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WordPress powered websites are geared toward content generation. With some success, you find that your content really connects with people – AND also, you’ve discovered that content creation requires a good deal of effort. Maybe that’s news to you or maybe you were a step ahead of the rest of us.
Regardless, losing hours and possibly days can be avoided with a simple backup plan. Give it five minutes – it could save you in a major way!
Here is a quick and practical outline of what you can do and how to go about making your own back UP plan.
1. When and what should you backup?
- Always backup your site prior to upgrading to a new release of WordPress. (Or other software running your website.)
- Backup both the files and the database. (WordPress strategically separates content from the files/images/uploads etc., by keeping the textual data in a database and the files live separately in a folder on your hosting account.
- Backup on regular intervals – once a month is minimum, weekly and or daily backups are recommended for websites that regularly get new content.
- Did you spend a ton of time updating things on your site today? Might be a perfect time to create a backup!
2. Verify your backup – of both data and files
Compressed backup of files and MySQL on web server
As mentioned earlier, your WordPress website consists of a variety of file types: php, images, css and other media that you have uploaded or added to your core WordPress install. The backup of your files will end up as a compressed file or a folder with all these files together.
Verification of this data means:The data part of your website is second. This is all the textual content as well as the settings you’ve made through the dashboard of your site. All this information is collected and placed in a single file through the backup process.
a: The backup files are actually created (and that they contain all the data and the files).
b: That you have access to the data (if the backup exists on your server, you may want to go ahead and download this file to keep on hand when the need arises).
You may need to download the files to then unzip/decompress the files to verify that the most recent data and files are actually in the backup file.
Also be sure you know how your hosting provider handles backup and restore processes. The automated backup service for all websites hosted with Mission: Communicate are backed up daily. These backups are kept for 7 days.
3. Running the backup process
Option 1 – Using Your Web Hosting Control Panel
Various hosting environments provide a system for backing up the files and data on your web server. Here is the simple step by step process available for websites hosted on the Mission: Communicate Hosting service.
- Login to your Dashboard.
- Navigate to the “Backup” page of your control panel.
Select the backup icon on second row
- Select the “MySQL” and “files” options for the backup.
Select the type of backup you need
- Click on “Backup Now” and wait. A confirmation of backup completed will show once the process is finished.
The backup takes some time - progress will be displayed here
The backup files are now available for download so you can verify the data and have it on hand. You also have the ability to mark these files for permanent storage on your hosting account. These compressed backup files are generally available for three days following the backup.
Note: Now you can is when you can confidently upgrade your WordPress website with the automatic upgrade option.Be sure to update any plugins installed on your website! This reduce the possibility of hangups or failed upgrade of WordPress software.
WordPress Upgrade Process in a nutshell:
- Backup Website (Files and Data)
- Upgrade all plugins with updates available
- Proceed to Automatic Update
- Test, ensure plugins that need to be active are active
- Enjoy your newly updated WordPress powered website!
Option 2: other Backup Options:
Backing up is a general function that all hosting solutions provide in one form or another. Backing up instructions for a couple other popular website control panels:
Backing up with Cpanel
Using an FTP client - which allows drag and drop upload and download website files.
(I personally find this helpful for backing up specific folders such as themes you’ve tweaked recently)
PHP: MySQL – WordPress Data Backup
This is where you can manage your database directly. PHP: MySQL also has an export feature that quickly puts all your data directly into one file. This file can then be imported to restore information to your database.
Premium options include third party backup services. Here are a two options that have set the standard for premium WordPress backup service:
Backup Buddy – by the dev team at iThemes
This tool automates the process and allows you to specify where the files and data are stored. Backup, restore, migrate – automated through this easy to use WordPress plugin.
Vaultpress – by the Automattic team. Safeguard your site automatically.
No Cost plugin options backing up your data and files on your server:
WP DB Backup plugin - on demand backup of your database. Can save the backup on your server and/or email the file to you.
There are plenty more in the backup category on the WordPress.org plugins directory. Remember to test, review and see what others say about the plugin before relying on a third party plugin!
Restoring Your Backup
So, let’s say the worst happened and now your site disappeared. Before performing a restore check with your host to see if there are any known issues on the server. If all is well and there is no issue that would cause your site to have a problem on the server side of things, it may be time to restore your site.
Start with contacting with your hosting support team. They’ll be able to point you to the documentation and steps needed to restore file and database backups through the control panel.
At any pont with the backup files you created on hand, you can go through the process of uploading the files to your server – overwriting the existing files (FTP Client). Also, the MySQL database backup will allow you to import the backup file through PHP: MySQL interface.
Hopefully you now have a grip on getting the backup routine in place. AND, you know where to start if a restore is necessary.
Best wishes to your growing website and it’s health for many backups to come!
