SSL certificates protect data in transit; they do nothing to protect your site's content if a bad plugin update, a failed migration, or a hacking incident wipes out your files. CodeGuard Basic, priced from around $20, addresses that separate risk with automated website backups and monitoring.
What CodeGuard Basic Actually Does
CodeGuard automatically backs up your website's files and, depending on your setup, your database, then monitors for changes so you can restore to a previous working state if something breaks. It's a safety net that operates independently of your SSL certificate or web host's own backup practices, which are often limited or slower to restore from.
Key specifications:
- Automated daily backups of your website files
- Change monitoring: alerts you when files change, which can help catch unauthorized modifications (a possible sign of compromise) as well as accidental ones
- One-click restore: roll back to a previous backup point without manual file reconstruction
- Basic storage allowance: sufficient for smaller sites; larger or media-heavy sites may need a higher tier
- Single website coverage: Basic is scoped to protect one site
Who CodeGuard Basic Is For
- Small business websites and blogs that want a safety net without a large ongoing cost
- Site owners who make occasional manual changes (theme updates, plugin installs) and want an easy way to undo a mistake
- Anyone whose web host doesn't offer reliable backups, or whose host backups are hard to actually restore from
- First-time backup buyers wanting to establish the habit of automated protection for a single site
If you manage several websites, or one large site with heavy media and database needs, a higher CodeGuard tier will offer more headroom.
Example Scenario
A boutique law practice, hartwell-legal.com, runs its site on a small WordPress installation, updated occasionally by an office manager rather than a dedicated developer. After a plugin update once broke the site's contact form for several days before anyone noticed, the firm decides it needs a proper safety net. They set up CodeGuard Basic, and a few months later, when a theme update unexpectedly breaks the homepage layout, the office manager restores the site to the previous day's backup in a few clicks — no developer or emergency support ticket required.
Unique Strengths
Peace of mind for non-technical site owners — restoring a backup doesn't require developer skills.
Independent of your web host, so you're not solely relying on a host's own backup practices.
Low cost of entry relative to the potential cost of losing site content entirely.
Where It Might Fall Short
If you manage more than one website, or need more frequent backups, more storage, or team access, look at CodeGuard Premium, CodeGuard Professional, or CodeGuard Team depending on your scale.
> Tip: Backups and security monitoring solve different problems. Pairing CodeGuard with a monitoring product like cWatch Web Basic gives you both detection of a problem and a fast way to recover from it.
A broken or restored site is only half the picture — checking your site's broader SEO health is worth doing too. SEO Wolf's free SEO audit scans for the issues most likely to be holding your rankings back.
Bottom Line
CodeGuard Basic is a low-cost, high-value safety net for a single small website — the kind of product you're glad you bought the first time something breaks unexpectedly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need more than one CodeGuard plan if I run several small sites?
Not necessarily — CodeGuard Premium, Team, and Business are specifically built to cover multiple sites under a single plan, which is usually more cost-effective than stacking several Basic or Professional subscriptions.
How long are backups retained?
Retention windows vary by plan tier, with higher tiers generally offering longer backup history. Check the current plan details for exact retention periods before assuming how far back you can restore.
Does CodeGuard back up my database as well as my files?
For database-driven sites (like WordPress or most e-commerce platforms), CodeGuard is designed to capture both file and database changes, though the exact scope depends on how your site is configured during setup.
Get CodeGuard Basic
Ready to protect your site's content? Get CodeGuard Basic from The SSL Store →
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