What are the differences between full, incremental, and differential backups?

Full backups, incremental backups, and differential backups are different methods of backing up data, each with its own set of pros and cons.

1. Full Backups:

– Pros:

– Provides a complete and independent copy of all data.

– Easy and quick restoration since all data is in one place.

– Simplicity in terms of backup management.

– Cons:

– Consumes more storage space compared to other backup types.

– Longer backup times and higher resource usage.

– Data transfer over the network can be significant.

2. Incremental Backups:

– Pros:

– Backs up only changes made since the last backup, hence saving storage space.

– Faster backup process since it only captures incremental changes.

– Ideal for frequent backups.

– Cons:

– Longer restore times as each incremental backup must be applied in sequence.

– Higher complexity in managing and restoring multiple incremental backups.

– Greater risk of data loss if any incremental backup in the chain is corrupted.

3. Differential Backups:

– Pros:

– Backs up all changes made since the last full backup, making restoration faster compared to incremental backups.

– Requires less time to restore compared to incremental backups as only two backups need to be restored (full and the latest differential backup).

– Provides a balance between storage space and faster restoration.

– **Cons