Harden the Security of Your Backups Created with Akeeba Backup

Harden the Security of Your Backups Created with Akeeba Backup

Akeeba Backup is one of the most popular Joomla extensions. It helps you to backup your Joomla site in case a disaster strikes. We love it. So do our customers.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to bring the security of your backups to the next level. You will learn how to store backups you created with Akeeba Backup extension outside of your Joomla site. 

By default, the Akeeba Backup component stores your site backups within the Joomla file system. The default location of the folder where Akeeba Backup outputs your backups is always administrator/components/com_akeeba/backup.

There is nothing wrong with it security-wise. Akeeba Backup even secures this output folder with the .htaccess file for you.

htaccess file

The thing is everyone, including malicious users, knows about this location. In case someone sets up to go after your backups, they know where to direct their attacks.

Protect your backups in case an attacker succeeds. Move the backups output folder out of your public_html folder and leave them empty-handed.

Let me show you how you can do this.


Step #1. Create a new folder outside of public_html

  • In your web server root, create a new folder to output your Akeeba Backup created backups to. Make sure your new folder is outside your public_html folder.

new output folder


Step #2. Tell Akeeba Backup where the new output folder is

  • In the Akeeba Backup control panel, go to the Basic Operations > Configuration.

configuration

You will be taken to the Akeeba Backup:: Configuration screen. 

  1. Locate the Output Directory field under the Basic Configuration section.
  2. Click on the little folder icon.

output directory

You will see the Akeeba Backup's built-in Directory Browser.

directory browser

  • Navigate using the Directory Browser to your new folder.
  • Once the Output Directory field got populated with the folder name, click Save & Close.
  • Now go and create a new backup of your site. You should now see it stored in your new folder, outside the public_html folder.

backup in the new folder


 What's Next?


What's Next?

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