Cloudways offers backup options based on server configurations, allowing restoration of backups for up to four weeks at the application level. Additionally, users can create local backups of the entire application and download them to their computers.
For critical sites, it may be wise to regularly run On-Demand Backups and download the backups to your PC. Although I haven’t faced server issues for over a year, rare instances of server failures can occur. In such cases, having backups ensures that you can restore your site even in the worst scenarios.
If you're managing a large site or have significant traffic, Cloudways can be a solid choice. However, for smaller blogs or sites with limited visitors, cost-effective hosting options like Bluehost, FastComet and ChemiCloud might be more economical. Notably, ChemiCloud introduced a Seoul server at the end of July, providing fast speeds in South Korea.
Downloading Complete Site Backups (Local Bakcups) from Cloudways
Automatic Backup Settings in Cloudways
With Cloudways, you can configure automatic backups through the Backups section on the server management page.
You can set backups to be retained at intervals of one hour to seven days for a maximum of four weeks. Personally, I've configured my backups to save every two days for two weeks. However, shorter backup intervals and longer retention times can increase offsite backup size, leading to additional costs. Last month, I was charged $2.50 for offsite backups.
Setting Up Local Backups
If you wish to generate downloadable backups, you can activate the Local Backups feature.
When you enable the Local Backups option, copies of backups are stored in the server's local_backups folder, which can be downloaded via SSH or SFTP. Note that only the most recent backup is stored locally, while offsite backups continue to operate according to the set schedule.
If you want an immediate backup, you can run the On-Demand Backup. When activated with local backup, this will generate additional downloadable copies for all applications (WordPress sites) on the server.
Clicking the Take Backup Now button initiates the backup process.
Please note that creating a complete backup may take some time.
Local backups consume server space. Checking the server disk capacity before and after creating a local backup gives an approximate size of the overall backup. I noticed about a 20GB increase in disk usage after creating my on-demand backup.
Local backups are saved under each application folder. Access SFTP to download backup files for each individual application to your PC.
For example, if your application is named abcdefg, the backup files will be located in the /applications/abcdefg/local_backups directory.
Once you download all backup files, you can delete them if needed. With Local Backups enabled, clicking the trash can icon will remove all backup files.
If you have ample server disk space, activating local backups might be a good idea. However, if space is limited, you may want to disable this feature.
Each backup file contains all files (data) from the public_html and private_html folders, along with database files (sql files).
Thanks to Cloudways' reliable and automatic backup system, there's a level of reassurance. However, since no server can be 100% secure, regularly downloading local backups can offer you additional peace of mind.
Using Backup Plugins
If you have only a few sites added to your server, consider utilizing a WordPress backup plugin to perform regular backups and download them to your PC. I personally use the UpdraftPlus plugin for my backups.
While Cloudways provides automated backup and restore functionality, having a secondary backup can bolster security.
Backing Up During PHP Version Changes
When changing the PHP version on hosts like Cloudways, FastComet, or ChemiCloud, a separate backup isn’t necessary. You can simply select the desired PHP version using the web hosting control panel or cPanel.
However, if you’re using some local hosting services like Cafe24, backing up data and the database may be necessary when transitioning from PHP 5 or PHP 7 to PHP 8.
When changing the PHP version or switching from Cafe24's 10G product to a Managed WordPress Hosting plan, warnings like the following may appear.
When such warnings appear, it’s critical to back up DATA and the DB and download them to your PC. If possible, using a backup plugin for double protection can provide extra reassurance.
Ignoring these warnings or proceeding with changes without backing up, even after requesting Cafe24 for a backup without downloading it, can lead to disastrous results. Always ensure that both your data and DB are backed up and downloaded to your computer before making any changes.