Website Backups: Why They Matter and How Often You Need Them

A backup is a copy of your website you can restore if something goes wrong: a hack, a failed update, a deleted page or a hosting problem. Without one, recovery can be slow, costly or impossible.

What a full backup includes

• Files: themes, plugins, uploads and configuration
• Database: posts, pages, settings, users and, for stores, orders and customers

How often to back up

It depends on how often your site changes. A brochure site that rarely changes may need weekly backups. A busy store or blog with frequent updates benefits from daily or even more frequent backups, so you never lose many orders or posts.

Where to store backups

Do not keep your only backup on the same server as your site. If the server fails or is compromised, you lose both. Use an off-site location such as cloud storage, and consider keeping several recent versions.

Protect the backups themselves

Backups contain sensitive data. Restrict who can access them, and protect the storage account with a strong password and two-factor authentication.

Test your restores

A backup you have never restored is only a hope. Periodically restore a copy to a test site and check that pages, images, forms and logins work.

Back up before you change anything

Take a fresh backup before updating plugins or WordPress core, changing themes or editing important settings. See how to update WordPress safely.

Do not rely only on your host

Many hosts offer backups, but the retention period and restore options vary. Treat them as one layer, not the whole plan.

Let us handle it

Our maintenance and security plans include scheduled backups and tested restores, with access through limited accounts, never your passwords.