I come across many issues with business ownwers because they never thought about backup files of their website, or worse yet their previous web designer didn’t have a backup before something went wrong. This leaves the business owner with nothing but a memory of a website. Many things can go wrong when it comes to your website and keeping a copy of those files can prevent a world of pain. Make sure your web designer keeps weekly backups of your site at a minimum. They should also keep multiple copies and keep a copy in more than one location.
If a hosing company has a natural disaster or goes out of business you can lose your data. Your web designer can also lose files due to storms, fire, etc. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you buy your website you should ask for a copy of the webfiles. Whenever changes are made get a copy or make sure your web designer has a copy stored in case something goes wrong. If you have a fallout with your website company you still have you website if you have a copy of the files.
Here are some good safety tips on how to stay safe on the web. This is a good start. Go to www.google.com/help/security for more information.
Create strong Passwords and keep them secure. Use different passwords for every account. Change passwords frequently. Don't make passwords to simple. Keep your software updated. Look out for phishing schemes and don't access websites from your email. Don't offer passwords to companies who ask for them by email. Check your computer for malware often. Keep downloads to a minimum and take proper precautions. These are basic precautions use prudence when downloading anything. Keep your system up to date and clean. Stay on top of the latest security issues and how to remedy them.