Backup and restore

Every host and agency eventually restores something: a deleted file, a database after a bad plugin update, a whole server after a disk failure or a break-in. Backups are only as good as that restore, so this category covers both sides: making copies on a schedule and getting data back quickly when it matters.

Server-level tools such as Restic, BorgBackup and Duplicati copy files and folders to another disk, server or cloud storage, with deduplication and encryption so nightly runs stay small. Hosting-focused systems such as JetBackup and Acronis add per-account restores, so a customer can bring back a single mailbox or database from the control panel without a support ticket. Tools such as Veeam focus on virtual machines and whole systems. WordPress plugins and services such as UpdraftPlus and BlogVault work inside the site, which suits agencies that don't control the server.

A few rules hold whichever tool you use. Keep at least one copy off the server and outside the account that runs it, so an attacker or a mistaken command can't delete the backups along with the data. Encrypt backups and store the keys somewhere you can reach when the server is gone. Back up databases with their own dump or snapshot method, because copying live database files can produce a copy that won't open.

Test restores on a schedule. A restore test finds the gaps that monitoring misses: a folder excluded by accident, a database dump that has been empty for months, a key nobody can find. Time the restore of a whole server as well as a single file, because the time it takes to rebuild is what your customers will feel. Write the restore steps down while you test, so the next person can follow them.

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8 hosting ops tools in backup and restore

Restic

Open-source command-line backup program with encrypted, deduplicated snapshots to local disks or cloud storage.

  • Free plan or free to use
  • Open source
  • Runs on your own server

BorgBackup

Open-source deduplicating backup tool with compression and encryption, popular for server backups over SSH.

  • Free plan or free to use
  • Open source
  • Runs on your own server

UpdraftPlus

WordPress backup plugin that schedules backups of files and database to remote storage and restores them.

  • Free plan or free to use
  • Built for WordPress sites

Duplicati

Free, open-source backup client that stores encrypted backups on cloud storage and network drives.

  • Free plan or free to use
  • Open source
  • Runs on your own server

Acronis Cyber Protect

by Acronis

Backup and protection suite for servers and endpoints, used by many hosting providers to offer backup to their customers.

JetBackup

by JetApps

Backup system for hosting servers that lets customers restore their own files, databases and email from the control panel.

  • Runs on your own server

BlogVault

Backup and staging service for WordPress sites that keeps copies off the server and supports one-click restores.

  • Built for WordPress sites

AI is starting to appear in backup products as anomaly detection, flagging sudden changes in file counts or sizes that can point to ransomware or a broken job. Treat those alerts as a prompt to look at the backup reports, which you should be reading anyway.

Finally, check retention. Decide how far back you need to go, write it down, and confirm the tool's pruning rules keep what you promised customers. Long retention costs storage, and storage costs grow quietly, so review them every few months.

Also check how restores work for customers and for staff. A good tool lets you restore one file, one database or one mailbox without bringing back the whole account, and shows clearly which point in time you are restoring from.

Questions about backup and restore

How many backup copies should I keep?

A common rule is three copies of your data on two kinds of storage, with one copy offsite. For hosting servers, that usually means the live data, a local snapshot or backup, and an encrypted copy in object storage under a separate account.

Can customers restore their own files?

Yes, with hosting-focused tools such as JetBackup that plug into the control panel. Self-service restores cut support tickets, and they still need limits so one customer can't fill your backup storage.

Are WordPress backup plugins enough?

They cover the site's files and database, which suits agencies on shared hosting. They don't cover the server, mail or other sites, so hosts still need server-level backups.

How often should I test restores?

At least every few months for a full server, and more often for single sites and databases. Test after any change to the backup setup, such as a new storage target or new exclusions.

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