This document discusses the importance of backups for websites and provides options for backing up a WordPress site. It notes that websites are only as safe as the last backup and outlines reasons why backups are needed, including hackers, malware, user errors, and hosting issues. The document then summarizes several plugin options for automated backups in WordPress, including Backup Buddy, UpdraftPlus, and Duplicator. It also reviews manual backup methods and relying on hosting companies or paid backup services. It emphasizes that backups should always be tested to ensure they are reliable.

1. YOUR WEBSITE IS
ONLY AS SAFE AS
YOUR LAST GOOD
BACKUP

2. Hello!
Nice to meet you
2
I’m Terri.
I’m one of those crazy people that likes to play
with code.
I’ve been building custom WordPress sites since
2008.
Contact me at:
● beyondtheoffice.com/thewptoolbox.com
● terri@beyondtheoffice.com
● @btoterri (Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram)

3. Why do
you need
backups?
3

4. 4
Hackers
&
Malware
User
Error!
Update
Hiccups
Forgetting to
renew
hosting

5. But…
5

6. “
It’s just a little site –
who would want to
hack it?
6

7. “
My hosting company
makes backups for me…
7

8. “
I do have backups –
they’re stored on my server
8

9. 9
1. Plugins
2. Manual Backup
3. Rely on host
4. Service/subscription
Backup
Options

10. Plugins:
Backup
Buddy
This is my favorite backup plugin. I’ve been using it for
years to backup, restore and migrate websites.
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● manual or scheduled backups
● database, complete, or other
backups
● comes with restore/migrate
script
● premium plugin
Backup to:
● Email
● File
● ftp
● Dropbox
● AWS
● Backup Buddy Stash
● Google Drive
● Staging Site

11. Plugins:
UpdraftPlus
This is a popular and oft-recommended plugin. Requires
you to setup WordPress again before restoring.
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● Creates separate zip files of
database, theme, plugins,
uploads, and other files.
● Scheduled or manual
backups
● Premium extensions available
to Backups can be sent
automatically to destinations,
work with Multisite, or
Migrate site to a new URL.
Backup to:
● UpdrafttPlus Vault
● Dropbox
● Amazon S3
● Rackspace Cloud
● Google Drive
● MS OneDrive
● MS Azure
● FTP
● Google Cloud
● Email

12. Plugins:
Duplicator
Easy to use interface, includes handy Installer for
restoring archives.
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● Manual backups with free
version, scheduled backups
with Pro version
● Includes installer to easily
restore backup
● Downloads only available with free
version
●Pro version allows backups to
:Dropbox, FTP, Google Drive, or Amazon
S3

13. Manual
Backup
Database Backup
Database is where all of the
content and settings for your
site are stored.
In CPanel, go to
PHPMyAdmin, choose the
correct database, then select
Export. In most cases the
default Export settings will be
sufficient.
Be extremely careful that
you don’t select anything
that says Drop or Empty.
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Files Backup
Files in your WordPress site
include the WordPress Core
files, Themes, Plugins, and any
media files that have been
uploaded to your site.
In Cpanel, go to File Manager
and navigate to the root folder
for your website. Select all of
the files in the root folder for
your site (unless you have other
sites in subfolders) and click
Compress button to create a zip
file containing all of the files for
your site.

14. Rely on
Hosting
company
Don’t
WordPress Managed Hosting companies seem
to handle this a little better than standard
companies but there are still limitations, such
as size, frequency, or how long they are kept.
I always prefer to have an independent backup
available.
14

15. Service/
Subscription
Services like VaultPress (through Jetpack Professional) or
website maintenance services like ManageWP can
automatically make backups and will hold on to them for
you for extended time.
Or, find a service provider to help you with your updates
and other site maintenance.
15

16. “
Last Thought:
Always test your backup!
Test in a local environment or on
a staging site. Without testing,
there’s no way to know if your
backup is reliable or not.
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17. 17
Questions?

18. Thank you very much
for your time
18
If you have any questions about this
document please don’t hesitate to contact
me at:
● beyondtheoffice.com
● @btoterri