Why are backups important?
Data loss can create significant challenges for an organisation, including lost financial records, marketing disruptions, compromised client data, and missed sales opportunities. These disruptions can range from minor inconveniences to severe threats to business continuity. The most effective way to minimise both the likelihood and impact of such incidents is to implement a robust backup strategy. Data loss can occur for a variety of reasons, such as:
- Cyberattacks and malware: Hackers can infiltrate your website and corrupt or delete critical files.
- Hosting failures: Even reliable hosting providers experience downtime or unexpected server issues.
- Human Errors: Accidental deletions or updates can break your site.
- Plugin or theme conflicts: Some updates may cause compatibility issues that bring down your site.
Having a reliable backup plan ensures that you can restore your website quickly in case of any mishap.
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Backup strategies for WordPress websites
There are multiple ways to back up your WordPress site, each serving a crucial role in ensuring data safety. Here are three key methods:
Server-level backups via Plesk or cPanel
Most hosting providers offer automatic backups at the server level, often managed via Plesk or cPanel. These backups are essential as they provide full snapshots of your site, including databases and files.
How to set up server backups in Plesk:
- Log into Plesk
- Navigate to Backup manager
- Choose Create backup and configure the settings (frequency, storage location, etc.)
- Download a copy periodically for added safety
WordPress plugin-based backups (e.g., UpdraftPlus)
WordPress offers several backup plugins that allow users to schedule automated backups and store them on third-party services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.
- Install and activate UpdraftPlus from the WordPress Plugin Repository.
- Go to Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups.
- Click on Settings and choose a remote storage option (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
- Schedule backups (daily, weekly, or monthly based on site activity).
- Test a restore to ensure backups are working correctly.
Manual backups stored on local machines
For an additional layer of protection, website owners should manually download backups to their local computers.
How to manually backup WordPress Files and database:
- Use File Manager (cPanel/Plesk) or FTP (FileZilla) to download website files.
- Export the WordPress database using phpMyAdmin.
- Store these files on an external hard drive or cloud storage for redundancy.
Best practices for website backups
To ensure your backups are effective, follow these best practices:
- Automate the process: Use a combination of hosting backups, plugins, and manual methods.
- Store backups in multiple locations: Never keep backups in only one place.
- Test your backups regularly: A backup is useless if it cannot be restored properly.
- Keep multiple versions: Retain backups from different dates in case of unnoticed issues.
So to conclude:
Backup Awareness Month serves as a reminder for website owners to implement and maintain a robust backup strategy. Whether using server-level backups via Plesk, plugin-based backups with UpdraftPlus, or manual backups stored locally, a well-rounded approach ensures your website remains protected. Don’t wait for disaster—secure your site today!
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