Backing up your website and databases regularly is one of the most important security measures you can take for your WordPress website. Even if your website is secure, not having regular backups can make you feel uneasy.
However, many website admins and owners don’t take backups seriously. Some rely on their web hosts to perform backups, while others only backup their website once in a while. Unfortunately, some don’t realize the importance of backups until their website is hacked or data is lost.
Backing up your website manually typically involves creating a copy of your website’s files and database, and storing them in a safe location. Here’s how to manually backup your website:
- Copy your website’s files: Connect to your web hosting account using FTP or your hosting control panel. Copy all the files and folders in your website’s directory to your local computer. This will ensure that you have a copy of your website’s files.
- Export your website’s database: If your website uses a database (such as MySQL), you will need to export a copy of it. To do this, log in to your hosting account’s control panel and find the database section. Look for the option to export the database, and choose the “SQL” format. Save the exported file to your local computer.
- Store your backup: Store your website’s files and database backup in a safe location, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage service, or other secure location.
- Test your backup: To make sure that your backup is working correctly, you can try restoring it to a test environment. Create a new test website, and upload your website’s files to the new website’s directory. Import your website’s database into the new website’s database. If everything works correctly, you can be confident that your backup is working correctly.
It’s important to note that manually backing up your website can be time-consuming and may not be the best option for larger websites or those that are updated frequently. In these cases, you may want to consider using an automated backup solution or a hosting provider that offers automatic backups.
There are many good automatic backup solutions available, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and the platform you’re using for your website.
If you use WordPress, there are many backup plugins available for WordPress, but here are some of the most popular ones:
- UpdraftPlus: UpdraftPlus is a widely used backup plugin that allows you to backup your WordPress website to cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon S3. It also provides a simple and easy-to-use interface for scheduling backups.
- Jetpack Backup: Jetpack Backup is a WordPress plugin that offers automated daily backups of your website. It provides you with the option to restore your website with a single click.
- VaultPress: VaultPress is a backup plugin developed by Automattic, the company behind WordPress. It offers real-time automated backups, easy site restoration, and security scanning.
- BackWPup: BackWPup is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to create complete backups of your website. It supports cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Amazon S3, and Rackspace.
- Duplicator: Duplicator is a popular plugin that allows you to create backups of your website and migrate it to a different location. It’s ideal for website owners who want to move their website to a different host or domain.
When choosing a backup plugin for your WordPress website, it’s essential to consider factors such as cost, ease of use, and the specific backup features you require. By choosing the right backup plugin, you can ensure that your website stays safe and secure, and you can recover it easily in case of any mishaps.
