The Rule in One Line
Keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 copy stored away from your server. This simple rule, followed by IT teams worldwide, protects your website from hardware failure, hacking, accidental deletion and even data centre incidents.
What This Means for a Typical SMB Website
- Copy 1 - the live site: your working website and database on the hosting server. This is your production data, not a backup.
- Copy 2 - server side backup: automated backups on or near the hosting server, such as cPanel backups or the CodeGuard service available from the Store menu at app.techguru.co.in. These allow fast restores.
- Copy 3 - offsite copy: a backup downloaded to your office computer, a NAS drive, or uploaded to cloud storage such as Google Drive. If the server itself is ever unreachable, this copy saves your business.
Why One Backup Is Not Enough
A backup stored only on the same server as the website shares its fate. Ransomware, a disk failure or a compromised account can destroy both together. The offsite copy exists precisely for that scenario.
Putting It into Practice
- Enable automated daily backups through CodeGuard or your hosting plan backup feature.
- Once a month, download a full backup from cPanel using the Backup icon and store it offsite. Keep at least three monthly copies.
- Back up the database and the files together; a website restore needs both from the same date.
- Before any major change, such as a WordPress upgrade or redesign, take an extra manual backup.
- Test a restore at least twice a year. An untested backup is only a hope.
We Can Help
If you are unsure what is currently backed up on your plan, raise a ticket from the client portal and we will review your setup and recommend the right combination.
