In a previous post, we explained what a website backup is and how often you need one. Now let’s talk about where to store backups and how to build a smart backup policy.
Can You Have Too Many Backups?
Yes. Backups protect your site, but they also consume storage. The larger your site, the more storage each backup uses. As a result, you need to decide how far back you actually need to restore data. Once you know that, you can set limits that make sense.
For the same reason, your website shouldn’t act as long-term file storage. If you need permanent records like e-commerce orders or signed documents, export and archive them separately. Keeping those files off your web server reduces storage strain and keeps backups manageable.
Over time, old data slows your site down. As backup files grow larger, restores take longer and performance can suffer. That’s why regular cleanup isn’t optional. If you upload images and never use them, delete them. Otherwise, those extra files continue to consume bandwidth, storage, and backup space unnecessarily.
When you keep your site lean, everything runs faster, and restores stay manageable. Think of it like your inbox: the more clutter you remove, the easier it is to function.
The same logic applies to scheduling backups. Since backups use server resources, running them during peak hours can compete with live traffic. That’s why you should schedule them overnight or early in the morning. When visitor traffic is low, backups can run efficiently without affecting the user experience.
Do You Need to Keep Every Backup?
No. Most backup tools let you set a retention limit. For example, you might keep 60 or 90 days of backups. After that, the system deletes the oldest file automatically when it creates a new one.
What Is a Good Website Backup Policy?
At Roots Marketing, we follow the 3-2-1 rule:
- Keep at least three copies of your data
- Store them in at least two formats
- Keep at least one copy offsite
We also monitor websites with two separate monitoring services. If a site goes down, we contact hosting support immediately and work to restore it promptly.
We typically keep daily backups for 90 days. We rely on hosting backups, plus at least one off-site backup for redundancy. If a client hosts their own site, we provide a weekly off-site database backup as an additional layer of protection.
How Do You Restore from a Backup?
Every hosting service or plugin handles restores differently. Some let you click a button to roll back your site. Others require you to contact support.
Don’t wait for a crisis to learn the process. Set up a staging site and practice restoring from a backup. Run through the steps so you know exactly what to do if something breaks.
What Does Managed Hosting Mean for Backups?
Your managed hosting agreement should clearly explain backup and restore procedures. If it doesn’t, ask before launch or migration.
Some hosting plans automatically restore sites after server failures and guarantee uptime. Others provide backup tools but expect you to manage them yourself. Know what your plan includes before you need it.
Preparation helps keep your site stable and reduce downtime.
What Does Roots Marketing Managed Hosting Include?
Our managed hosting includes the 3-2-1 daily backup system plus regular maintenance. We perform quarterly website maintenance and apply security updates as needed.
Before running updates, we test them on a staging site. This reduces the risk of breaking your live site. We keep 90 days of daily backups and create additional manual backups before major changes, such as server upgrades or new site launches. When launching a new site, we also archive a copy of the old one for a period of time.
If issues arise, we act quickly:
- Server problems: We restore your site from one of our available backups as soon as possible.
- WordPress or plugin errors: We roll back to a stable version and resolve the conflict.
- Malware incidents: We clean the infection or restore the site to a point before the breach occurred.
We also help reduce risk in the first place by:
- Enforcing strong passwords
- Using hidden login pages
- Keeping WordPress, themes, and plugins up to date
Regular maintenance, solid security practices, and a reliable backup strategy keep your website stable and secure. That’s what we excel in.
If you have questions about backups or overall site health, contact our support desk. We’re here to help.
