A System for Backing Up Client Website Files
Despite careful digital filing habits and regular complete backups, a couple of years ago I found myself in a situation in which I had lost some file that was important to one of my client web sites. I don't remember offhand what it was now - maybe a Fireworks graphic source file - and I don't remember how I goofed and lost it. But it did make enough of an impression on me that I began taking some extra precautions with client web site files.
What I decided to do was to set up a system that would serve as an additional backup to my regular backups of my whole hard drive contents. Since every client has remote hosting that I have access to, I realized that I could use that space for a backup of files involved in their web site. Of course, the remote site itself serves as a kind of backup of the actual site files, but I decided to routinely keep copies of other client files there too.
For me, everything has to be orderly - it's just so much less work and stress. So I decided to change the folder system I use for each client. Within the directory that holds their actual web site files, I place a special directory, and in that folder I place all of the supporting and source files. I now routinely upload that directory to the remote server as an extra backup.
One caveat: usually, I'm the only one with access to that remote site, but occasionally there's someone else in there as well, so I decided not to keep anything potentially sensitive in that folder, such as the Word documents I sometimes write up when I'm taking notes and working on an estimate for a web site. So I don't upload the sub-directory that contains my own internal written documents at all.
Another caveat: when the professional relationship is ended, for whatever reason, I make sure to go into that remote directory while I still have access and delete those backup files. If I have an agreement with the client to provide them with my source files, I'm glad to replace them on the server, or burn them to a CD or whatever is easiest, but I don't want to just leave them there without sorting them out and making decisions as to which the client should have. If nothing else, I want to clean up and toss out any non-useful files.
I use this system with every single client account now, and I don't worry so much about the possibility of losing important website-related files anymore.
What I decided to do was to set up a system that would serve as an additional backup to my regular backups of my whole hard drive contents. Since every client has remote hosting that I have access to, I realized that I could use that space for a backup of files involved in their web site. Of course, the remote site itself serves as a kind of backup of the actual site files, but I decided to routinely keep copies of other client files there too.
For me, everything has to be orderly - it's just so much less work and stress. So I decided to change the folder system I use for each client. Within the directory that holds their actual web site files, I place a special directory, and in that folder I place all of the supporting and source files. I now routinely upload that directory to the remote server as an extra backup.
One caveat: usually, I'm the only one with access to that remote site, but occasionally there's someone else in there as well, so I decided not to keep anything potentially sensitive in that folder, such as the Word documents I sometimes write up when I'm taking notes and working on an estimate for a web site. So I don't upload the sub-directory that contains my own internal written documents at all.
Another caveat: when the professional relationship is ended, for whatever reason, I make sure to go into that remote directory while I still have access and delete those backup files. If I have an agreement with the client to provide them with my source files, I'm glad to replace them on the server, or burn them to a CD or whatever is easiest, but I don't want to just leave them there without sorting them out and making decisions as to which the client should have. If nothing else, I want to clean up and toss out any non-useful files.
I use this system with every single client account now, and I don't worry so much about the possibility of losing important website-related files anymore.
posted by Patty Ayers at
2:51 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home