Website backup and recovery service
Website backups you can actually restore, for small businesses in the US and Canada
I set up backups for your site files and database, store them somewhere safe, and test that a restore really works. If a hack, a bad update or a failed move breaks your site, I roll it back. Backups and restore work starts at $90, priced in US dollars.
Files
Your theme, plugins, uploaded photos and documents, and the configuration the site needs to run.
Database
Pages, posts, orders, form entries and settings, exported and checked so the copy is complete.
Rollback
Getting back to a working version after a hack, a plugin conflict, a deleted file or a botched migration.
Verification
Checking that copies are created on schedule, stored off the server, and can be restored.
A backup you have never restored is only a hope
Plenty of owners believe they are covered until the day they need a restore. Then they learn the newest copy is months old, only holds part of the site, sits on the same server that just failed, or was never tested. Having a backup and being able to recover are two different things, and I work on the second one.
Site files
Theme, plugins, media library, downloads and the config files that make everything load.
Database
A full export, with a check that it is not truncated and will import cleanly on a fresh install.
Hosting and VPS
Where copies are kept, how much disk space they use, how they run automatically, and what your host does and does not include.
Schedule
Daily, weekly or on-demand copies, matched to how often your site changes. A store taking orders needs more than a brochure site.
Recovery
Restoring after a hack, a failed update, a deleted folder or a move to a new host that went wrong.
Test restores
Proof that a backup is created and that it can bring the site back, not just a green checkmark in a dashboard.
Backups are part of every job I do, not an afterthought
Before an update, a hosting move, a malware cleanup or a design change, I take a fresh copy first. If something goes sideways, there is a clear path back, which lets me work without gambling with your live site.
- Automatic copies of your files and database are set up and scheduled.
- I check where those copies live and whether they can really be restored.
- Before any risky change, a new copy of the current state is saved.
Related work: WordPress backups, database exports, hosting and VPS storage, restores after security incidents, updates and site migration. For ongoing coverage, see website maintenance plans.
How a backup and recovery job works
A copy that cannot be restored does not protect your business. Each step below exists to catch that before it matters.
Review
What is being copied today, where does it go, and is it enough to rebuild the site?
Setup
Files, database, schedule, off-server storage and alerts when a backup fails.
Test
I confirm copies are being created and run a restore to prove they work.
Rollback
If something breaks, I restore the site and then find out what caused it.
Routine
A short written plan: when copies are made, how long they are kept and how they are checked.
When backups matter most for US and Canadian small businesses
- Before any WordPress, theme or plugin update
- Before moving to a new host
- After a hack or malware warning
- Online stores taking orders, especially in holiday shopping season
- Sites edited by several people or updated often
- Businesses with no web developer on call
- Before changing the PHP version on your hosting
- Before a redesign or theme change
- Shaky or budget hosting
- Any site that brings in calls, bookings or quote requests, such as a contractor in storm season or an accounting office in tax season
Website backup and recovery: common questions
What should a website backup include?
Your site files, the database, uploaded media and key settings. On WordPress, the database and the uploads folder are usually the hardest things to replace.
How often should a small business back up its website?
It depends on how often the site changes. A mostly static brochure site may be fine with weekly copies. A store, a booking site or anything that collects data daily should be backed up more often, ideally daily.
Can a hacked website be restored from a backup?
Yes, if you have a clean copy from before the infection. After the restore, the way the attacker got in has to be closed, or the site can be hacked again. If you suspect a hack right now, see my malware cleanup service.
Is the backup my hosting company provides enough?
Sometimes, but do not assume. Find out how often it runs, how long copies are kept, whether it sits on the same server as your site, and whether you can restore it yourself. A backup on the machine that fails is not much of a backup.
Can you check the backups I already have?
Yes. I look at the date, size, contents and whether a restore actually works, and tell you in plain language whether you can rely on them.
What should I do before updating my website?
Take a fresh copy of the files and the database first, then update, then check the main pages and forms. If something breaks, you can go back in minutes instead of hours.
Do you set up backups on a VPS?
Yes. A VPS gives you more control but also more responsibility, so files, database, schedule, storage location and a recovery test all have to be handled deliberately. VPS setup starts at $50.
What if I have no backup at all?
Make one now, while the site still works. Then set up regular automatic copies and test a restore. Starting with a free audit tells you where you stand.
Can I restore just one part of the site?
Often, yes: a single file, a folder, a database table or a page. How easy it is depends on how the backup was made, which is another reason to check yours.
Are backups part of your care plans?
Yes. Monitoring backups is a core part of regular maintenance. Care plans start at $79 per month, and all prices are in US dollars.
Start by finding out whether your backups would work
Send me your site address and I will tell you what is being backed up, where it goes and what is missing.