Definition
A website backup is a stored copy of a site's files and database that can be used to restore it after a failed update, hack, deletion or server problem.
Website backup explained
A complete backup includes both the files (code, themes, plugins and uploaded media) and the database (content, settings, orders and users). Either one alone is not enough to rebuild a working site.
A reliable backup setup is:
- Automatic, on a schedule that matches how often the site changes: daily for stores and busy sites.
- Stored off the server, so a server failure or hack doesn't take the backups with it.
- Kept for a sensible period, so you can go back to before a problem started.
- Taken on demand before every update or significant change.
- Tested: a backup is only proven when you have restored from it.
Hosted platforms such as Shopify manage the underlying platform, but store owners are still responsible for their own content and theme changes, so exporting product data and duplicating themes before edits remain good practice.
Example
A plugin update breaks your checkout on a Friday evening. Because your maintenance routine takes a backup before every update, the site is restored to the state from an hour earlier within minutes, and the update is investigated on staging instead.
Why it matters
Backups turn a broken update or security incident from a disaster into a short interruption.
Related service
WordPress Maintenance
Core, theme and plugin updates, backups, security and uptime checks for WordPress sites.
WordPress maintenance plansPublished by Vidern, founded and led by Malhar Shah. Updated .
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Related terms
- WordPress core updateA WordPress core update is a new release of the WordPress software itself, delivering security fixes, bug fixes or new features.
- Uptime monitoringUptime monitoring automatically checks a website at regular intervals and alerts you when it goes down, slows down or returns errors.
- Staging environmentA staging environment is a private copy of a website where changes are built and tested before they go live on the production site.
- WordPress pluginA WordPress plugin is an add-on that extends what a WordPress site can do, such as forms, SEO settings, caching, security or e-commerce.