Backups for websites and hosted applications

Hosting providers' backups are useful, but you should know exactly what is covered and how to restore.

Back up both files and databases

A website is usually code, uploaded files and a database. All three are needed to restore it.

Keep copies elsewhere

Store at least one copy outside the hosting account.

Automate

Schedule backups daily or more often for busy sites.

Before every change

Take a backup before updates, plugin installs or migrations.

Test restores

Restore to a test location periodically to prove backups work.

Keep enough history

Keep several days or weeks of backups, not just the latest. Problems such as malware or accidental changes are often discovered days later, after the latest backup is already affected.

See hosting on MavenHost (opens in a new tab) and our managed backups.