Imagine working on your site for months, and one day — boom — it crashes. Maybe it’s a plugin conflict, a malware attack, or a simple mistake. Without a backup, everything is gone.
That’s why backups are non-negotiable for any serious website owner.
⚠️ Why Backups Are So Important
Here’s what can go wrong (and often does):
🔒 Hacked website
💣 Plugin or theme conflict
🧑💻 Human error (accidental deletion)
🔄 Failed updates
🧼 Hosting failure or migration issues
Without a backup, recovery is either very expensive or impossible.
💡 A backup is your website’s safety net.
✅ What Should Be Backed Up?
WordPress files: themes, plugins, media, etc.
Database: all your content, users, settings, comments
Configurations: permalinks, settings, menus
Backing up only files or only database is not enough. Do both!
🔁 How to Automate WordPress Backups
Here are 3 top methods to automate daily or weekly backups:
🔌 1. Use a Backup Plugin (Beginner-Friendly)
Best plugins for automated backups:
UpdraftPlus (free & pro)
Schedule backups (daily, weekly)
Send backups to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
One-click restore
Jetpack Backup (premium)
Real-time backups
Easy restores
Great for WooCommerce
BlogVault
Off-site backup
One-click staging & migration
White-label options for agencies
🧰 2. Host-Level Backups
Some quality hosting providers (like SiteGround, Kinsta, Hostinger, Cloudways) offer:
Daily automatic backups
Manual backups before updates
1-click restore points
Check if your hosting plan includes this feature — it saves time.
🖥️ 3. Manual Backup (Advanced)
You can manually back up:
Files via FTP
Database via phpMyAdmin
Good for tech-savvy users, but not ideal for beginners or regular automation.
📦 Where to Store Your Backups?
Never store backups only on your server. Use:
Google Drive
Dropbox
Amazon S3
External hard drive
Backup to email (for smaller sites)
Keep at least 2 copies in different places.
🔐 Extra Tip: Test Your Restore Option!
Having a backup is great, but being able to restore it is what really counts. Make sure your solution lets you test or simulate the restore process.
📌 TL;DR:
Back up both files and database
Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack Backup
Automate it weekly or daily
Store copies off-site
Test your restore process
🧠 Final Thoughts Backup = insurance for your website. Automating your backups ensures you can bounce back from anything — fast, cheap, and stress-free.
What do you think?
This strategic reallocation of resources can help companies create a significant competitive advantage.