WordPress is a popular content management system that runs millions of websites across the internet. While it is a reliable platform, you must back up your WordPress. With the proper backup system in place, you can safeguard your website from potential data loss caused by hacking, server crashes, virus assaults, or accidental deletions. In this article, we will cover how to back up your WordPress website using different methods.
Why Backup Your WordPress Website is Important:
As a WordPress website owner, you must safeguard your data from unforeseen incidents. Creating a website backup is one technique to secure your important data.
Numerous security dangers might breach your website and cause data loss.
A WordPress backup saves a copy of your site’s essential files, directories, and databases. This includes your content, plugins, themes, photos, videos, settings, and other information. You may easily restore your website from a backup if you are locked out of it due to a mistake or cyberattack.
Here are a few reasons why you should back up your WordPress website.
1. Data Loss Protection
Backing up your website regularly guarantees that you have a copy of all of your website’s files, databases, and content in case they are compromised or lost.
2. Quick Recovery
If you have a recent backup, you can swiftly restore your website to its prior state in case of an unanticipated event.
3. Security
Backing up your website is an important component of your overall security strategy, as it adds an extra layer of defense against potential attackers.
4. Peace of Mind
Having backups of your website can provide you peace of mind, knowing that your data is safe and secure.
WordPress Backup Methods
Creating a backup of your WordPress site is essential to protect your content. There are several methods available:
Method 1: Using a Backup Plugin (Recommended)
Backup plugins simplify the process and automate backups. Here are some popular options:
01). UpdraftPlus
Over 3 million active installations, allow storage on the cloud or locally. Features include scheduled backups, file selection, and direct restore from the admin panel.
02). Duplicator
Backs up and migrates your site, creating a zip file containing all files and databases. It offers automated backups and the ability to package your website into a single archive for easy restoration or migration.
For our tutorial, we will use UpdraftPlus
Creating a Website Backup with UpdraftPlus
1️⃣Installation and Configuration
Log into your WordPress dashboard.
Go to Plugins > Add New.
Search for “UpdraftPlus” and install the plugin.
* Click “Activate” to enable the plugin.
* Navigate to Settings > UpdraftPlus Settings to configure the plugin.
2️⃣Creating a Backup
Click the “Backup Now” button.
Choose the backup options: Database, Files, Cloud Storage, and Automatic Deletion.
Click “Backup Now” to initiate the backup process.
3️⃣Scheduling Automatic Backups
Return to the UpdraftPlus dashboard and click “Settings.”
Set the backup frequency for files and databases (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly).
Determine the number of backups to retain on the server.
4️⃣Cloud Storage Setup
Select a cloud storage provider (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox).
Click the corresponding icon and sign in to your account.
Grant UpdraftPlus access to your cloud storage.
Click “Complete Setup” to connect the account.
5️⃣Storing Backup Offline
Download the backup files to your computer, USB, or another cloud storage platform.
Select the folders you wish to download (Database, Plugins, Themes, Uploads, etc.).
Click the corresponding links to download the files.
Method 2: Backing Up Your WordPress Site with Your Web Host
1. Determine Backup Availability
* Check your hosting plan or contact support to confirm if backups are included.
2. Set Up Web Host Backups
Steps (may vary depending on your host)
1. Log in to your hosting dashboard.
2. Navigate to the site you want to back up.
3. Locate the backup option in the menu or navigation panel.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to initiate the backup.
3. Customization and Scheduling (if available)
* Some hosts allow you to schedule backups, choose the number of backups to retain, and customize the backup contents.
Limitations of Web Host Backups
While web host backups offer convenience, they should not be the sole source of backups for the following reasons:
▪️On-site Storage
Backups stored on the same server as your site could be compromised if the server fails.
▪️Inaccessibility
Offsite backups may not be immediately accessible, delaying site restoration.
▪️Malware Risks
Web hosts may delete infected sites and backups, leaving you vulnerable to data loss.
Method 3: How to manually backup a WordPress site
Taking manual backups can be time-consuming and tedious, leading to the temptation to skip backups altogether. However, it’s still important to know how to perform a manual backup, similar to knowing how to drive a stick shift in a world of automatic cars.
When taking a manual backup, it’s essential to understand that you will need to backup the files and the database separately to have a complete WordPress backup.
1. File backups
– cPanel
Many web hosts provide cPanel, which allows you to manage your website files. If your host uses a different control panel, such as Plesk or Webmin, look for a tool like File Manager to access your files.
– FTP
If your host doesn’t offer a control panel, you can use FTP to download your website files. This process may be more time-consuming, requiring an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck.
2. Database backups
If you have cPanel access, you can click on phpMyAdmin to access your database. Make sure you have your database login credentials, which can be found in your wp-config file or hosting account.
While manual restores may be necessary in certain situations, it’s generally not recommended due to their time-consuming and tedious nature. Manual backups also have their share of drawbacks, such as unreliable restores, downtime during the restoration process, and the inability to test backups before restoring them.
Additional Steps for Securing Manual WordPress Backups
After performing a manual WordPress backup, consider implementing these measures to enhance site security:
✔Diversify Backup Methods
Utilize multiple backup methods, such as using both a plugin and a manual approach. This redundancy ensures site accessibility in case of unforeseen circumstances.
✔Verify Scheduled Backups
Monitor automatic backups regularly to ensure they run on schedule. Changes or updates can occasionally disrupt the scheduling process. Confirming active backup creation provides peace of mind.
✔Encrypt Backup Data
Protect your backups from potential cyber threats by encrypting them with randomized characters and password protection. Encryption software simplifies this process.
✔Store Backups Securely in Multiple Locations
Create multiple backup copies and store them in both cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox) and local storage (e.g., hard drive). This dispersed storage minimizes the risk of losing all backups simultaneously.
✔Test Backup Functionality
Validate the integrity of your backups by restoring them on a separate testing environment (e.g., staging site or test playground). Ensure the backups contain all necessary data and function properly before relying on them for site recovery.
How frequently should you back up your WordPress site?
Understanding the importance of backups is crucial, but determining how often to take them is equally important.
For most websites, we recommend daily backups to ensure all changes within 24 hours are captured. This minimizes the risk of losing significant work in case of an error. Even for static websites with limited changes, such as brochure sites, daily backups are still advised as updates to plugins and themes can be missed with less frequent backups.
Alternatively, real-time backups are recommended for high-traffic sites or e-commerce stores. These websites experience frequent changes that are not easily recoverable, especially with transactions, orders, and customer data constantly updating. Therefore, real-time backups are the most practical choice for ensuring data protection in these scenarios.
Essential Features of a Reliable WordPress Backup
To ensure the integrity and recoverability of your website, consider the following criteria when selecting a backup provider:
1. Reliable Backups and Restores
Backups should be completed within acceptable timeframes and restorations should occur seamlessly.
2. Emergency Restores
An external dashboard allows for restorations even when access to wp-admin is compromised.
3. Automatic Backups
Automated backups eliminate the need for manual intervention, ensuring regular and consistent backups.
4. Long-Term Storage
A minimum of 90 days of backups is essential, with an option for extended storage up to 365 days.
5. Incremental Backups
After initial coordination, incremental backups store only changes since the previous backup, reducing resource strain and storage costs.
6. Secure and Encrypted
Backups must be encrypted to safeguard data from malware and unauthorized access.
7. Comprehensive Backups
Full backups should include all files, folders, and the database to enable complete restoration.
8. Unlimited Storage
Avoid backup solutions that limit storage based on website size to prevent unexpected costs as your business grows.
9. Optimal Frequency
Daily backups are recommended for most websites, with short-interval backups available for high-traffic sites.
10. Offsite Storage
Backups should be stored separately from the web host and server to ensure recoverability in the event of catastrophic failures. Cloud storage is a suitable option, but be aware of potential costs associated with external services.
Conclusion
Backing up your WordPress website is critical for protecting your data and ensuring the longevity of your business. By following these methods and routinely upgrading your backups, you can keep your WordPress website safe, secure, and well-protected from potential attacks. Remember to test your backups regularly to ensure they are working properly, and store numerous copies in different locations for increased security.
