Backup
A backup is a copy of your website that allows you to restore files and databases to a previous state if something goes wrong.
A full backup saves the entire web space , including the database, while an incremental backup only saves the changes since the last backup. Good backup systems run automatically via a cron job, store the copy separately from the production server, ideally in a second data center, and retain multiple generations of backups so you can access a state from several days ago.
Example: An online shop with a 3 GB database is backed up every night at 2 a.m., with 14 generations of backups retained. After a faulty plugin update, the state from two days prior can be restored in approximately 15 minutes, limiting revenue loss to just a few hours. GENLOC backs up customer projects automatically every day with a 30-day retention period in its Düsseldorf data center.
Check if your hosting provider offers automatic, daily backups and how long they are retained. Test the restore process at least once before you need it in an emergency, and keep an additional external copy for important projects.
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