Full vs. Differential vs. Incremental Backup: Which one do you need?
The benefits, drawbacks and how to choose
When it comes to data, we all know the importance of saving for a rainy day. Many of us follow the good practice of backing up our data day in and day out. But such operations often take up a lot of resources. The result? Slow networks and buggy devices.
Before we ask why, it might be helpful to understand different backup types and how each works. Follow us on a deep dive into full vs. differential vs. incremental backup and find the most suitable solution for yourself.
Full Backup
Just as implied by its name, a full backup copies all the source data to the destination. This is the simplest form of backup, but also the most time-consuming and space-intensive.
As illustrated below, the model backs up all disk sectors containing data on a daily basis, even when data is unchanged on Day 4. Everything is copied without comparing the data in previous backup runs.
Due to resource constraints, organizations don’t usually perform daily full backups in practice. This type of backup is useful for creating a first copy of all your data and often done at long intervals. Yearly, for example. It also lays the ground for differential and incremental backups.
Differential Backup
A differential backup is where the system copies all data that has changed since the initial full backup. Take the below illustration as an example. Even though there’s no update between Day 3 and 4, the same data will still be backed up again.
In the event of IT disasters, restoring data using the differential model can prove to be a time-saver. Because it only involves two steps: recovering the initial full copy and applying the last differential set.
Incremental Backup
Compared to copying data fully, incremental backup was introduced as a way to reduce the volume used while picking up speed. Therefore, it only backs up the data that has changed since the last backup run occurred, as shown in the below figure.
Incremental backup does enhance the backup efficiency greatly, but you should also expect longer recovery time when data loss happens. Under this model, data reconstruction requires using multiple increments in the backup chain. And each increment depends on the previous one. If any of the increments is corrupted, you may not be able to restore any data from that point onward.
Back up smart with C2 Backup
Built off the traditional incremental model, C2 Backup provides an effective backup solution that requires minimal time and space. In case of restoration, the service combines the latest version of your full data copy with changes made in the last increment, ensuring fast recovery and minor downtime.
Know your backups
Understanding different backup types and strategizing around them is important in safeguarding your digital assets. With the smart combination of data increments and full copies, C2 Backup delivers the highest storage efficiency and lowest restore latency. Whether it’s backup or recovery that you focus on, C2 won’t let you down.
Start protecting your data with our 30-day free trial now.
