Regularly backing up your website to an external server is essential for protecting your business and reputation. Website downtime and hacking can result in significant financial losses and damage to your brand. By implementing a reliable backup system, you can minimize the risks and ensure that your website can be quickly restored in the event of an issue. In this article, we’ll explore the costs of website downtime and hacking, the importance of backups to an external server, and steps to set up a reliable backup system.

The financial costs of website downtime

Website downtime can have serious financial consequences for businesses of all sizes. Every minute that a website is down can result in lost revenue, as customers are unable to access the site and make purchases. In addition, website downtime can result in lost productivity, as employees may be unable to access necessary resources or perform their duties. The longer a website is down, the greater the financial impact will be. By regularly backing up your website to an external server, you can minimize the risk of prolonged downtime and minimize the financial costs associated with it.

The reputational damage of a hacked or broken website

In addition to the financial costs of website downtime, a hacked or broken website can also result in serious reputational damage. Customers may lose trust in your business if they are unable to access your site or if they see that it has been hacked. This can result in a loss of sales and a decrease in brand loyalty. A hacked or broken website can also damage your search engine rankings, as Google and other search engines may penalize sites that have been compromised. By regularly backing up your website to an external server, you can minimize the risk of a hacked or broken website and protect your reputation and search engine rankings.

Why backups to an external server are crucial

Backing up your website to an external server is crucial for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it provides an extra layer of protection in the event that your primary website goes down or is hacked. If your website is hosted on a server that is experiencing issues, having a backup on an external server will allow you to quickly restore your website and minimize downtime.

In addition, backing up your website to an external server ensures that you have a copy of your website that is safe from any problems that may occur on your primary server, such as hardware failures or data corruption. This can save you time and money in the long run, as you won’t have to spend time and resources trying to rebuild or restore your website from scratch.

Finally, backing up your website to an external server allows you to make changes to your website with confidence, knowing that you have a fallback in case something goes wrong. This can be especially useful for businesses that rely on their website for revenue, as it minimizes the risk of lost sales due to website issues.

Steps to set up a reliable backup system

Setting up a reliable backup system is essential for protecting your website and business. Here are a few steps you can follow to ensure that your website is regularly backed up to an external server:

1. Choose an external backup provider: There are a number of options available for storing your website backups on an external server. Look for a provider that offers secure storage, automatic backups, and easy restoration options.
2. Install a backup plugin: There are a number of WordPress plugins that can help you automate the process of backing up your website. Choose a plugin that is reliable, easy to use, and compatible with your chosen external backup provider.
3. Set up a regular backup schedule: Determine how often you want to back up your website and set up a schedule accordingly. It is generally recommended to back up your website at least once a week, or more frequently if you are making frequent updates to your site.
4. Test your backups: Regularly test your backups to ensure that they are working as expected and that you can easily restore your website from a backup if needed.

If you are not comfortable setting up a backup system on your own, consider hiring a professional to handle it for you. My WordPress maintenance and backup service, Pressive, includes regular backups to an external server, as well as ongoing support and maintenance to keep your website running smoothly.

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