Backups are one of the most important safeguards for your websites, mail, and databases. Plesk includes flexible backup tools that let you create on-demand snapshots, set up automatic schedules, and store your backups either locally on the server or remotely on external storage. This overview explains the options at a glance and points you to the step-by-step guide for each storage method.
This article is for Plesk subscription owners on Noiz hosting who want to understand how Plesk backups work before configuring one. On Noiz, Plesk runs on the neo.noiz.co.za platform, and every subscription includes its own backup manager inside the control panel.
Last reviewed: 27 July 2026, against Plesk Obsidian 18.0 (latest stable). This guide is written for Noiz hosting and is kept current against Plesk. It complements, and does not replace, the official Plesk documentation linked below.
Official Documentation Reference
Why Backups Matter
- Protects against accidental file deletion or corruption
- Helps you recover quickly from software errors or a failed update
- Provides a fallback in case of server or hardware failure
- Supports good practice for security and disaster recovery
A backup is only useful if it exists before something goes wrong, so the goal is to have a recent copy ready at all times, kept somewhere that survives the event you are recovering from.
Backup Types in Plesk
Plesk supports two main backup types:
- Full backups: include all selected data, meaning configuration, files, mail, and databases.
- Incremental backups: include only the changes since the last full backup, which saves space and time. Databases are always backed up in full, even in an incremental job.
You can also choose what each backup contains. A backup can cover configuration only, configuration plus mail, or the whole subscription including web content and databases. Backing up configuration only produces a much smaller file and is handy before you make a settings change you might want to undo.
On-Demand and Scheduled Backups
- On-demand backups run once, when you click to create them. Use these before a risky change such as a plugin update, a theme swap, or a PHP version change.
- Scheduled backups run automatically on a repeating schedule (for example nightly or weekly) and are the safety net you rely on day to day. Plesk lets you set how many copies to keep so that older backups are pruned automatically.
Backup Storage Options
You can choose where Plesk stores your backups:
- Local backups: stored on the same server where your Plesk subscription runs.
- Remote backups: stored off-site for greater resilience, using one of the following methods:
- FTP(S) storage: connect to your own remote FTP or FTPS server.
- SFTP storage: connect to your own remote SFTP server (secure and encrypted).
- Dropbox storage: connect to your Dropbox account.
Important: local backups are stored on the same server and count towards your subscription's disk usage. If the server itself fails, a local-only backup can be lost along with the live data it was meant to protect. For true disaster recovery, keep at least one copy in remote storage that is independent of the hosting server. FTPS and SFTP both encrypt the transfer, so prefer them over plain FTP when your remote server supports them.
Guides for Configuring Backups
- How to Configure Local Backups in Plesk for a Subscription
- How to Configure Remote Backups in Plesk Using FTP(S) Storage
- How to Configure Remote Backups in Plesk Using SFTP Storage
- How to Configure Remote Backups in Plesk Using Dropbox Storage
Best Practices for Using Backups
- Keep a regular schedule that fits how often your content changes.
- Use both local and remote backups for redundancy, keeping the remote copy off the hosting server.
- Test a restore from your backups periodically so you know they actually work when you need them.
- Keep an eye on available storage space, both locally (against your disk quota) and on your remote target.
- Set a sensible retention count so old backups are pruned and do not fill your storage.
With these tools and practices, you can be confident your websites, mail, and databases are protected against unexpected events.
Need a Hand?
If you are on a Noiz managed plan, or you are unsure which backup strategy fits your subscription, the Noiz support team can help you set up and verify your backups. Open a ticket from your client area and the team will guide you through it.
