Data loss is loss of loss! How to avoid it?

Data loss is always a disaster. Especially business data. It's like losing the keys to your apartment. What to do to avoid this horror?

The answer is simple - backup.

We will not pressure you with harsh terms like “incremental backups” and “massive RAID arrays.” Instead, we'll tell you how to choose a VPS with backup. We'll show you how to ensure that no file is lost forever.

Help: why do you need backup?

Let's have no illusions: every day, website data is under threat. Viruses, hardware failures, accidental deletions... and also the human factor: someone accidentally deleted an important file, and then discovered that it was the only copy of the document. It's a bad situation, you'll agree.

How often should I make copies of my data?

We answer immediately: minimum - every 24 hours. 

Yes, that's not a typo. If you are not ready to lose 24 hours of work or clients, you need regular backups. Why? During this time, thousands of events can occur: from random server failures to cyber attacks.

Imagine that the site works all day: managers process orders, update the database and correspond with clients. And then night comes. And in the morning the data disappeared. You cannot restore orders, you do not see who wrote. And if you don't have a backup, it's over.

That's why 24 hours is the minimum time between copies. You need to schedule regular saving. The shorter the period of time, the less risk. We'll tell you how to set up the system so that you don't have to remember about it every day.

How does VPS backup work?

What does an ideal VPS backup system look like? This is not just downloading files “just in case” when you feel afraid that the server might suddenly stop working.

So how does it work?

• Automation. Setting up daily backups on a VPS is not “something complicated”, but simply enabling the required option in the control panel. Once the system is configured, a backup copy of all the files and databases you specified will be created every day at a certain time. You won’t have to sit with your calendar and remember that “today is Monday, so it’s time to copy.” VPS will do everything.
• What is copied and how? As a rule, backup covers key data: site files, databases, server settings. The more information is stored on the server, the more data will be included in the backup. If you have an online store - products, orders, contacts. If CRM is your clients, their data and correspondence.
• Where are backups stored? Backups are not saved on the same server where the main site is located. Otherwise, what will happen if the server itself fails? Ideally, backups are stored in a different location - on another server or in the cloud.
• Backup types: full and incremental. This is where the “minor” mathematics begins, but don’t worry, we’ll explain it more simply. A full backup is when they make copies of all data from scratch. It's more difficult, but safer. Incremental copying - when only the data that has changed since the last backup is saved. Fast, but a little risky if you suddenly missed something important.
• Data recovery. Now let's imagine that something bad happened: the server crashed or a necessary file was accidentally deleted. Using VPS control panels (for example, cPanel or Plesk), you can restore files in a couple of clicks.

Once you set up backup, you can forget about it. You just have to check from time to time that everything is working as it should.

If you want to make your life easier and save time on setting up a VPS, we recommend reading the article about how to rent a VPS with pre-installed software - this will help you set up a server with backup without unnecessary problems.

How to provide flexibility in data recovery?

A backup system without recovery flexibility is like car insurance that doesn't cover damage from an accident. It is important to configure the system so that it is not only possible to recover information, but also quickly.

• The importance of recovery flexibility. First of all, backups are not just file backups, they are your lifeline. But when this circle needs to be used, and you cannot quickly restore the necessary data, it’s a disaster. The flexibility of recovery means that you can not only recover everything at once, but also in parts: one table, one file, or several recent changes.
• How to choose a VPS with convenient data recovery. The best VPS providers offer not only automatic backups, but also an easy way to restore data through control panels. User-friendly interfaces such as cPanel, allow you to restore data with one click. But not all providers offer this. And if quick access to data in case of an emergency is important to you, be sure to check with your provider exactly how they organize the recovery process.
• Data recovery technologies. When using backups, it is important to understand that data recovery should occur in a minimum set of steps. Ideally, this should be a point-to-time solution, for example if a crash occurs after updating or installing a program. The ability to restore with the accuracy of the latest copy will help you avoid losing dozens of hours of work.
• How to set up a recovery system. On VPS you can configure automatic creation of backups to external media or cloud storage. It’s good if you have not only local copies, but also remote ones, which creates an additional level of protection. It is important to configure the system so that backups are stored on different servers, and not just on one. Then, in the event of a server failure, your data will be safe.
• Data recovery testing. And here's where the fun begins: you can't be sure that your backup is working until you check how effectively it restores your data. Yes, it takes a little time, but if you don't test the recovery process, you risk losing important information when the need arises. We recommend testing data recovery at least once a month.

Recovery flexibility is a key feature of a backup system, which allows you to not only save data, but also return to it with minimal effort.

What to do if your VPS provider doesn't offer backups?

Don't worry if your VPS provider doesn't offer built-in backups. It's not the end of the world, but just a reason to take a little precaution with your data. You can always set up a backup manually, and it's not as difficult as it might seem.

• Set up backup yourself. First, make sure that your server has enough free space to store backups. Then choose the right tool to automate this process. There are many solutions for this, for example, rsync or Cron on Linux, which allow you to configure the automatic creation of backups at the right time. You can also configure data copying to third-party cloud storage or dedicated external servers.
• Use cloud backup solutions. If your server hard drive can't handle the storage, and cloud storage is offered at an affordable price, you can use it to store backups. For example, Google Drive, Amazon S3 or Dropbox — all this simply integrates with Linux servers, which makes it easy to automate the process.
• Scripts and automation. Many sites and applications have plugins and scripts for automatic backups, and a control panel such as cPanel or Please, allows you to make backups with minimal effort. Set up regular backups that will automatically create full or incremental backups of your data and store them in a safe place.

If you want to avoid headaches, go to a provider with ready-made solutions. For example, provider LikeVPS offers backup on all plans, so there's no need to waste time setting it up yourself.

They will take care of all stages of backup, and in case of failure or other problems, your data will be safe. All you need to do is simply activate the desired service and forget about problems with data loss.