What is HTTPS and do I need it?

HTTPS is the secure padlock in the browser bar. Yes, you need it. Without it, browsers warn visitors your site is not secure and Google ranks you lower. It's standard and usually free.

How often should my site be backed up?

Daily is the safe standard, with backups stored off the main server. That way if something breaks, you can restore yesterday's version in minutes instead of rebuilding.

What's the biggest security risk for a small site?

Outdated software and weak passwords. Most hacks target known holes in old plugins or guessable logins, both of which are easy to prevent with updates and two-factor login.

Can I just let someone handle this for me?

Yes, and most busy trades do. A managed website service keeps the site updated, secured, and backed up so you never think about it.

How do I keep my business website secure and backed up?

Updated June 28, 2026 · Running your business online

Short answer

Make sure your site uses HTTPS, keep any software and plugins updated, use strong unique passwords with two-factor login, and run automatic daily backups stored somewhere off the server. If that sounds like a lot, it's exactly why many trades use a managed service that handles security and backups for them so a hack or a crash never takes the site down for long.

To keep your business website secure and backed up, cover four basics: serve the site over HTTPS, keep all software updated, lock down your logins with strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and run automatic daily backups stored off the server. None of it is exotic, but it does need to happen consistently. The alternative, a hacked or crashed site that's down for days, costs you calls and trust at the worst possible time.

Lock down the basics

Three things stop the large majority of problems:

HTTPS. The padlock in the browser bar. It encrypts traffic, and without it Google flags your site as not secure and ranks it lower. It's standard and usually free.
Updates. Most hacks exploit known holes in outdated software and plugins. Keeping things current closes those doors before anyone walks through.
Strong logins. Unique passwords plus two-factor authentication. Weak, reused passwords are how most small sites actually get broken into.

Get those right and you've handled the threats that take down most small business sites.

Back up like you mean it

A backup is your undo button for the whole website. If a site gets hacked, a botched update breaks a page, or a server fails, a recent backup lets you restore in minutes instead of rebuilding from scratch. The rules are simple: back up daily, store copies somewhere other than the live server, and test occasionally that a restore actually works. A backup you've never tested is just a hope.

Confirm your backups are automatic and stored off the main server. The worst time to discover you have no backup is the morning your site is down and the phone has stopped ringing.

Decide who's responsible

Here's the honest part: most trade owners will not log in weekly to apply updates and check backups. That's not a flaw, you're busy running jobs. The realistic choice is to either commit to a maintenance routine or hand it to someone who does it for you. We lay out that decision in do I really need to pay for website maintenance and whether paying monthly for a website is worth it.

Keep an eye on it from your phone

Whether you manage it yourself or not, you should be able to see your site is up and get alerted if something breaks, all from your phone. See can I run my whole business website from my phone for how to stay on top of it without a laptop.

This is the part Blank Theory quietly takes off your plate: HTTPS, updates, security, and automatic backups are all handled, hosted and maintained for a flat $199/month so your site just stays up. See a free preview of your site, usually live in under 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

What is HTTPS and do I need it?: HTTPS is the secure padlock in the browser bar. Yes, you need it. Without it, browsers warn visitors your site is not secure and Google ranks you lower. It's standard and usually free.
How often should my site be backed up?: Daily is the safe standard, with backups stored off the main server. That way if something breaks, you can restore yesterday's version in minutes instead of rebuilding.
What's the biggest security risk for a small site?: Outdated software and weak passwords. Most hacks target known holes in old plugins or guessable logins, both of which are easy to prevent with updates and two-factor login.
Can I just let someone handle this for me?: Yes, and most busy trades do. A managed website service keeps the site updated, secured, and backed up so you never think about it.