Any serious website owner needs to make sure that their site, and the valuable content it contains, is backed up. You never know when disaster could strike and quickly wipe your site off the internet. To keep that from happening, there are some things you need to keep in mind when you are planning a site backup.
Think About Your Backup Method
There are typically two methods that are commonly used. You can either use a plugin to backup your site. You can also utilize your server’s Cpanel or other backup methods available to you.
Should You Use A Plugin Or Your Webhost?
Plugins you install to back up your website communicate with the server each time it is ready to save your data. The downside to plugins is that your server may view the plugin in the same way it would a hacker or other entity who is attempting to damage your website. This is why it is important to use more than one method to back up your site.
Backups provided by your server are usually very secure and a great way to make sure your site is protected. Servers back up the data on the website daily and will store up to a week’s worth of information. The drawback to relying on your server is the fact that you may experience a delay if you need assistance bringing your website back up after it goes down.
Only Restore The Site As A Last Resort
Another thing to remember is to only restore your website as a last resort. This may sound odd, especially when you are in the throes of a disaster, such as a complete shutdown of your website from an outside source. During a time like that, you may jump to the conclusion that restoring your site is the best thing to do.
If your website goes down for any reason, your host can easily provide you with a backup of all information, including any content that was recently added. If you restore your entire website, you will lose any and all content that you created since the last time a backup was taken. Instead of restoring the site, you can simply replace one file and have your site back the way it was within a day.
Prevent Any Issues That Could Lead To A Problem
Obviously, the best way to prevent the need for a backup is to take all the proper precautions that would require the need for a backup in the first place. You need to have all of your login information for your web host, WordPress information, and any other pertinent entities in one place that you can quickly access. As soon as you suspect that someone has hacked your website or that other major data corruptions may have occurred, you can quickly rectify the problem.
Back-Up All Of Your Files Before You Edit Them
You should also be sure to back up any files before they are edited. Nothing is more frustrating that working for hours on a file only to watch your work disappear in a matter of seconds. You can keep that from happening by simply copying your files directly to your hard drive. That way if your site goes down, you can easily find your files and bring the site back up.
Back-Up Your Website Today!
By now, you should have raced to your computer to ensure a secure backup plan. Make sure you know exactly how everything works and know the steps you need to take to get your site up and running. Doing these things now will prevent headaches down the road.
