If you perform regular, complete backups of your database and your entire site with robot-like regularity, then you have nothing to fear from a catastrophic failure of your system or a virus attack.
Consider just what the effect would be on you if you lost your site data - every post, all the content, images, everything - zapped. Your valuable internet property can literally evaporate in an instant.
If you've “been meaning to get round to it” but haven’t done it yet, or if you've backed up your site once several months ago – take action. NOW is the time to put in place a regular backup routine that could save your income stream in the future.
Backup is just like brushing your teeth – it’s all in the routine. You must do it routinely, or you're putting your entire online business at risk of disappeariang after all the hard work you've put into it.
There are many ways to back up your data and just as many ways to store the data you back up. What’s important is that you find a routine and a method that suits you and then follow it with unfailing regularity.
For the latest instructions on backing up your site, see
WPM Backup Protocol (required reading).
Also see David Olsen's video:
Your backup routine should include transferring your site and database backups to a secure location off your computer. You certainly don’t want to leave your whole site backup on the server since this will soon eat into your available disk space.
Remote storage is a good idea, and you know that your data is safe from whatever catastrophe may happen at home or in your office. Make sure you choose a reputable company with a good track record and proven methods of safe, encrypted vault storage.
External hard drives are compact and relatively cheap to buy, and also quick and easy to use. You control the data storage yourself without relying on anyone else. However, you have less protection from natural catastrophe.
Establish a fixed routine that you stick to. If you rely on doing backups when and if you think you need to, you can get horribly caught out. You’ll be surprised at how much time passes, and how many changes to your data and settings you make in a short period of time.
Daily database backups should be done last thing at the end of your working day. If you don’t mind losing some content, then run a weekly database backup on a specific day each week. It’s much easier to do it if you know Thursday is your scheduled backup day.
Whole system backups can be done much less frequently once you have established the main structure and settings on your site. Monthly backup would probably be OK for this. Again, it’s easier to establish a day in the month as backup day – such as the last or first day of each month.
Set up a recurring reminder in whatever task manager you use, or write it on your calendar.