Why website backups are so important

Websites have become vital tools for businesses, blogs, and individuals. They function as our virtual storefronts, knowledge hubs, and platforms for creative expression. However, they also present their share of challenges and vulnerabilities. Imagine waking up one day to discover your website has vanished, erasing all of your hard work and valuable content. It’s a scenario that instills fear in the hearts of website owners, underscoring the undeniable significance of website backups. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the crucial reasons why website backups are a key tool in responsible website management. We’ll explore how they not only protect your data but also ensure smooth business operations, serving as a vital safety net in our ever evolving digital world.

What is website backup?

In simple terms, a website backup stands as the most valuable insurance policy for website owners, serving as a formidable defense against potential disasters. While individuals are well-aware of the significance of backing up computer files, the importance of maintaining website backups often goes overlooked.

A website backup is a duplicate copy of your website’s files and data that is stored separately from your live website. It is essentially a snapshot of your website at a specific point in time. Website backups are crucial for various reasons, including disaster recovery, security, and website maintenance.

Website backups typically include an array of files, data, and other valuable assets.

What should be included in a website backup?

1. Website Files. This includes all the files that make up your website, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, videos, and other media files.
2. Database. Most websites, especially content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, rely on databases to store content, user information, and other dynamic data.
3. Configuration Files: Configuration files, such as the .htaccess file, contain important settings that affect how your website functions.
4. Plugins, Themes, and Extensions. If your website uses plugins, themes, or extensions (common in CMS-based websites), backups should include these components.
5. Media and Uploads. Images, videos, PDFs, and other media files that you’ve uploaded to your website should be part of the backup to maintain the content’s availability.
6. User Data. If your website has user registration and accounts, backups should include user data, including usernames, email addresses, and user profiles.
7. Settings and Customizations. Custom settings or configurations made to your website, including SEO settings and other options, should be part of the backup.
8. Logs and Analytics. Depending on your setup, you may want to include access logs, error logs, and analytics data to retain historical performance and visitor information.
9. E-commerce Data. If your website is an online store, backups should include product listings, order history, customer information, and transaction records.
10. Content and Posts. In content-driven websites, all published and draft content, should be included in the backup.
11. Scripts and Custom Code. If you have custom scripts, code, or applications integrated into your website, ensure that these are part of your backup.

They are essential for mitigating the risk of data loss due to various scenario. These include hardware failure, software errors, security breaches, and accidental deletions. It’s crucial to have regular backups to safeguard your website.

Now that you have an understanding of what website backups are, let’s delve deeper into the reasons they are so important.

1 – Accidents happen

Errors are a part of human nature, and they can occur when you least expect them. A simple misclick could result in the deletion of a crucial file, leaving your website in disarray. While many assume their hosting provider offers foolproof protection, it’s essential to understand that they may not always have the most up-to-date version of your website readily available.

Moreover, relying solely on disaster recovery backups from your hosting provider may not offer the immediate solution you need, leading to unexpected downtime that can disrupt your daily routine. Furthermore, the cost associated with immediate backup restoration can often catch businesses off guard, straining their budgets.

2 – Hacking is a very real issue

WordPress, the widely adopted content management system (CMS), powers an impressive 27 percent of all websites on the internet today. What’s more, it operates on an open-source platform, ensuring accessibility to its code by a diverse range of users.

However, if you’re managing a WordPress site, this accessibility can pose risks. We understand that as a busy small business owner, your days are packed. It’s easy to overlook essential core updates or delay them for a few weeks. But here’s the catch: neglecting regular website backups and updates could have significant financial repercussions. According to the Denver Post, a staggering 60 percent of small businesses confronted with a malware attack find themselves in dire straits, facing potential closure within just six months.

Want to avoid falling into that statistic? I’m not surprised. If you’re looking for nothing but the best website security available, take a look at The Elite Web Co’s., Website Backup plans. Elite’s Website Security Packages provide you with a complete, all-encompassing and easy-to-use tool to keep your site protected from malware, hackers and other online security threats. For further information on plans, pricing, and more, click here.

3 – Computer fails occur all the time

Keeping a backup of your website on your local computer is a wise practice, but it doesn’t guarantee complete safety. Computers are prone to crashes and hard drive failures, which can render your backups inaccessible, potentially causing your hard-earned efforts to vanish in an instant.

In general, it’s advisable to adopt a proactive approach to backups. Delete only the data you are certain you no longer require and maintain multiple copies to ensure you always possess a functional and up-to-date version of your site.

Top tip: Consider incorporating a date-based naming convention for your backups to maintain clarity. This way, you can avoid inadvertently loading an outdated version when you actually need the most current one.

4 – Updates don’t always work out

Occasionally, when you attempt to update your core files or a plugin, the process doesn’t go smoothly. All it takes is a simple click of the update button, and suddenly your website is no longer live. This situation can lead to frantic calls from your boss, frustrated customers, financial losses, and a lot of stress. Wouldn’t it be incredibly convenient if you could just click a button and revert your website to its previous working state? The answer is an easy yes.

Top tip: Imagine your site crashes in the middle of a workday, much like the scenario described above. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in a frantic scramble to figure out how to restore your site. It’s a wise practice to familiarize yourself with the process of restoring a backup in advance, ensuring you’re well-prepared in case the unexpected occurs.

5 – Your payment plan doesn’t go through properly

It’s a common scenario that plays out frequently: You receive a new card but forget to update your payment information with your hosting provider. They attempt billing multiple times, but the failed billing notifications often end up in your spam folder. Eventually, your website goes offline. To get your site back up and running, you’ll need to repurchase your hosting plan, and there might even be a restoration fee involved (assuming your provider offers this option).

Beyond the added expenses associated with site restoration, you’re also facing a loss of valuable time. Time spent on phone calls with your provider, time during which your site remains inaccessible to visitors, and time without the potential for profit. We all understand that time is money, and squandered time equates to wasted money. Maintaining an effective website backup system could ultimately save you significant resources on both fronts.

Choose Elite for a secure site

Now that you’ve grasped the significance of dependable backups, think about incorporating a website backup service into your toolkit. Elite’s Hosting and Website Backup offers comprehensive protection without requiring any extra effort on your part.

Website Backup is seamlessly integrated into all our hosting packages, making it a cost-effective solution. By opting for Website Backup, you gain access to the following benefits:

• Automatic daily backups for all your websites and databases
• Automated integration with your Elite hosting products with minimal setup needed.
• The option to re-instate your whole hosting account or separate files
• Storage which has a rolling 30 day backup
• On demand backups

So why wait any longer? It’s crystal clear that having a website backup is a pivotal step in ensuring your business not only thrives but also maintains its success. There’s no need for hesitation. Take immediate action to safeguard your online presence and investments today. Your business’s future could depend on it.