What to Know Before You Back Up Your WordPress Files
There are several reasons why the process of taking proper backups is overlooked when setting up a WordPress site. Getting lost in the creativity of the versatility of the software creates opportunities for you to sell your brand, but knowing when, where, and how to store your backup WordPress files can make the difference between just an effective site and a long-term functional one.
Here are three things to ask yourself before you take a WordPress backup:
How much do I need to back up?
Knowing how your WordPress site is set up is the first consideration when you decide to take a backup. If you choose to host on a local server, taking considerably large backups may not be the most time efficient. With the WordPress options for taking backups of the files, database, or both, there are limitations that inevitably exist because of the limitation of the hardware considerations. Taking backups of the most vital files may be the only option you have if you have not considered the investment in additional server space. The considerable size that the selected plugins that you choose for your site may determine how much information you choose to back up. If you use a hosting service, you have the benefit of virtualization, as well as the opportunity to benefit from the third party to maintain your MySQL and PHP server functionality contributes to the security as well as adaptability of the data that you chose to store.
When should I take a backup?
Taking daily versus monthly or annual backups is up to the individual webmaster; WordPress has the versatility to deliver the site performance needed to achieve your individual goals. From creating automatic scheduled backups to incremental backups with the various available plugins provided through WordPress, the backup options are kept open, available, and up to date. Depending on how much you use your site is something to consider when deciding when you should take a backup. For example, if there are many blogs and images on your site that are updated daily, it might be better to take more frequent incremental backups could be taken versus a more static site that could require less frequent partial backups and more full backups. Taking a backup is then simple: you can access phpMyAdmin and perform the desired backup using over twenty different types of backup software which is available for free online through WordPress. However, basic MySQL knowhow is a skill that makes taking backups a whole lot easier. In addition, most hosting sites offer the backup software as well as the virtualization to store the data, which enhances the opportunities that WordPress has to offer through virtualization and server performance integration.
Where should I store it (do I need to store it)?
Once you decide that you need to take a backup, it is recommended to store your data, and have multiple copies of your site when updating your system or moving your site across servers. Whether you choose to use the file manager on the cPanel of your host, or use open source FTP client to automate your backups, security and permissions are key to keeping your data safe and accessible to the right people. Being able to back up at least one full version of your site is crucial for recovery and emergency implementation in a crisis situation. This includes permissions as well as scheduled backups that only initiated by the Admin credentials are only two suggestions out of many other precautions that are needed to keep your data safe. The benefits of using the WordPress software is that incremental backups use duplicity to encrypt your data, but security and permissions remain significant as part of the data management for your backups.
Knowing the type of data that you need to store is critical when considering taking backups of your site. Here are a few things to consider:
- What sort of data is necessary to back up?
- How important is it to back up your data based on the use of your site, and at what frequency should it be done?
- What sort of security precautions do you need to consider once you decide to take a backup?
Next week, we’ll go over these areas since the kind of data you store can lead to dramatically different results in the backup process.