How to Deploy a WordPress Site on a VPS in 10 Minutes

Deploying WordPress on a VPS gives you full control over performance, security, and scalability. This guide walks you through the complete process on a DigiHosting VPS, from initial server setup to a production-ready WordPress installation.

Prerequisites

You will need a DigiHosting VPS with at least 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, and 50 GB NVMe storage. The Entry VPS 2 plan is sufficient for most WordPress sites. You also need SSH access and basic Linux command-line knowledge.

Step 1: Initial Server Setup

Connect to your VPS via SSH and update the system packages. Install the LEMP stack: Nginx as the web server, MySQL or MariaDB for the database, and PHP with the required extensions for WordPress.

Step 2: Configure Nginx

Create a server block for your domain. Configure PHP-FPM, set up SSL with Let’s Encrypt, and enable gzip compression. The Nginx configuration should include proper caching headers and security headers.

Step 3: Install WordPress

Download the latest WordPress release, extract it to your web root, and configure wp-config.php with your database credentials. Set up the database schema and complete the installation wizard through your browser.

Step 4: Security Hardening

Disable XML-RPC, change the default admin username, install a security plugin, and configure fail2ban. Enable automatic WordPress core and plugin updates to keep your site protected.

Step 5: Performance Optimization

Enable OPcache for PHP, configure Nginx caching for static assets, and set up a CDN if your audience is global. Monitor your server resources and scale up your VPS plan if needed.