SiteLock vs CodeGuard: Which One Protects Your Site Better?

Key takeaways: 

• SiteLock security and CodeGuard are not direct competitors— they complement each other.
• SiteLock focuses on preventing threats like malware, viruses, and attacks, while CodeGuard helps you recover your site after something goes wrong.
• Choosing between the two depends on whether you want protection, recovery, or both. 

Website security is not something you should take lightly. About 4,000 websites are hacked on the internet daily, especially small businesses that lack website security measures. If you don’t have website security, your website could be one of their targets.  

These days, hackers also double their efforts to get through the most robust systems. Cybersecurity attacks gather sensitive data from your website. So, staying ahead of the game and fortifying your online security strategy is important. But with so many website security tools, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.  

If you’re trying to decide between SiteLock and CodeGuard, you’re in the right place. Both offer robust protection, but they do it in slightly different ways. 

Let’s break it down so you can figure out which is better for your website (and your peace of mind).  

What is SiteLock?  

SiteLock is a website security service designed to protect websites from various online threats, including malware infections, hacking attempts, and other vulnerabilities. It offers a range of cybersecurity features to help website owners keep their sites safe and secure.  

It runs daily scans to find malware, vulnerabilities, and even spammy content that could hurt your reputation with search engines. SiteLock doesn’t just find problems; it fixes them, too. It also offers a Web Application Firewall (WAF) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection, which helps keep bad traffic out and ensures your site runs smoothly.  

SiteLock key features:  

• Daily malware scanning. SiteLock checks your website daily for harmful viruses, spyware, or sneaky code that hackers might try to install. It’s like a daily health checkup for your site.
• Automatic malware removal. If SiteLock finds anything bad, it doesn’t just tell you, it gets rid of it immediately—no complicated steps or tech skills are needed on your part.
• Vulnerability patching. Websites can have “holes” in their software that hackers love to sneak through. SiteLock finds those holes and patches them up before they’re used against you.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF). This acts like a security guard that filters who and what can enter your website. It blocks suspicious activity and only lets in the good stuff, keeping your site safer from attacks.
• DDoS protection. DDoS attacks are like online traffic jams caused by bad guys trying to crash your site. SiteLock helps prevent those traffic floods so your website stays online and fast.
• Blacklist monitoring and removal. If your site ever gets flagged by Google or other search engines as unsafe, SiteLock will let you know and help fix the issue so visitors aren’t warned away.

Network Solutions offers robust SiteLock plans that can help increase your website security. If you sign up for any of our SiteLock security plans, you’ll automatically receive a seal that you can add to your site. Displaying this seal on your website tells your visitors and potential customers that you take their online safety seriously.

What is CodeGuard?  

CodeGuard is a website backup and monitoring service that helps protect websites from data loss, malware, and other potential threats. It works by regularly backing up a website’s files and databases and securely storing these backups in the cloud. If any issues occur (such as malware infections or accidental data deletions), website owners can easily restore their sites to a previous version using the backups stored in CodeGuard.  

Instead of fighting threats head-on like SiteLock, CodeGuard acts like a safety net. It automatically backs up your website data and lets you restore it with just a click if anything goes wrong—whether that’s malware, an accidental update, or your cat walking across your keyboard.  

CodeGuard key features:  

• Automatic daily backups. CodeGuard takes a snapshot of your entire website every day. That way, if something goes wrong (like a bad update or a hack), you have a clean copy ready to restore.
• One-click restores. Did you make a mistake, or did something break your site? CodeGuard lets you undo the damage with just one click and restores your site to its previous state.
• File change monitoring. You’ll get alerts anytime something on your website changes, whether a new file is added, something is deleted, or a suspicious update. If you didn’t make the change, you’ll know something’s up.
• MySQL database backups. If your website runs on WordPress or similar platforms, much of your content lives in a database. CodeGuard also backs that up, so you don’t lose posts, pages, or settings.
• Email alerts for suspicious activity. If CodeGuard notices anything strange, like unexpected file changes, you’ll get a ChangeAlert email. It’s like having a digital watchdog to monitor your site 24/7.   

SiteLock vs CodeGuard: What’s the difference 

If you want to prevent hacks and remove malware, go with SiteLock. And if you want to roll back changes or recover from disaster, pick CodeGuard. 

Can I use both?  

Absolutely! As a matter of fact, many site owners do.  

Using SiteLock and CodeGuard together gives you both proactive security and recovery options. It’s like having a home alarm system and insurance—one stops the intruder, the other helps if something still goes wrong.  

Choosing the right solution for your website  

If you’re not ready to have both security tools on your website, you’d better choose the one that fits your priorities. 

Here are guide questions to help you determine which website security feature you badly need right now:  

• Are you running an eCommerce store? SiteLock’s real-time protection and firewall are big wins.
• Are you a blogger or freelancer? CodeGuard might be all you need to protect your stored files and portfolio.
• Are you running a mission-critical business website? You are at a high risk of cyberattack. SiteLock and CodeGuard are better options to protect your business website from unauthorized attacks.
• Are you on a tight budget? Check your hosting provider. Some providers bundle SieLock or CodeGuard into your hosting packages, so you might already have access without knowing it.

Friendly reminder: Site security is an investment  

Your website is your reputation, business, and brand. Whether you’re worried about hackers, accidental updates, or downtime, having the right tools in place means you’re not just reacting to problems but staying ahead of them.  

Network Solutions offers both SiteLock security and CodeGuard to protect your website.  

If you choose Network Solutions as your web hosting provider, you can easily integrate these security features into your website. In addition to SiteLock and CodeGuard, you can also equip your website with an SSL certificate to secure your website files with industry-leading encryption and gain favor with Google. 

Protect your website today with CodeGuard and SiteLock from Network Solutions! 

Frequently asked questions