs.

Cookie Consent: The Art of Transparency

Remember those intrusive cookie banners you mindlessly closed? They no longer meet 2025 requirements. Today, regulators demand genuine transparency and choice.

One of our European clients faced this issue when they received a warning from regulators. It turned out their site was setting marketing cookies before the user made their choice. We developed an intelligent consent management system for them that not only meets the strictest requirements but also integrates unobtrusively into the user interface.

Drupal 11 introduces new capabilities for cookie management, allowing for flexible choice panels with detailed descriptions of each cookie type. Particularly valuable is the ability to visualize consent data—you can accurately track which cookie categories are popular among your users and which are most often rejected.

Data Encryption: The Last Line of Defense

Imagine this situation: hackers have penetrated your database. Does this mean disaster? Not necessarily, if your data is properly encrypted.

Encryption transforms sensitive information into an uninterpretable set of symbols that, without a decryption key, has no value to attackers. Drupal provides powerful tools for encrypting data at various levels.

For one of our clients in the pharmaceutical sector, we implemented a multi-level encryption system. Patient contact information is encrypted at the field level, medical history at the document level, and the entire database is additionally protected at the disk level. Even if an attacker gains access to the server, they will face several layers of encryption.

Multi-Factor Authentication: The End of the Password Era

Did you know that the most popular password in 2024 is still "123456"? Funny, but true. That's why passwords can no longer be the sole protection for your site.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become the security standard in 2025. It supplements the traditional password with an additional verification level—a code from a mobile app, SMS message, or biometric data.

Recently, we worked with a publishing company that constantly suffered from unauthorized access attempts to their administrative panel. After implementing MFA using the Google Authenticator app, the number of incidents dropped to zero. Additionally, we set up geographic filtering—login attempts from unusual locations are automatically marked as suspicious and require additional verification.

Security Audit: Finding Vulnerabilities Before Hackers Do

If you're waiting for a security incident to start thinking about protection—you're already too late. Regular security audits are your radar, allowing you to detect and eliminate vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.

One of our clients, an online marketplace, asked us to conduct a complete security audit of their Drupal site. We identified a potential attack vector through an outdated module that didn't have explicit vulnerabilities but used suboptimal security practices. Replacing this module with a modern alternative eliminated the potential threat before it materialized.

A modern Drupal security audit should include not only core and module checks but also analysis of server configuration, network infrastructure, and even development processes. Special attention should be paid to custom code—it often becomes the source of unique vulnerabilities.

Secure APIs: The Bridge Between Systems

In today's ecosystem, you rarely find a site that operates in isolation. Most Drupal projects integrate with CRMs, ERPs, payment systems, and other services through APIs. These integrations can become your security's Achilles heel if not given proper attention.

Recently, we worked with a travel company that used an API for integration with a booking system. Analysis showed that API keys were stored unencrypted in the database and never updated. We implemented a system for rotating keys and tokens, as well as configuring encryption for all sensitive data during transmission.

Drupal 11 provides enhanced capabilities for API management, including detailed logging, IP-based access restrictions, and automatic blocking when anomalous activity is detected. For large projects, we also recommend using API gateways that add an additional security layer and simplify monitoring.

Conclusion: Security as a Competitive Advantage

In 2025, security is not just a technical issue but a competitive advantage. Clients increasingly choose companies that demonstrate a serious attitude toward data protection. GDPR fines can reach millions of euros, but the true cost of a security incident is often measured in lost customer trust.

At Wishdesk, we view security not as a separate project but as a philosophy that permeates all aspects of developing and maintaining Drupal sites. Our team constantly improves their knowledge, monitors the latest trends, and implements innovative solutions to protect our clients.

By investing in security today, you protect not only data but also your business's reputation. Are you ready to elevate your Drupal site's security to a new level? Contact us—and we'll help you create not just a secure, but a truly invulnerable digital space.