Are you worried about losing your WordPress site’s data or experiencing an unexpected outage and don’t know how to backup your website?

Well, you’re not alone! With WordPress powering over 40% of all websites, of which 40% of cyberattacks target small business websites and only a small percentage of those businesses are prepared for such an attack on their infrastructure. It remains a popular target for cybercriminals where even a slight data loss or outage significantly impacts your online presence.

Don’t worry – you’ve landed at the right place where we will explore two (2) quick and easy methods to backup your website which you can easily understand how it works and what best fits your purposes.

So let’s dive in and get started!

Table of Contents

What are WordPress Backups?

As a WordPress site owner, it’s essential to understand the importance of backing up your site and the common causes of data loss that can impact your online presence.

Backing up your WordPress site ensures you have a copy of all your website’s data, files, and content in case of any unexpected incidents. Without a backup, you risk losing all your data, files, and content in case of hacking attempts, server crashes, or even human errors like accidentally deleting files or content.

Also, WordPress site backups give you peace of mind knowing that you can quickly restore your website in no time to its previous state…and…not having to stress about how to rebuild your site from scratch!

So what are the common causes that may result in data loss?

  • Cyber attacks: hacking, malware and phishing
  • Server failures: crashes and hardware issues
  • Human error: accidental deletion or incorrect coding
  • Plugin/theme conflicts: errors and crashes

NOTE : Regular site backups are essential to prevent potential data loss, hence why it’s important that you understand these common causes and have a backup plan in place to protect your site from data loss.

How to Backup Your WordPress Website

Now that you know the importance of backing up your website, it’s time to explore the two easy methods to perform quick backups. You can choose either (or both) of them, whichever fits your requirements best.

One of the fundamental aspects to backup your website involves safeguarding your site’s files, ensuring that every piece of your digital presence is secured against potential losses. The first method is the manual method, meaning you take a backup by downloading a copy of your online files to a storage location, whether that be to your computer, a cloud-based drive or another external location. Saving these files to your computer would be the least safe option and should only be used in emergencies.

Below is the update process to follow:

  • Log in to your cPanel account through your web hosting provider’s login page (usually <domain-name>/cpanel>.
  • Navigate to and open the File Manager, in the Tools | Files tools subset.
    Backup your website
  • Left-click once in the left pane, or double-left-click in the right pane the public_html folder (WordPress site root directory) to open the folder’s contents.
    Backup your website
  • Select all of the files in this public_html folder and then left-click on the Compress button.
    Backup your website
  • This will open a pop-up where you may select the type of file compression you prefer…and…
    Backup your website
  • …then scroll down and enter where you wish to save the compressed file (e.g. public_html) and its filename (e.g. name_YYMMDD), before clicking on the Compress Files button to action your request. The compressed file will then be saved to the folder of your choice on the server. It is then recommended to select the compressed file and download the file from the server to another safe location (e.g your computer, cloud storage…etc.)…so that’s the files saved…but you still need to save your database…and that’s next!
    Backup your website
  • In addition to the website files, the database is an integral component that also needs to be saved when you backup your website, as it holds critical information that powers the dynamic content.So, let’s begin to do that…open Backup Wizard in the Tools | Files tools subset.
    Backup your website
  • From this next window you need to select the Back Up button…
    Backup your website
  • …and then the MySQL Databases button from the Select Partial Backup section.
    Backup your website
  • Left-click on the required database and it will be automatically saved & downloaded to your “Downloads“folder. it is recommended that this database and the compressed website files are saved to the same location, as you will need both to restore your website.

The official WordPress Plugin Repository has many backup plugins, but the plugin of choice used and installed by Naked Egg Web Design for its clients is UpdraftPlus with over 3 million active installations and a high user confidence rating. This plugin which permits both manual and automatic database and web file backups to many storage locations, can also restore backups with one click in case of any disaster.

Although NEWD configures UpdraftPlus to automatically backup your website periodically, there could be occasions where the site owner may wish to create an additional backup, particularly before additions or amendments are made to the website.

Below is the update process that you must follow:

  • Access the WordPress Admin Panel.
  • Navigate to UpdraftPlus in the side menu and from the multiple options available, the dedicated dashboard should open to Backup / Restore (see below).
    UpdraftPlus - backup your website
  • Click on Backup Now to generate the backup.
    UpdraftPlus - backup your website
  • The process to backup your website will finish in a few minutes & then will be available for restoration in the future.
    UpdraftPlus - backup your website

If you’re in search of a cost-effective way to backup your website, see why NEWD endorses the UpdraftPlus plugin as an excellent option that offers robust features to streamline the backup process and ensure data security.

WordPress Backups Importance: How Often Should You Perform Them?

  • Always have a recent backup of your WordPress website to avoid site-breaking errors.
  • Opt for managed WordPress hosting that offers automatic backups or use plugins to schedule backups for consistent backups.
  • Backup your entire site before making significant changes, moving to a new host, or changing your site’s domain.
  • Consider automating backups to minimise human error.

Recent backups can be a lifesaver when unexpected events occur on your website.

Here are some situations where having a backup is crucial:

  • Website crashes due to software or hardware failure – having a recent backup can help you get your site backup and running quickly.
  • Hacking or security breaches – when you backup your website, you can restore your website to a previous safe state.
  • Accidental deletion or overwriting of content – you can recover lost content with a backup.
  • Moving your website to a new hosting provider – backups can simplify the process of migrating all your data.

Dependent upon how often your website changes determines the best period for you to backup your website, but the greater the period between backups, the more changes you’ll miss…so… consistent (and regular) backups are essential for most websites.

Preferred WordPress Backup Plugin: UpdraftPlus

UpdraftPlus - backup your website

UpdraftPlus, endorsed by NEWD as its preferred website backup solution, is a powerful WordPress backup plugin that has gained massive popularity in the WordPress community. With over 3 million active installs, UpdraftPlus is trusted by website owners around the world.

With UpdraftPlus, you can create complete WordPress site backups and store them in the cloud or download them to your computer or other location. You can schedule regular backups and select which files to backup.

Additionally, you can easily access and restore backups directly from your WordPress admin panel. UpdraftPlus can automatically backup your website to various cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3 and others, or email for safe and easy access. Both free and paid versions of UpdraftPlus are available, with the free version lacking some of the more advanced features that is included with the paid versions.

Best Practice for Backing up a WordPress website

Now you know the importance of backing up your WordPress website, the manual and automatic methods of conducting backups, and the best backup plugins as well, but what are the best practices for WordPress backup?

Let’s dive in and explore the three key areas to focus on when creating a backup strategy:

Backup Frequency

Regular backups are essential to ensure you don’t lose any data in case of a mishap. It is recommended to backup your website at least once a week, even if you do not make regular changes to it.

If you frequently update your website however, daily automated backups may be the better option, with a manual backup (files & database) done occasionally.

Storing Backups Securely

Creating backups is only half the battle – you must also store them securely. It is crucial to keep your backups offsite, preferably on a secure cloud server.

You can also store them locally on a hard drive or USB stick, but remember that they may be vulnerable to theft or damage. Additionally, make sure to encrypt your backups and choose strong passwords to protect them from unauthorised access.

Testing Backups Regularly

Creating backups is not enough; you must test them regularly to ensure they function correctly. Testing backups can help you identify any issues before restoring them. It’s also a good idea to simulate a restore process to ensure your backup files are complete and work as expected.

By following these best practices, you can ensure your WordPress backups are secure and functioning correctly, giving you the peace of mind to know your data is safe. Remember to choose a reliable backup plugin and update it regularly to ensure optimal performance.

Summary

In this post you have been informed what a backup is, why you need to backup your website, how to backup your website both manually and by using a plugin, as well as the best practices to engage to ensure your optimum protection against mishaps, both accidental and deliberate.

A regular backup of your website is critical to safeguarding your content and files from potential data loss or cyber threats. With the right tools and best practices, you can keep your website up and running smoothly without limitation.

NEWD Admin
February 6th, 2025

Naked Egg Web Design -
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At Naked Egg Web Design, we are committed to providing high-quality web design, hosting and site care services to small businesses. We take pride in our work and strive to create websites that not only look great but also deliver results. Our team has years of experience in both graphic and website development and design and we are dedicated to helping small businesses succeed online.

If you're a small business looking for a reliable and trustworthy partner to help you create and care for your website, look no further than Naked Egg Web Design. Contact us today to learn more about our graphic and website design, hosting and site care services.

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