How to Backup and Restore Joomla Securely

Backups are your ultimate safety net. No matter how secure your Joomla website is, things can go wrong — server errors, malware attacks, or accidental deletions. In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up automatic, secure backups for your Joomla website and restore them safely when needed.

1. Why Joomla Backups Are Critical

Many Joomla sites get compromised not because of weak security, but because there’s no backup plan. A recent backup allows you to recover your site within minutes instead of rebuilding everything from scratch.

• 💡 Protects against hacking or defacement.
• ⚙️ Safeguards from plugin conflicts or failed updates.
• 🧩 Enables quick recovery after server crashes.

2. Choose a Reliable Backup Extension

Joomla doesn’t include a built-in full backup system, so the best option is a dedicated extension.

• Akeeba Backup – the most popular and trusted Joomla backup tool.
• BackupMonkey – cloud-based backup and monitoring service.
• Watchful.net – remote backup management for multiple Joomla sites.

We’ll focus on Akeeba Backup as it’s feature-rich and easy to use.

3. Install and Configure Akeeba Backup

1. Download Akeeba Backup from the official site.
2. Install it via Extensions → Manage → Upload Package File.
3. After installation, go to Components → Akeeba Backup.
4. Click the Configuration Wizard — Akeeba automatically detects the best settings for your server.

Once done, click Backup Now to create your first backup manually.

4. Schedule Automatic Backups

Automation ensures you never forget to back up your site. In Akeeba:

1. Go to Components → Akeeba Backup → Schedule Automatic Backups.
2. Set frequency (daily, weekly, or monthly).
3. Choose where to store the backup — local, remote (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Amazon S3).

💡 Recommended: Keep **at least 3 latest backups** and store 1 offsite copy.

5. Secure Your Backup Files

Backup archives contain everything — database, passwords, and configurations. If attackers get them, they can rebuild your entire site.

• 🚫 Never store backups in the public /public_html or /tmp folder.
• 📦 Store them outside the web root or in a private folder.
• 🔒 Use Akeeba’s built-in encryption for sensitive data.

6. Test Your Backups Regularly

Don’t wait until disaster strikes to find out your backups are corrupted. Test your archives monthly:

1. Download the backup file (.jpa or .zip).
2. Use Akeeba Kickstart to extract it locally.
3. Confirm that the site and database restore correctly.

7. How to Restore a Joomla Backup

Restoring with Akeeba is straightforward:

1. Upload your backup file and kickstart.php to your server.
2. Access https://yourdomain.com/kickstart.php.
3. Follow the on-screen wizard to restore the site files and database.
4. After restoration, delete kickstart.php and the backup archive for security.

8. Verify the Restored Site

After restoring, check that:

• ✅ Admin login works correctly.
• ✅ All components and menus load normally.
• ✅ Permalinks (SEF URLs) still function.
• ✅ HTTPS is enabled again.

9. Automate Offsite Backup Uploads

For maximum security, send backups automatically to cloud storage. Akeeba supports multiple remote services:

• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• Amazon S3
• OneDrive

This ensures your backups are safe even if your hosting server is compromised.

10. Create a Disaster Recovery Plan

Having a plan saves time during emergencies. Make sure your recovery checklist includes:

• 🕓 Location of latest backups (local and cloud).
• 🔑 Access credentials for hosting and database.
• 📋 Step-by-step restoration procedure.

Conclusion

Backing up Joomla regularly is the foundation of a secure and stable website. With Akeeba Backup, you can automate the process, store copies safely, and restore your site in minutes. Remember to test your backups and secure your archives to prevent unauthorized access.

Next step: Learn how to Set Up a Firewall and Malware Protection in Joomla to strengthen your site against online threats.