WordPress Backup Best Practices

A backup is only good if it works when you need it. Here are best practices for WordPress backups.

Frequency

Daily for active sites. Before major changes (updates, new plugins). Retention: at least 30 days, 90 for e-commerce.

What to Backup

Database (content, settings) and files (themes, plugins, uploads). Some hosts backup automatically — verify and test.

Where to Store

Off-site: not on the same server as your site. Cloud storage (S3, Google Cloud) or a dedicated backup service.

Test Restores

Backups fail silently. Run a test restore quarterly. Know the process before disaster strikes.