Customizations are of different kinds when it comes to SharePoint, below is small descriptions.
- Customizations packaged as solutions (.wsp files). Solutions contain developed site elements, and are typically created by developers. Developed site elements include the following:
- Web Parts
- Workflows
- Site and list definitions
- Document converters
- Event receivers
- Timer jobs
- Assemblies
- Authored site elements, which are typically created by Web designers, are not explicitly compiled and reside in a content database. Authored site elements include the following:
- Master pages
- Cascading style sheets
- Forms
- Layout page
- Changes to the Web.config file
- Third-party solutions and their associated binary files and registry keys, such as IFilters
- Changes to sites created by direct editing through the browser
- Developed customizations that are not packaged as solutions
Each of these kinds of customizations requires a different type of backup.
In this article:
- Backing up solution packages in SharePoint
- Backing up authored site elements in SharePoint
- Backing up workflows in SharePoint
- Backing up changes to the Web.config file in SharePoint
- Backing up third-party products in SharePoint
- Backing up changes made by direct editing in SharePoint
- Backing up developed customizations that are not packaged as solutions in SharePoint
Ref: technet.microsoft.com
