Why Your Website Backups Might Not Save Your Business

Every business owner knows that website backups are essential. If your site crashes or gets hacked, a backup can restore it quickly. But what if your backup fails when you need it most? Sadly, your website backups might not save your business if they’re not set up correctly.

Many companies assume that having backups is enough, only to discover too late that their data is lost. In this post, we’ll explain why backups fail, how to fix common problems, and what else you need for true protection.

Common Reasons Backups Fail

1. Outdated Backups – If your last backup was months ago, you could lose weeks of work.
2. Corrupted Files – Sometimes backups get damaged and won’t restore properly.
3. Human Error – Accidentally deleting backups or saving them in the wrong place.
4. Server Failures – If your backup is stored on the same server as your website, both could be lost in a crash.

These mistakes mean that your website backups might not save your business in an emergency.

Why Backups Alone Aren’t Enough

Even if your backups work, they may not protect you from:

• Ransomware Attacks – Hackers can encrypt both your site and backups.
• Slow Recovery – Restoring a large website can take hours or days, costing you sales.
• Hidden Malware – If a virus was on your site before backup, restoring it brings the problem back.

This is why relying only on website backups might not save your business from serious threats.

How to Make Your Backups More Reliable

Follow these best practices:
Automate Backups – Use tools like UpdraftPlus (for WordPress) to schedule daily backups.
 Store Backups Offsite – Keep copies in cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) or a separate server.
 Test Restores – Regularly check that your backups actually work.
 Use Multiple Backup Methods – Combine full backups with incremental ones for safety. Also see How to Backup a WordPress Site (Beginner’s Guide)

What Else You Need for Full Protection

Backups are just one part of security. You should also:

• Use Strong Passwords & 2FA to prevent unauthorised access.
• Install Security Plugins with the use of tools like Wordfence or Sucuri block hackers.
• Monitor Your Site using services like Jetpack alert you to downtime or attacks.

Your website backups might not save your business if they’re outdated, corrupted, or stored incorrectly. To stay safe, automate backups, store them offsite, and test them often. Combine backups with strong security measures for full protection.

For more tips on securing your website, explore our blog at targetict.co.uk