Backups are the unglamorous hero of running a website. You rarely think about them until something breaks, and then they are the difference between a quick recovery and a disaster. This guide explains why backups matter, how often to take them, and how to do it right.
Why backups matter
Things go wrong even on well-run sites: a bad update, a plugin conflict, a mistaken edit, a security incident, or simple human error. A recent backup lets you roll back to a working version in minutes instead of rebuilding from scratch.
Was soll gesichert werden?
- Website files: your themes, plugins, uploads, and configuration.
- Databases: your content, settings, and, for shops, your orders.
- Email, if you rely on mailboxes hosted with your site.
How often should you back up?
- Low-change sites (a simple brochure site): weekly is usually fine.
- Active blogs or business sites: daily is safer.
- Online stores: daily at least, ideally more often, so you never lose orders.
- Always take an extra backup before major changes or updates.
The 3-2-1 rule
A simple, trusted approach: keep three copies of your data, on two types of storage, with one copy off-site. In practice that means your live site, a backup on the server, and a copy downloaded somewhere else.
Test your restores
A backup you cannot restore is not a backup. Occasionally test restoring a copy so you know the process works and the files are complete, before you ever need it in an emergency.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Keeping backups only on the same server as the site.
- Never testing whether a restore actually works.
- Backing up files but forgetting the database.
- Leaving very old backups to pile up and fill your disk.
Backups made easy with Disoh
Disoh includes backups so you always have a recent restore point, plus the tools to create and download your own. It is one more way affordable hosting keeps your site safe. Siehe Disoh-Pläne and host with peace of mind.