How the Create a Secure Website Course Is Organized

Updated

The Create a Secure Website course is organized as a numbered, sequential curriculum in ten parts: First Steps, Create a Secure VPS, Site Setup, Site Appearance, Site Content, Site Navigation, Create Custom Modules, Site Promotion, Site Management, and More Web Tips. Each part contains numbered lessons (for example, 2.2 Install Hestia on your VPS), so you can work through the course in order or jump directly to the lesson that matches the task you are stuck on. The site also hosts demo pages and a free downloads section alongside the lessons.

The Ten Parts at a Glance

Part Focus Example Lessons
1. First Steps The local computer you build from Why Replace Windows with Linux; Create a Secure Linux Computer; Create a Linux Computer on a Stick; Initial Configuration of a Linux Laptop
2. Create a Secure VPS Server and control panel Choose a Secure VPS Host; Install Hestia on your VPS; Install and Use Midnight Commander; Use Hestia to Install Joomla
3. Site Setup Getting Joomla running Joomla First Steps; Add Joomla Extensions; Add a Better Editor and Welcome Article; Real Website Security Tips
4. Site Appearance Template and design Helix Template First Steps; Helix Template Next Steps; Helix Menu and Mega Menu; Customize your Website Typography
5. Site Content Writing and images Create Website Categories and Folders; How to Write and Post Web Articles; Use Libre Draw to Create Featured Images; Add Featured Images to Joomla Articles
6. Site Navigation Menus and links How to Create Menu Item Links; Create Category Menu Items; Create Article Menu Items; Divide and Link Pages
7. Create Custom Modules Styling building blocks Style Custom Modules with Inline CSS; Style Modules with Internal and External CSS; Use Preset Classes; Use Rainbow Presets
8. Site Promotion Visibility and media Create a Home Page Slideshow; Create Edit and Post Informational Videos; Add a Free Email Newsletter; Add a Free Download Manager
9. Site Management Maintenance and migration Search Engine Optimization; Move a Cpanel Website to Hestia; Move a Wordpress or Wix Website to Joomla; Update a Joomla 3 Website to Joomla 4
10. More Web Tips Standalone techniques Create a Joomla Module with a Video Background; Crop and Resize Videos with Open Shot; Four Better Search Engines Tip; Move a Site to a New VPS

How the Sequence Works

The order follows the actual build: you prepare a Linux machine, stand up a VPS with the Hestia control panel, install Joomla, then shape appearance, content, and navigation before adding modules, promotion, and long-term management. The numbering is the navigation system — lesson 2.3 comes after 2.2 and before 2.4 — so the decimal labels tell you both the part and the position within it.

This matters if you are troubleshooting. If your Joomla install fails, you land on 2.4; if your menu structure is a mess, you go to Part 6 rather than restarting the course.

Where to Start Depending on Your Goal

  • Building a first site from scratch: start at Part 1 and proceed in order. The early lessons assume you are setting up the machine and server, not just the website.
  • Already have a VPS or hosting: skip to Part 2.2 (Hestia) or Part 2.4 (Joomla via Hestia) if your server is ready.
  • Site exists but looks unfinished: Parts 4 and 5 cover the Helix template, typography, categories, and featured images.
  • Migrating an existing site: Part 9 has dedicated lessons for moving a cPanel site to Hestia and moving WordPress or Wix content to Joomla, plus a Joomla 3 to 4 update.
  • Just want a specific technique: Part 10's tips and the demo pages (Module Demo, Rainbow Modules, Video Background Modules) stand alone.

Demo Pages and Downloads

Beyond the numbered lessons, the site provides demo pages for the module techniques taught in Parts 7 and 10, so you can see the styled result before applying the CSS yourself. A free downloads section sits alongside the course, and the site also links to its book, news, and contact pages. These are supporting resources rather than a separate track — the lessons remain the primary path.

Practical Notes

The course is explicitly aimed at people whose sites have already been hacked and who want a more secure build method, as well as first-time builders and anyone helping others build sites. It uses free open source tools throughout: a Debian VPS, the Hestia control panel, the Joomla website builder, and the Helix Ultimate template. The site does not publish pricing for the course itself, so treat cost and any access requirements as unconfirmed until you check the site directly.