What Is a Website Backup?
A website backup is a saved copy of your website’s files and database. It acts as a safety net, allowing you to restore your site if something goes wrong—whether from hacking, accidental deletion, software issues, or server problems.
Think of it like backing up your phone or computer. If something breaks, you can restore everything from a previous version.
What a Website Backup Includes
A complete backup typically contains:
- Website files: images, code, themes, plugins
- Database: pages, posts, settings, user data
- Configuration files: settings that control how your site works
Together, these pieces allow your website to be fully restored.
Why Website Backups Matter
Backups protect your business from:
- Hacking or malware infections
- Broken updates or plugin conflicts
- Accidental deletion of pages or files
- Hosting failures or server crashes
- Human error during edits or redesigns
Without backups, recovering your website can be expensive—or impossible.
How Often Should You Back Up Your Website?
The right backup frequency depends on how often your content changes:
- Daily: for active blogs, e‑commerce sites, or sites with frequent updates
- Weekly: for most small business websites
- Monthly: for static sites with rare changes
Where Backups Are Stored
Backups can be stored:
- On your hosting server
- In the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
- On a separate backup service
- On an external device
The safest approach is to store backups in more than one place.
Automatic vs. Manual Backups
Automatic Backups
These run on a schedule and require no effort. Ideal for most businesses.
Manual Backups
These are created on demand—useful before major updates or redesigns.
Related Digital Literacy Topics
Need Help Setting Up Website Backups?
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