How to Automate VPS Backups to an External Server or S3 Bucket

Meta Description: Protect your data with confidence. Learn how to automate VPS backups to an external server or Amazon S3 bucket for secure, offsite redundancy and easy recovery.

Introduction: Backups Aren’t Optional — They’re Essential

When you’re managing a VPS — whether for a website, SaaS app, or client workloads — a single error, update gone wrong, or cyberattack could wipe out everything.

The best way to avoid disaster? Automated, offsite backups.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to automate VPS backups to:

• An external server (another VPS or dedicated server)

• ☁️ An Amazon S3 bucket (or compatible storage like Wasabi, Backblaze, etc.)

You’ll walk away with peace of mind — and a plan to protect what matters.

Why Automate Backups Offsite?

Here’s why offsite and automated backups are far superior to local, manual ones:

Backups aren’t just for accidents — they’re for sleep-at-night certainty.

Option 1: Backup to an External Server (VPS-to-VPS)

Perfect if you already manage a secondary VPS or have access to a storage server.

How It Works:

• Compress and archive your VPS files and databases

• Use rsync, scp, or rclone to send them securely to a remote server

• Automate the process with cron jobs for daily/weekly backups

Key Tools:

• rsync – fast, incremental syncs

• scp – secure file copy over SSH

• cron – for scheduling backups

• SSH key authentication – for passwordless automation

Tip: Store backups in a dated folder structure for easy recovery and versioning.

☁️ Option 2: Backup to Amazon S3 or S3-Compatible Storage

Ideal for scalable, affordable, and highly durable storage.

Why S3?

• 11 9s durability (Amazon’s standard)

• Pay only for what you use

• Global access + integration with automation tools

Compatible Providers:

• Amazon S3

• Wasabi (cheaper, S3-compatible)

• Backblaze B2

• DigitalOcean Spaces

Tools for S3 Backups:

• rclone – supports S3, Wasabi, B2, etc.

• AWS CLI – for direct integration with Amazon services

• Duplicity or Restic – encrypted, versioned backups

What You Can Back Up:

• Web files (e.g., /var/www/html)

• Config files (e.g., /etc)

• Databases (via mysqldump, pg_dump)

• Logs or media content

Enable server-side encryption or encrypt locally before uploading.

Sample Backup Strategy

Here’s a simplified version of a solid weekly VPS backup workflow:

1. Compress files & database:

				
					tar -czvf backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz /var/www /etc /home
mysqldump -u root -p your_db > db-$(date +%F).sql

				
			

2. Upload to remote server or S3 with rclone:

				
					rclone copy backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz remote:backups/

				
			

3. Automate with cron:

				
					0 2 * * * /path/to/your-backup-script.sh

				
			

Not a coder? Consider a managed VPS provider that includes automatic offsite backups with restore functionality.

Best Practices for VPS Backup Automation

✅ Encrypt your backups
✅ Retain multiple versions
✅ Test restores regularly
✅ Store in at least two locations (local + offsite)
✅ Monitor backup success/failure logs

Bonus: Promote Trust with Your Clients

If you’re managing VPS environments for clients, regular offsite backups:

• ✅ Show you’re proactive about data protection

• ✅ Build long-term trust

• ✅ Create an upsell opportunity (“We provide full disaster recovery!”)

It’s a win for your clients and your brand.

✅ Final Thoughts: Set It and Sleep Easy

Your VPS is a critical part of your online operation — don’t leave its safety to chance.

With a few simple tools and a clear plan, you can:

• Automate regular backups

• Store them safely offsite

• Restore your server in minutes, not hours or days

Protect your work, your business, and your peace of mind — start automating your VPS backups today.