How Backup Automation & Manual Backups Work in ShieldBACKUPS

ShieldBACKUPS is designed to simplify the process of backing up your WordPress website by automating backups and providing manual backups as needed. Here’s a detailed look at how the backup automation function within ShieldBACKUPS and all you need to know about manual backup.

Backup Automation Frequency

Backups are run automatically to ensure your data is regularly saved without requiring manual intervention. By default, backups are scheduled to run once every 24 hours.

  • This daily backup schedule cannot be adjusted manually (this may change in the future)
  • Currently, ShieldBACKUPS doesn't allow users to customise the frequency or time of backups. This is done intentionally to keep things simple and reduce potential errors or complications.

Note: We may offer plans to increase that frequency - please contact us if you're interested in this.

Backup Retention & Storage

To manage storage efficiently and keep your backups organised, ShieldBACKUPS follows a strict retention policy.

  • Daily backups are retained for the last 7 days, allowing you to restore recent versions of your site.
  • In addition to daily backups, weekly backups are kept for up to 12 weeks (approximately 3 months), giving you access to longer-term restore points.
  • All backup data is stored securely offsite on Shield Security’s proprietary cloud infrastructure, ensuring safety and reliability.
  • There is no need for you to configure or link any third-party cloud storage accounts; ShieldBACKUPS handles all storage internally.

Manual Backups: Why and When You Should Use Them

While automatic backups keep your site secure on a daily basis, there are certain situations when you may want to run a manual backup to ensure extra protection.

Best Practices for Manual Backups:

  • Before making code changes: If you’re planning to edit your site’s code (e.g., functions.php), it’s a good idea to trigger a backup and download backup ZIP file first.
  • Before importing content: Whenever you’re importing a large amount of content (such as blog posts, products, or media), it's best to create a backup beforehand.
  • Before moving or migrating your site: If you’re switching hosts or domains, a manual backup ensures that you can easily restore your site if anything goes wrong during the migration.
  • Before using restoration or migration tools: If you're performing a manual restore or cloning your site, running a backup ensures you can go back to a stable state if needed.

How To Initiate Manual Backups

Manual backups are simple and quick — you can initiate them directly from the ShieldPRO dashboard at any time and download it (ZIP file).

Pro Tip: Although automatic backups cover most scenarios, it’s always a good idea to run a manual backup before major site changes for added peace of mind.

Setup & Configuration

ShieldBACKUPS is designed to be easy to use, requiring minimal setup from your side.

  • There is no need to configure storage services or generate API keys since all backups are managed within the Shield Security ecosystem.
  • The backup system is fully integrated into Shield Security’s ((v21 or higher) PRO plugin - Plus plan.
  • It will handle all backup automation and management without further user intervention.
  • It is important to note that backups only run if your WordPress site is accessible during the scheduled time. If your site is offline, the automatic backup for that day is skipped.

For detailed setup instructions and activation steps, see our Getting Started Guide.

For integration with our security plugin, see How ShieldBACKUPS and Shield Security PRO Work Together.

Need Help?

If you need any further clarification or support with backups, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team. ShieldBACKUPS is here to make your WordPress site security and disaster recovery as easy as possible.