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Backup Services

Overview

MDHosting Ltd provides comprehensive automated backup services for all hosting accounts, ensuring your data is protected and recoverable in the event of accidental deletion, hardware failure, or security incidents. All backups are stored off-site at Hetzner's secure storage facility for maximum resilience.

Key Benefits: - Daily Automated Backups - No manual intervention required - 30-Day Retention - Full backups stored for one month - Off-Site Storage - Backups stored separately from production servers - GDPR Compliant - UK data protection standards maintained - No Additional Cost - Included with all hosting packages - Self-Service Restore - Restore files and databases via cPanel (where available)

What Gets Backed Up

Website Files

  • ✅ All files in your public_html directory
  • ✅ Subdomain and addon domain files
  • ✅ Configuration files (.htaccess, .user.ini)
  • ✅ Private files and scripts
  • ✅ SSL certificates and configuration

Databases

  • ✅ All MySQL/MariaDB databases
  • ✅ Database users and permissions
  • ✅ Full SQL dumps for complete recovery

Email Accounts

  • ✅ All mailbox contents (IMAP/POP3 mail)
  • ✅ Email filters and forwarding rules
  • ✅ Autoresponders and vacation messages
  • ✅ Mailing lists configuration

Account Configuration

  • ✅ cPanel account settings
  • ✅ Email account configurations
  • ✅ FTP accounts
  • ✅ Cron jobs
  • ✅ DNS zone files

What's NOT Backed Up

  • ❌ Temporary files and caches
  • ❌ Session data
  • ❌ Server logs older than 30 days
  • ❌ Files in /tmp directories

Backup Schedule

Daily Backups

  • Frequency: Every 24 hours
  • Time: Typically between 02:00-04:00 GMT (low-traffic period)
  • Retention: 30 days
  • Storage Location: Hetzner BX11 Storage Box (off-site)

Backup Process

graph LR
    A[Your Hosting Account] -->|Daily 02:00-04:00 GMT| B[cPanel Backup System]
    B -->|Transfer via SSH| C[Hetzner Storage Box<br/>Off-Site Storage]
    C -->|30-Day Retention| D[Automatic Cleanup]
    C -->|Recovery Request| A

    classDef source fill:#3498db,stroke:#2c3e50,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    classDef backup fill:#27ae60,stroke:#2c3e50,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    classDef storage fill:#f39c12,stroke:#2c3e50,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff

    class A source
    class B,C backup
    class D storage

Retention Policy

  • Daily Backups: Last 30 days retained
  • Older Backups: Automatically purged after 30 days
  • Custom Retention: Available on request for business-critical accounts

GDPR Compliance

Backup retention follows our GDPR data retention policy. Backups of deleted accounts are retained for 30 days, then permanently deleted unless legal hold applies.

Recovery Point Objective (RPO)

RPO: 24 hours - In the worst-case scenario, you may lose up to 24 hours of data (time since last backup).

Best Practices to Minimise Data Loss: - Enable version control for critical documents - Use database replication for mission-critical applications - Maintain your own local backups of critical files - Test restore procedures periodically

Self-Service Restore Options

Most restore operations can be performed self-service through cPanel:

1. Restore Website Files

  1. Log in to cPanel at https://eu1.mdhosting.co.uk:2083
  2. Navigate to Files → Backup Wizard
  3. Click Restore
  4. Select Home Directory for full site restore
  5. Choose backup date from available backups
  6. Click Restore and wait for completion

Alternative: Partial File Restore 1. Navigate to Files → File Manager 2. Click Backup in the toolbar 3. Browse backups by date 4. Select specific files/folders to restore 5. Click Restore Selected

2. Restore Databases

  1. Log in to cPanel
  2. Navigate to Files → Backup Wizard
  3. Click Restore
  4. Select MySQL Database from the list
  5. Choose the database and backup date
  6. Click Restore

Important: Restoring a database will overwrite the current database. Download a current backup first if needed.

3. Restore Email Accounts

  1. Log in to cPanel
  2. Navigate to Files → Backup Wizard
  3. Click Restore
  4. Select Email Forwarders and Filters or Email Configuration
  5. Choose backup date
  6. Click Restore

Email Restore Limitations

Full mailbox content restore may require support assistance. Self-service restore covers email configuration only.

Requesting Staff-Assisted Restore

For complex restore scenarios, contact our support team:

Support Ticket System: https://mdhosting.co.uk/billing/submitticket.php

Email: admin@mdhosting.co.uk

What to Include in Your Request: - Account username/domain name - What needs to be restored (files, databases, email) - Specific date/time if known - Urgency level (standard/urgent)

Response Times: - Standard Requests: 4-8 business hours - Urgent Requests: 1-2 hours (business hours) - Emergency Requests: Immediate (critical data loss)

Full Account Restore

In the event of complete account loss or corruption:

  1. Immediate Actions:
  2. Contact support immediately via ticket system
  3. Provide account details and incident description

  4. Specify required recovery date

  5. Recovery Process:

  6. Support team initiates full account restore
  7. Temporary domain provided if needed
  8. DNS updated once restore complete

  9. You verify data integrity

  10. Timeline:

  11. Small Accounts (<5GB): 1-2 hours
  12. Medium Accounts (5-20GB): 2-4 hours
  13. Large Accounts (>20GB): 4-8 hours

Additional Backup Options

Client-Managed Backups

While our automated backups provide excellent protection, we recommend maintaining your own backups:

Local Backups: - Download full site backups via cPanel monthly - Store locally on external drives or cloud storage - Keep multiple versions (3-6 months recommended)

How to Download Full Backup: 1. Log in to cPanel 2. Navigate to Files → Backup → Download a Full Account Backup 3. Enter your email address for notification 4. Select Home Directory backup type 5. Click Generate Backup 6. Download when ready (notification email sent)

Backup Size Considerations: - Backups can be large (several GB for busy sites) - Use a reliable internet connection - Allow sufficient time for download completion

WordPress-Specific Backups

For WordPress sites, consider additional backup plugins:

Recommended Plugins: - UpdraftPlus - Free, cloud storage integration - BackWPup - Comprehensive backup solution - Duplicator - Site migration and backup

Plugin Backup Strategy: - Schedule complementary backups (e.g., weekly) - Store on external cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) - Test restore procedures periodically

Defence in Depth

Multiple backup layers provide best protection. MDHosting's automated backups + your own plugin/manual backups = maximum safety.

Database Backup Best Practices

Regular Database Exports

For critical databases, maintain regular exports:

Via phpMyAdmin: 1. Access phpMyAdmin through cPanel 2. Select database 3. Click Export tab 4. Choose Quick export method (or Custom for options) 5. Click Go to download SQL file

Via Command Line (SSH): 

# Export single database
mysqldump -u username -p database_name > backup.sql

# Export all databases
mysqldump -u username -p --all-databases > all-databases.sql

# Compressed export (saves space)
mysqldump -u username -p database_name | gzip > backup.sql.gz

Automated Database Backups (Cron)

Set up automated database exports via cron:

Example Cron Job: 

# Daily database backup at 3 AM
0 3 * * * mysqldump -u username -p'password' database_name | gzip > ~/db-backups/db-$(date +\%Y\%m\%d).sql.gz

Setup in cPanel: 1. Navigate to Advanced → Cron Jobs 2. Enter the command above 3. Set schedule (daily recommended) 4. Save cron job

Backup Monitoring

Checking Backup Status

Via cPanel: 1. Log in to cPanel 2. Navigate to Files → Backup Status 3. View last backup date and status 4. Check for any error messages

Notification Emails: - Backup failure notifications sent to account email - Check spam folder if not received - Update email address in cPanel if needed

What to Do If Backups Fail

  1. Check Disk Space:
  2. Navigate to cPanel → Files → Disk Usage

  3. Ensure adequate space available (<80% usage)

  4. Check Error Messages:

  5. Review backup status in cPanel

  6. Note any specific error codes

  7. Contact Support:

  8. Open support ticket with error details
  9. Include account username and recent changes
  10. Support team will investigate and resolve

Data Security & Encryption

Backup Security Measures

  • Encrypted Transfer: All backups transferred via SSH/SFTP
  • Access Controls: Storage box accessible only to MDHosting staff
  • Physical Security: Hetzner datacenter security (biometric access, CCTV)
  • Data Segregation: Each account's backups stored separately
  • Audit Logging: All backup access logged and monitored

GDPR & Data Protection

Your Rights: - Right of Access: Request copies of your backups - Right to Erasure: Request permanent backup deletion - Right to Portability: Download backups in standard formats

Data Processing: - Backups processed under legitimate interest (service provision) - Hetzner (storage provider) operates under Data Processing Agreement - All data remains in EU (Germany) for GDPR compliance

For GDPR requests: admin@mdhosting.co.uk

Testing Your Backups

Regular Restore Testing

Why Test Backups: - Verify backups are complete and functional - Familiarise yourself with restore procedures - Identify potential issues before emergency

Recommended Testing Schedule: - Quarterly: Restore random files to verify integrity - Annually: Perform full account restore to staging area - After Major Changes: Test backups after significant site updates

How to Test (Safe Method): 1. Create test subdomain (e.g., test.yourdomain.com) 2. Restore backup to test subdomain 3. Verify all files, databases, and functionality 4. Delete test subdomain after verification

Disaster Recovery

Emergency Contact

For critical data loss incidents:

Priority Support: - Email: admin@mdhosting.co.uk (Subject: URGENT DATA RECOVERY) - Ticket System: https://mdhosting.co.uk/billing/submitticket.php (Mark as "High Priority")

Response Times: - Business Hours (9 AM - 6 PM GMT): 30-60 minutes - Out of Hours: 2-4 hours - Critical Infrastructure: Immediate escalation

Recovery Priorities

In disaster scenarios, recovery proceeds in this order:

  1. Critical Business Data - Customer databases, transaction logs
  2. Website Functionality - Public-facing website restoration
  3. Email Services - Business email account restoration
  4. Secondary Content - Archives, old files, logs

Inform support of your priorities when requesting emergency recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are backups retained?

Backups are retained for 30 days. After 30 days, older backups are automatically deleted to manage storage space.

Can I increase backup retention?

Yes, extended retention (90 days, 1 year) is available on request for business-critical accounts. Additional charges may apply based on storage requirements.

Are backups included in my hosting package?

Yes, daily automated backups with 30-day retention are included at no additional cost with all hosting packages.

Can I restore just one file?

Yes, use cPanel's File Manager backup browser to restore individual files without affecting other content.

What if I need a backup older than 30 days?

After 30 days, backups are permanently deleted. We recommend maintaining your own periodic backups (monthly) for long-term retention needs.

Are emails backed up?

Yes, email accounts, configurations, and mailbox contents are included in daily backups. Full mailbox restore may require support assistance.

Can I schedule my own backup time?

System-wide backups run overnight (02:00-04:00 GMT) to minimise impact. Custom backup schedules require dedicated server hosting.

Do backups affect site performance?

Minimal impact. Backups run during low-traffic hours using incremental backup methods to reduce system load.

Are backups encrypted?

Backups are transferred via encrypted SSH/SFTP connections. At-rest encryption is available on request for sensitive data.

What happens to backups if I cancel my account?

Upon account cancellation, backups are retained for 30 days (standard GDPR retention), then permanently deleted. Download your data before cancellation.

Additional Resources

Internal Documentation: - Backup & Recovery Procedures - Staff operational procedures - Incident Response - Data breach and recovery protocols - GDPR Compliance - Data protection policies

Client Portal: - Blesta Client Portal - Account management - Support Tickets - Technical support

Contact: - Email: admin@mdhosting.co.uk - Website: https://mdhosting.co.uk

Last updated: January 2026