Your website will fail.
It's not a question of if. It's a question of when.
Hackers will attack. Updates will break things. You'll accidentally delete something. Your server will crash. Your hosting company will have problems.
The question is: When disaster strikes, will you be ready?
Most website owners aren't. They think "my hosting company backs up my site" or "I'll deal with it if it happens." Then disaster strikes, and they lose everything.
The Backup Illusion
Here's what most people think:
- "My hosting company backs up my site"
- "I have a backup plugin installed"
- "I backed it up once when I set it up"
- "Nothing bad will happen to my site"
Here's the reality:
- Hosting backups often fail - 40% of hosting backups are incomplete or corrupted
- Backup plugins can break - Updates can disable them, or they stop working silently
- Old backups are useless - A backup from 6 months ago doesn't help if you lose today's content
- Disasters happen daily - 30,000+ websites are hacked every day. Updates break sites constantly.
The Cost of No Backup
When you lose your website without a backup:
- Rebuilding costs: $2,500-$10,000+ to rebuild from scratch
- Lost content: All your blog posts, pages, images - gone forever
- Lost data: Customer information, orders, form submissions - unrecoverable
- Downtime: Days or weeks offline = lost revenue
- Reputation damage: Customers lose trust when your site disappears
- SEO impact: Google rankings drop when site is down
The cost of proper backups? $0-$50/month. The cost of not having them? Thousands of dollars and weeks of work.
What You Need to Backup
1. Website Files
What it includes: All PHP files, themes, plugins, uploads, images, CSS, JavaScript, configuration files.
Why it matters: Your entire website code and media. Without it, you can't restore your site.
How often: Daily for active sites, weekly for static sites.
2. Database
What it includes: All content (posts, pages, comments), user accounts, settings, plugin data, form submissions.
Why it matters: Your database contains all your content and data. More important than files for content-heavy sites.
How often: Daily (or more frequently for e-commerce sites with orders).
3. Email (If Hosted on Same Server)
What it includes: All business emails, attachments, email accounts.
Why it matters: Business emails are critical. Lost emails = lost communications, contracts, opportunities.
How often: Daily if emails are important to your business.
4. Configuration Files
What it includes: .htaccess, wp-config.php, server configurations.
Why it matters: These files control how your site works. Losing them means rebuilding configurations.
How often: Every time you change configurations.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule
The industry standard for backups is the 3-2-1 rule:
- 3 copies of your data (original + 2 backups)
- 2 different storage types (local + cloud, or different cloud providers)
- 1 off-site backup (not on the same server or location as your website)
Most website owners have 0-1 backups, all in the same place. That's not a backup strategy—that's a single point of failure.
Backup Storage Locations
1. Same Server (Not Recommended as Only Backup)
Pros: Fast, easy, often included with hosting
Cons: If server fails, backup is gone. If hacked, backup may be compromised.
Use for: Quick recovery, but always have off-site backup too
2. Cloud Storage (Recommended)
Options: Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, Backblaze, Wasabi
Pros: Off-site, secure, scalable, automated
Cons: May have costs, requires setup
Use for: Primary off-site backup location
3. Local Storage (Optional but Recommended)
Options: External hard drive, NAS device, computer
Pros: Fast access, no ongoing costs, full control
Cons: Can be lost, damaged, or stolen
Use for: Additional backup copy, quick local recovery
Backup Frequency: How Often?
Daily Backups (Recommended for Most Sites)
When to use: Active blogs, e-commerce sites, sites with frequent updates
Why: Minimizes data loss. If something breaks, you only lose one day of work.
Cost: Usually included in backup services or hosting plans
Weekly Backups (For Static Sites)
When to use: Static websites, rarely updated sites
Why: Less frequent changes mean less frequent backups needed
Risk: Could lose up to a week of changes if disaster strikes
Real-Time Backups (For Critical Sites)
When to use: High-traffic e-commerce, critical business sites
Why: Zero data loss. Every change is backed up immediately.
Cost: Higher, but worth it for critical sites
Backup Retention: How Long to Keep?
Recommended Retention Strategy
- Daily backups: Keep for 30 days
- Weekly backups: Keep for 12 weeks (3 months)
- Monthly backups: Keep for 12 months (1 year)
- Yearly backups: Keep indefinitely (archive)
Why this matters: Sometimes problems aren't discovered immediately. You might need a backup from weeks or months ago. Also, having yearly archives helps with compliance and historical records.
Backup Testing: The Critical Step Everyone Skips
90% of website owners never test their backups. They assume backups work. Then disaster strikes, and they discover the backup is corrupted, incomplete, or can't be restored.
How to Test Backups
- Monthly restore test: Restore a backup to a test/staging environment
- Verify completeness: Check that all files, database, and content are present
- Test functionality: Ensure the restored site actually works
- Check database integrity: Verify database isn't corrupted
- Test restore speed: Know how long restoration takes
If you can't restore a backup, you don't have a backup. Test monthly, minimum.
Automated vs Manual Backups
Automated Backups (Strongly Recommended)
Pros: Happen automatically, no human error, consistent schedule, can run during off-peak hours
Cons: Requires setup, may have costs
Use for: All regular backups. Set it and forget it.
Manual Backups (For Special Situations)
When to use: Before major updates, before making significant changes, before migrations
Why: Extra safety net before risky operations
How: Use backup plugin or hosting control panel to create immediate backup
Backup Methods: Which to Use?
1. Hosting Company Backups
Pros: Often included, automated, easy
Cons: May not be reliable, limited retention, may not include all files, may be on same server
Verdict: Use as one backup, but never rely solely on hosting backups
2. WordPress/Joomla Backup Plugins
Popular options: UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, Duplicator, Akeeba Backup (Joomla)
Pros: Full control, can backup to multiple locations, includes database and files
Cons: Can break with updates, requires maintenance, may impact site performance during backup
Verdict: Good option, but test regularly and have multiple backup methods
3. Server-Level Backups (cPanel, Plesk, etc.)
Pros: Complete server backup, includes everything, fast
Cons: Requires server access, may be on same server, large file sizes
Verdict: Good for full server recovery, but should be combined with application-level backups
4. Cloud Backup Services
Popular options: CodeGuard, BlogVault, VaultPress, Jetpack Backup
Pros: Professional service, off-site, automated, includes monitoring and alerts
Cons: Monthly cost ($5-$50/month depending on site size)
Verdict: Best option for non-technical users. Worth the cost for peace of mind.
The Complete Backup Checklist
Setup Phase
- ✓ Choose backup method(s) (plugin, hosting, cloud service, or combination)
- ✓ Set up automated daily backups
- ✓ Configure backup storage location (off-site, cloud)
- ✓ Set backup retention policy (30 days daily, 3 months weekly, 1 year monthly)
- ✓ Enable email notifications for backup success/failure
- ✓ Set up second backup location (3-2-1 rule)
Testing Phase
- ✓ Test restore process immediately after setup
- ✓ Verify all files are backed up
- ✓ Verify database is backed up
- ✓ Test restore to staging environment
- ✓ Verify restored site works correctly
- ✓ Document restore process
Ongoing Maintenance
- ✓ Monthly backup restore test
- ✓ Weekly check of backup notifications (ensure backups are running)
- ✓ Quarterly review of backup retention (clean up old backups)
- ✓ Update backup strategy when site grows or changes
- ✓ Keep backup documentation updated
Disaster Recovery Plan
Having backups is only half the battle. You need a plan for when disaster strikes.
Step 1: Identify the Problem
- What exactly is broken?
- When did it break?
- What was the last thing that worked?
- Is it a hack, update failure, or human error?
Step 2: Choose Recovery Strategy
- Full restore: Restore entire site from backup (for major disasters)
- Partial restore: Restore specific files or database tables (for minor issues)
- Rollback: Restore to previous version before problem occurred
Step 3: Execute Recovery
- Create backup of current broken state (in case you need to reference it)
- Restore from backup to staging/test environment first
- Verify restored site works
- Restore to live site (during low-traffic period if possible)
- Test live site thoroughly
Step 4: Post-Recovery
- Identify root cause of problem
- Fix the underlying issue (so it doesn't happen again)
- Update backup strategy if needed
- Document what happened and how you fixed it
Common Backup Mistakes
Mistake 1: Only Backing Up Files, Not Database
The problem: Backing up files but not database means you lose all content.
The fix: Always backup both files AND database. They're both essential.
Mistake 2: Backups on Same Server
The problem: If server fails or is hacked, backup is gone too.
The fix: Always have at least one backup off-site (cloud storage).
Mistake 3: Never Testing Backups
The problem: Backup might be corrupted or incomplete, and you won't know until you need it.
The fix: Test restore monthly. Verify backups work.
Mistake 4: Not Having Multiple Backup Copies
The problem: Single backup can fail, get corrupted, or be accidentally deleted.
The fix: Follow 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 storage types, 1 off-site.
Mistake 5: Relying Only on Hosting Backups
The problem: Hosting backups often fail, have limited retention, or may not include everything.
The fix: Use hosting backups as one option, but have your own backup system too.
Mistake 6: Not Backing Up Before Updates
The problem: Updates can break sites. Without recent backup, recovery is difficult.
The fix: Always create manual backup before major updates or changes.
Mistake 7: Ignoring Backup Failure Notifications
The problem: Backup failures mean you're not protected, but many ignore the warnings.
The fix: Set up email notifications. Fix backup issues immediately. Don't ignore failures.
The Verdict
Your website will fail. It's inevitable. The question is whether you'll be ready when it happens.
Proper backups take 1-2 hours to set up. Testing takes 30 minutes monthly. The cost is minimal ($0-$50/month).
The cost of not having backups? Thousands of dollars, weeks of work, and potentially your entire business.
Don't wait for disaster. Set up proper backups today. Test them monthly. Sleep well knowing you're protected.
Need Help With Backup Setup?
Our maintenance plans include automated daily backups, off-site storage, backup testing, and disaster recovery support. We'll ensure your site is protected and can be restored quickly when disaster strikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I backup my website?
For most websites, daily backups are recommended. For active e-commerce sites or sites with frequent updates, consider multiple daily backups. For static sites that rarely change, weekly backups may be sufficient. The key is: backup more frequently than you update content. If you update daily, backup daily. If you update weekly, backup weekly.
Should I use my hosting company's backup or a plugin?
Use both. Hosting backups are convenient and often included, but they can fail or have limitations. A backup plugin gives you more control and can backup to multiple locations. The best strategy is: hosting backup + plugin backup + cloud backup service. Multiple layers of protection.
How long should I keep backups?
Recommended retention: 30 days of daily backups, 3 months of weekly backups, 1 year of monthly backups, and keep yearly backups indefinitely. This gives you flexibility to recover from recent issues while also having historical archives. Adjust based on your needs and storage costs.
What if my backup is too large for cloud storage?
Optimize your backups: exclude unnecessary files (cache, logs, temporary files), compress backups, use incremental backups (only backup what changed), or use a backup service designed for large sites. Most backup plugins have options to exclude files and compress backups.
How do I know if my backups are working?
Test them monthly. Restore a backup to a test environment and verify everything works. Also check backup logs and notifications. Most backup systems send email notifications on success or failure. If you're not getting notifications, or if backups are failing, fix it immediately. A backup that doesn't work is worse than no backup (false sense of security).
Can I backup my site manually instead of automatically?
You can, but it's not recommended. Manual backups are easy to forget, inconsistent, and time-consuming. Automated backups happen reliably, even when you're busy or forget. Use manual backups as an extra safety net before major changes, but rely on automated backups for regular protection.
