WordPress Backups Explained
A practical WordPress backup strategy covering frequency, retention, offsite copies, restoration testing and host backups.
Key takeaways
- A backup is only useful if it can be restored.
- Use a retention period appropriate to how quickly you might discover a problem.
- Host backups are valuable, but independent offsite copies can reduce correlated risk.
Considering WPX?
See WPX's current plans, resources and checkout terms directly before making a hosting decision.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you purchase through this link.What to back up
What to back up matters because it changes either the amount of work your hosting environment must do or the amount of work you must do yourself. Evaluate it in the context of your actual site rather than treating it as a checkbox.
A good hosting decision is usually the result of several moderate advantages working together: suitable resources, reliable recovery, clear support, manageable workflows and a cost structure that still makes sense when the introductory term ends.
Frequency
Frequency matters because it changes either the amount of work your hosting environment must do or the amount of work you must do yourself. Evaluate it in the context of your actual site rather than treating it as a checkbox.
A good hosting decision is usually the result of several moderate advantages working together: suitable resources, reliable recovery, clear support, manageable workflows and a cost structure that still makes sense when the introductory term ends.
Retention
Retention matters because it changes either the amount of work your hosting environment must do or the amount of work you must do yourself. Evaluate it in the context of your actual site rather than treating it as a checkbox.
A good hosting decision is usually the result of several moderate advantages working together: suitable resources, reliable recovery, clear support, manageable workflows and a cost structure that still makes sense when the introductory term ends.
Offsite copies
Offsite copies matters because it changes either the amount of work your hosting environment must do or the amount of work you must do yourself. Evaluate it in the context of your actual site rather than treating it as a checkbox.
A good hosting decision is usually the result of several moderate advantages working together: suitable resources, reliable recovery, clear support, manageable workflows and a cost structure that still makes sense when the introductory term ends.
Restore testing
Restore testing matters because it changes either the amount of work your hosting environment must do or the amount of work you must do yourself. Evaluate it in the context of your actual site rather than treating it as a checkbox.
A good hosting decision is usually the result of several moderate advantages working together: suitable resources, reliable recovery, clear support, manageable workflows and a cost structure that still makes sense when the introductory term ends.
Host backups
Security should be evaluated as prevention, detection and recovery. No single firewall, plugin or host feature can remove every risk, so layered controls and recoverable backups matter.
WPX currently advertises malware scanning and removal, brute-force protection, a web application firewall, hybrid DDoS protection, SSL certificates and daily backups. Those are useful hosting-layer controls, but site owners still remain responsible for credentials, plugins, themes and application-level decisions.
WooCommerce considerations
WooCommerce considerations matters because it changes either the amount of work your hosting environment must do or the amount of work you must do yourself. Evaluate it in the context of your actual site rather than treating it as a checkbox.
A good hosting decision is usually the result of several moderate advantages working together: suitable resources, reliable recovery, clear support, manageable workflows and a cost structure that still makes sense when the introductory term ends.