Article summary
- Back up both website files and the data that changes separately, such as databases, forms, products or settings.
- Keep more than one recent backup and avoid storing every copy in the same place as the live website.
- Choose backup frequency based on how often important website data changes.
- Test restoration regularly so you know the backup is complete and usable before an incident happens.
- Document who can restore the site, where credentials are stored and what to verify after recovery.
Key takeaways
- Treat backups as part of normal website maintenance.
- Store at least one copy separately from the production website.
- Match backup frequency to the rate of business-critical changes.
- Run a real restore test instead of trusting a green status indicator.
- Keep a short recovery checklist for forms, analytics, integrations and DNS after restoration.
Back up the parts of the website that can actually be lost
A business website is rarely just a folder of pages. Depending on the platform, important information may also live in a database, media library, product catalogue, booking system, form configuration, plugin settings or environment configuration. A useful backup plan identifies which components are needed to rebuild the working website, not only what is easiest to copy. If the site depends on external systems, document those connections too so they can be verified after recovery.
Choose a backup frequency based on how quickly your site changes
Backup frequency should reflect how much change the business can afford to lose. A brochure site that changes once a month may not need the same schedule as a store, booking site or lead-generation system that changes throughout the day. Think in terms of acceptable data loss: if restoring yesterday's copy would mean losing a full day of orders or enquiries, the backup schedule is probably too slow for that website.
Keep backups away from the same failure point
A backup stored only on the same server or hosting account can disappear with the system it is supposed to protect. Keep multiple recent versions and at least one copy in a separate location or managed backup system. Access to backups should be controlled, and credentials should not be stored carelessly. The aim is resilience: one technical failure, bad update or account problem should not remove both the live site and every recovery copy.
Test restoration before you need it
Backup software can report success while a restore still fails because files are incomplete, the database is inconsistent, credentials are missing or the restored version cannot run in the current environment. Schedule a practical restore test to a safe environment and verify that pages load, the database is present, images work and critical functionality is intact. This is the only reliable way to know whether your recovery process is usable.
Write a short recovery procedure for the business
Write a simple recovery procedure that a responsible person can follow under pressure. It should say where backups are located, who has access, which version to restore, how DNS or hosting changes are handled, and who needs to be informed. Keep the procedure concise and update it when the website architecture changes. A recovery plan that depends on one person's memory is fragile.
Check the whole customer journey after recovery
After restoration, do not stop when the homepage loads. Test contact forms, booking or checkout flows, email notifications, analytics, consent tools, search, redirects and any CRM or automation integrations. Confirm that new enquiries reach the right destination and that tracking still records important events. Websiteli can include backup and recovery checks within website maintenance so reliability is handled as an ongoing operational task rather than an emergency-only activity.
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