Full vs Incremental vs Differential Backup: Which is Right for You?
Imagine your organization is hit with a ransomware attack or sudden outage. In that critical moment, your ability to recover data swiftly could be the difference between business continuity or prolonged downtime. This is why having an effective data backup strategy isn’t just important; it’s essential.
However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some methods are impractical for your organization’s bespoke needs. Whether your priority is maximizing storage efficiency or minimizing restoration times, we’ll help you select the best approach for your needs when it comes to a full vs incremental vs differential backup.
Different Types of Backups
When planning your backup strategy, you have three distinct methods, all taking a different approach to backing up your most valuable asset: your data.
- Full backup: A complete copy of all data files that an organization wishes to protect, regardless of whether any changes have been made to the data. Due to its time-consuming nature and high storage requirements, this method is used less frequently.
- Differential backup: Saves data that has been added, updated, or altered since the last full backup. With each differential backup, the data grows as it includes all changes since the last full backup, regardless of previous differential backups.
- Incremental backup: Captures only the data that has changed since the most recent backup, whether full or incremental. This means that each backup is smaller than a differential backup.
What is a Full Backup?
A full backup is the process of completing a copy of all the data that you decided to back up. It serves as the foundation for other approaches, acting as a building block and setting a new starting point.
A full backup is performed every Sunday, capturing all selected files and data in their entirety as a standalone, complete copy of the system. The timing of the next full backup depends on organizational needs, such as a monthly schedule, with each new full backup creating an updated copy of all data, regardless of previous backups.
Pros and Cons of Full Backup
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides a complete recovery point that does not require other backups. | Requires significant storage space due to the complete data copy. |
| Simplifies restoration without relying on multiple data sets. | Time-consuming and resource-intensive compared to other methods. |
| Ensures data integrity and minimizes the risk of errors in the backup chain. | It can result in data loss if used alone in the event of failure or outages. |
Could Your Organization Benefit from Full Backups?
A full backup could be the right solution for you if:
- You want a complete piece of mind: Captures all selected files and data, providing a standalone backup.
- You prefer a straightforward approach: Eliminates complexity, offering an easy-to-manage solution.
- You value speed when restoring data: It delivers the fastest recovery, as it involves just one backup set.
- You’re not limited by bandwidth or storage: Ensures data is fully secured without involving partial backups.
- You need a reliable reference point that serves as a solid foundation for future incremental or differential backups.
What is an Incremental Backup?
An incremental backup is a process that only backs up data that has changed since the most recent backup, whether full or incremental. It was first introduced as a way of optimizing both speed and storage efficiency.
A full backup is performed every Sunday, capturing all selected files and data in their entirety. Starting Monday, incremental backups are performed daily, each capturing only the new or modified data since the previous backup. This process continues until the next full backup is scheduled. The incremental backup cycle then resets and starts again.
Pros and Cons of Incremental Backup
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Efficiently saves storage by backing up only new or modified data. | Restoration can be complex, requiring the last full backup and subsequent incremental backups. |
| Offers fast backup speeds compared to other approaches. | Restoration time is lengthened due to multiple backups being combined. |
| Minimizes system impact by using fewer resources. | It cannot function independently, as it relies on the most recent full backup. |
Could Your Organization Benefit from Incremental Backups?
An incremental backup could be the right solution for you if:
- You want to maximize your storage space: Backing up only the changes reduces the amount of data stored.
- You’re dealing with large datasets and tight backup windows: Ensures quick, efficient backups without sacrificing performance.
- You need to work within limited bandwidths: Reduces network load by transferring only incremental changes rather than differential or full backups.
- You have strict RPO and RTO requirements: Enables faster recovery and minimal data loss through regular, manageable backups.
- You’re open to longer recovery times: Balances backup efficiency with the flexibility to restore large amounts of data.
What is a Differential Backup?
A differential backup is a process that includes all data that has changed since the last full backup. As a result, each subsequent differential backup grows larger over time, capturing all changes since the last full backup.
You perform a full backup on Sunday, capturing all selected files and data. On Monday, a differential backup is performed, backing up all files that have changed since Sunday’s full backup. On Tuesday, another differential backup is carried out, again capturing all changes made since the full backup on Sunday, including changes from both Monday and Tuesday.
Each subsequent day, the differential backup continues to include all changes made since the last full backup, resulting in progressively larger backup sizes until the next full backup is performed, resetting the cycle.
Pros and Cons of Differential Backup
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Faster backup process compared to a full backup. | Uses large amounts of storage as each backup accumulates. |
| Simplifies restoration compared to incremental backups. | Backup time increases as the amount of modified data grows. |
| Offers flexible scheduling options, providing control over backup timing. | Potential for data inconsistencies during recovery, as older, differential backups may include more data. |
Could Your Organization Benefit from Differential Backups?
An incremental backup could be the right solution for you if:
- You need quick access to your data: Ensures quicker restoration since only the most recent full and differential backups are needed.
- Your data changes frequently: Captures all changes since the last full backup, ensuring up-to-date data protection.
- You have regulatory compliance needs: Meets data protection standards by maintaining a comprehensive, recoverable backup set.
- You have room in your storage budget: Can accommodate the storage of both full and differential backups.
- You can’t afford downtime: Reduces the time needed for data restoration.
Full vs Differential vs Incremental Backup: What’s Right for You?
When selecting a backup method, consider your data backup and recovery requirements. Each option offers distinct advantages and trade-offs.
| Spec | Full Backup | Differential Backup | Incremental Backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage Requirements | Most storage required | Moderate storage required | Least storage required |
| Backup Speed | Slowest | Moderate speed | Fastest |
| Recovery Speed | Fastest | Moderate recovery | Slowest |
| Ideal Recovery Scenario | Best for quick recovery | Balanced for speed/storage | Best for storage efficiency |
| Backup Security | Equal with Ootbi | Equal with Ootbi | Equal with Ootbi |
To find the optimal backup strategy, ask the following questions of your organization:
How Much Storage Space Do You Require?
Assessing the amount of data that needs backing up will be pivotal to your backup strategy. If storage is a concern, incremental backups are the optimal choice.
What is the Backup Speed You Require?
Consider how quickly you need to back up your data. Full backups take the longest but offer the most comprehensive protection. Incremental backups are faster to complete, while differential backups offer a middle ground in terms of speed and protection.
What Access Speed Do You Need When Retrieving Data from Backups?
When it comes to restoration speed, full backups offer the quickest recovery, as they contain all data in one set. Differential backups are slower to restore than full backups but faster than incremental backups, as they only require the last full backup and the most recent differential backup.
What Would Be Your Ideal Scenario When Recovering Data from Backups?
If minimizing downtime is critical for your organization, a full backup is ideal for the fastest recovery. If some data loss is acceptable, incremental or differential backups can balance storage efficiency with recovery time. Consider your acceptable RTO and RPO to choose the best backup method that aligns with your needs.
How Can You Ensure Data Backup Security?
To keep your backups secure and accessible, implement strong physical and software-based protections, including encryption and access controls. Using technologies like Ootbi (Out-of-the-Box Immutability) ensures that backup data cannot be altered or deleted by unauthorized users, adding an extra layer of security and integrity.
Enhance Your Backup Strategy with Ootbi by Object First
Ootbi by Object First streamlines and improves the backup process, offering a solution that can be applied across different backup methods.
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FAQ
How Do Incremental vs. Differential Backups in the Cloud Differ?
Incremental backups are better suited to the cloud, relying on fewer resources and using less of that all-important and often expensive storage.
What Is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule?
The 3-2-1 backup rule is a data security technique that involves creating three copies of data. Storing them on two different media types and keeping one copy off-site ensures resilience against data loss and swift recovery.
What Is the Best Data Backup Strategy?
The best data backup strategy depends on the specific needs of your organization. Incremental backups are efficient for saving storage and backup time, while differential backups provide a quicker recovery option.
