Why should you store WordPress backup media offsite?

If you’re running a WordPress site whether it’s a blog, a business site, or a portfolio, keeping your data safe should be a top priority. Many website owners understand the importance of backups, but there’s a common pitfall: storing those backups on the same server as your website. So, why should you store backup media offsite?

In this guide, we’ll explain what offsite backups are, why they’re critical for protecting your WordPress site, and how you can set them up without technical hassle. If you’ve ever worried about server crashes, hacks, or hosting failures, this post is for you.

Local-only backups are vulnerable to the same risks as your live website

• Offsite backups add an essential layer of protection against data loss
• Cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon S3 are reliable offsite options
• Tools like UpdraftPlus make offsite backup setup simple, even for beginners
• Following a backup strategy like 3-2-1 can improve website resilience dramatically

Offsite backups are copies of your website stored in a separate physical or digital location from your live site. Instead of saving your backup to the same server your site runs on, offsite storage sends it elsewhere – typically to a cloud storage service, remote server, or external device.

Offsite backups protect your data from events that could impact your web host, such as:

• Server crashes
• Hardware failure
• Malware or ransomware attacks
• Human error
• Natural disasters (e.g. fires, floods)

By storing a copy somewhere completely separate, you significantly reduce the chances of losing everything in a worst-case scenario.

It might seem convenient to store your backups locally on the same server or hosting account as your website. But this approach leaves your site vulnerable. Here’s why:

• Shared risk: If your server goes down or is compromised, your backup is likely affected too
• No disaster protection: Fire or physical damage to the server means losing both site and backup
• Security breaches: If your site is hacked, attackers could delete or corrupt your backup files

Even if your host offers automated backups, it’s not guaranteed they’ll be recent, complete, or easily restorable. Relying solely on them could leave you exposed.

Storing your WordPress backup media offsite isn’t just about caution, it’s about control. Here’s what you gain:

• Greater peace of mind: Your data is safe even if your host is compromised
• Faster disaster recovery: Restore your site from an unaffected location
• Flexible storage options: Use trusted cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Amazon S3
• Portability: Move your site to a new host with minimal effort

Many cloud storage providers offer versioning, encryption, and storage access across multiple regions, adding even more protection.

One of the most widely recommended backup strategies is the 3-2-1 rule:

• 3 total copies of your data
• 2 different storage types (e.g. server + cloud)
• 1 copy stored offsite

This method reduces the risk of all copies being affected by the same issue. By combining local and offsite backups, you get both accessibility and safety.

UpdraftPlus is one of the most popular WordPress backup plugins and makes setting up offsite backups straightforward – even if you’re not tech-savvy.

Here’s how it works:

1. Install and activate UpdraftPlus from your WordPress dashboard
2. Choose a remote storage option – Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, and more
3. Connect your storage account securely from the plugin settings
4. Set your backup schedule (daily, weekly, etc.) and what to include (database, files)
5. Save changes and let UpdraftPlus do the rest

You can also manually take a backup anytime or restore from a previous version directly in your dashboard.

For advanced features like incremental backups, backups to multiple locations, or backup reporting, UpdraftPlus Premium offers extended functionality.

Imagine this: You’re managing a client’s eCommerce site. One morning, the hosting server fails completely. You can’t access the site and the local backup was stored on the same server.

Without an offsite backup, you’d be stuck. But if you had one stored in Google Drive via UpdraftPlus, you could:

• Spin up a new WordPress install
• Install UpdraftPlus
• Connect your Drive account
• Restore the full backup

Your client’s site is back online in minutes, not days.

A reliable backup plugin can be a life saver. Offsite backups ensure you always have a clean version of your site to fall back on, no matter what happens.

Backing up your website offsite is one of the smartest ways to keep it safe. It protects you from risks beyond your server’s control – like cyberattacks, hardware failures, and more. With tools like UpdraftPlus, setting up offsite backups is simple and reliable.

By taking a few minutes to set it up, you’re not just protecting your data, you’re also protecting your business, your time, and your peace of mind.