What are your best practices for backing up website data and restoring it in the event of a failure?

Incorporating methods involves carrying out automated backups (both complete and incremental) storing them offsite and routinely checking the backup quality while also having a thorough disaster recovery strategy, in place that is well documented and easily accessible, for reference if needed later on by testing the restoration process within a staging setting to guarantee data coherence and minimize any potential downtime duration. 
 

Best practices are automating regular backups, storing them offsite in secure locations like cloud services (best way), and backing up both files and the database. It’s important to keep multiple backup versions and periodically test them in a staging environment to verify their integrity, because in some cases do not work, to fix is required extra time. In the event of a failure, the restoration process should begin by identifying the root cause, followed by restoring a clean backup either fully or partially, depending on the issue. After restoring, it’s critical to update credentials and re-secure the site to prevent future incidents.

Regularly back up website data using automated backups, store copies on cloud and local servers, and use version control for code. Ensure database backups are frequent and test restoration procedures to minimize downtime in case of failure.

For HTML/CSS websites:
Manually create a ZIP backup of your website files periodically and save it on a local disk, not on the server. This way, you have a copy that's safe from server failures.

For WordPress:
Consider using an automated backup plugin, like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy. These plugins make regular backups easy and can store them remotely, like in cloud storage, so you're always covered in case of a failure.

For Shopify:
Make sure to always save a duplicate of your main/active theme. Shopify doesn’t offer automatic backups, so manually exporting your theme every now and then ensures you have a working version ready to restore if needed.

Cheers!

Gabriel

For a WordPress website, use Updraft plugins and setup an automatic backup to a third-party drive. Like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.

For non-WordPress website use a server who have daily backup feature and take manual backup.

Best Practices for Backing Up and Restoring Website Data

Website backups are like insurance—they keep your data safe and ensure quick recovery during unexpected failures. Here’s how I handle backups and restorations:

1. Regular and Automated Backups

Scheduled Backups: I set up daily or weekly backups depending on your website's activity level.

Incremental Backups: Only changes are backed up after the first full backup, saving storage space and reducing server load.

Redundancy: I store backups in multiple locations—cloud services like Google Drive, AWS S3, or Dropbox, as well as local servers—for added security.

2. Comprehensive Backup Scope

Full Backups: I include your entire website—files, databases, and configurations—to ensure nothing is left out.

Selective Backups: For dynamic sites, I prioritize database backups more frequently to capture real-time updates.

3. Testing Restorations

Mock Restorations: I periodically test backup files by restoring them in a staging environment to ensure they’re complete and functional.

Versioning: I maintain multiple backup versions, allowing you to roll back to a specific point in time if needed.

4. Quick Recovery in Case of Failure

Step-by-Step Restoration: I ensure a structured process, restoring databases first, followed by files, to minimize downtime.

Disaster Recovery Plan: I implement strategies to handle worst-case scenarios, including ransomware attacks or major server crashes.

5. Secure Storage and Encryption

Encrypted Backups: I encrypt backup files to protect them from unauthorized access.

Restricted Access: I ensure backups are accessible only to authorized personnel.

Backing up is more than a safety measure—it’s a business essential. With my proactive approach, you can rest assured your website’s data is always secure and recoverable in minutes!

For backing up and restoring website data, I follow these best practices:

Regular Backups: Schedule automatic daily or weekly backups of both files and databases, depending on the website's activity level.

Multiple Locations: Store backups in multiple secure locations, such as cloud storage (Google Drive, AWS) and local drives.

Incremental Backups: Use incremental backups to save only the latest changes, reducing storage usage.

Test Restores: Regularly test backup restoration to ensure data integrity and quick recovery in case of failure.

Disaster Plan: Have a clear recovery plan to minimize downtime and ensure a smooth restoration process.

These steps safeguard website data and ensure swift recovery during unexpected issues.

For reliable website data backup and restoration, here are best practices combined with a case study showcasing their effectiveness:

Best Practices for Website Data Backup and Restoration

Automate Regular Backups:

Frequency: Set automated daily or weekly backups based on site activity. High-traffic sites may require daily or even hourly backups.

Tools Used: Reliable plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, and managed backup services from hosting providers (e.g., SiteGround, Kinsta) help automate and schedule backups.

Target Metrics: Aim for a backup completion time of under 30 minutes to avoid significant server load.

Store Backups in Multiple Locations:

Offsite Storage: Use cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, AWS S3) in addition to local backups. This ensures data availability even if the primary server fails.

Redundancy and Data Security: Store backups in at least two separate locations to minimize data loss risks.

Backup Both Files and Databases:

Complete Coverage: Ensure that both files (e.g., images, themes, plugins) and databases (e.g., user data, content) are backed up.

Database Compression: Use compressed backups for faster storage and retrieval. Most backup tools compress databases by default, reducing file size by around 60-70%.

Routine Testing of Backups:

Test Restores: Regularly test backups by restoring them to staging environments. This helps confirm the backup’s integrity and ensures restoration reliability.

Metrics for Testing: Aim for a test restoration time of under 15 minutes to check viability without significant delays.

Use Incremental Backups for Efficiency:

Reduced Server Load: Incremental backups save only recent changes rather than full backups, making them faster and less resource-intensive.

Recovery Points: More frequent recovery points improve the chance of data recovery without significant loss. Aim for incremental backups every 2-3 hours on active sites.

Case Study: WP Engine’s Incremental Backup Solution

WP Engine, a popular managed WordPress host, implemented an incremental backup solution to support large websites with high traffic:

Incremental Backups Implementation: WP Engine introduced hourly incremental backups for clients to ensure that any data loss is minimal.

Performance Metrics:

Server Load Reduction: Incremental backups reduced server load by up to 30% compared to full daily backups, keeping websites fast and responsive.

Reduced Recovery Time Objective (RTO): With hourly backups, clients experienced minimal downtime during failures, and restoration was achievable within 15 minutes, meeting stringent RTO requirements.

Real Results: During a data recovery scenario for a major e-commerce client, WP Engine’s hourly backups allowed them to restore the website to within an hour before failure, with only minor data loss. This minimal data recovery time enabled the client to continue operations smoothly with minimal interruption.

Conclusion

By following these best practices—automated incremental backups, multi-location storage, comprehensive file and database coverage, routine testing, and incremental backups—you can ensure robust backup and restoration for your website. The WP Engine case study highlights how these practices, when applied consistently, provide a fast, reliable recovery with minimal downtime and data loss.