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Security Operations · Foundational

Backup Types

The main backup methods: full, incremental and differential, plus snapshots and synthetic full backups.

Definition

A full backup copies all selected data. Incremental backups copy data changed since the last backup of any type, so restores need the last full plus every incremental. Differential backups copy changes since the last full backup, so restores need only the last full plus the latest differential. Archive bits or change tracking identify changed data.

Example

Full backup on Sunday, differentials Monday to Saturday; a Thursday restore needs Sunday's full and Thursday's differential.

Exam tip

Incremental = fastest backup, slowest restore; differential = slower backup, faster restore.

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