Differential and Incremental backups are called “Intelligent” backups. Because only a small percentage of information on a computer changes on a daily basis, running a full-sized backup every day can result in wasted time and disk space. Differential and Incremental backups allow you to backup only these changes in different ways; saving time, space and money. Keep reading to learn more about Differential and Incremental backups and why you should care about them.
Editor’s Note: Most backup companies recommend a full backup weekly as part of an overall backup/data-integrity plan. Additionally, Full backups are recommended if there are major changes to a system (e.g. a change in Operating Systems, an update in software or new software installation).
Differential backups: Differential backups are based on the last full backup performed and backup all changes since the last Full backup was performed.
Incremental backups: Incremental backups are based on the last backup performed and backup only the changes since that last backup (Full or Differential).
Incremental and Differential backups were both designed to allow you to backup only files that have changed, although they differ on which files are selected. Incremental backups will back up any changes you have made since your last backup (regardless of type), whereas Differential backs up all of the changes since your last Full backup.
As part of your overall backup strategy, the option to select an Incremental backup a or Differential backup can help manage your data storage and backup job speed. For more detailed information relating to how Differential or Incremental backups differ, please see our FAQ: The differences between a Full, Incremental, or Differential backup
Selecting the Right Backup Policy
Choosing the right setup for your backup policy will depend on your space, time, and the level of data protection desired. For more information on PC backup, view post on understanding your PC backup software needs.
Tips & Tricks for Better Business Backup and Recovery for World Backup Day
New to backup? Choosing the right backup method is one of the most important decisions you need to make when protecting your business-critical data. Learn how to develop an effective backup and recovery plan for your business-critical systems, and find out about the differences between the most common backup methods available, including incremental backup, differential backup, mirror backup, and full backup.
Already have a backup plan? Strengthen your strategy with these best practices and useful tips!
1. Choose the right backup method
Here is a quick rundown of the most common backup methods available:
Mirror Backup creates a mirror copy of the source data. When a source file is deleted, that file is also deleted in the mirror backup automatically.
- Pros: Fast backups, fast recovery
- Cons: High risk of data loss
Full Backup captures your entire system and all the data you want to protect. Frequent full backups result in easier recovery operations.
- Pros: Fast, reliable recovery
- Cons: Slower backup, lots of storage required
Incremental Backup captures only the changes made since the last incremental backup. Saves both time and storage space, and ensures that your backup is up to date.
- Pros: Fast backups, low storage space
- Cons: Slower recovery, risk of data loss
Differential Backup captures only the changes made since the last full backup, not since the last differential backup. This requires more storage space, but ensures an easier, more reliable restore. Many organizations struggle with incremental vs. differential backup solutions.
- Pros: Fast backups, low storage space
- Cons: Slower recovery
Acronis Recommends! For cost-effective, efficient, and—most importantly—reliable backup, we recommend combining regularly-scheduled full system image backup with daily incremental or differential backup.
2. Choose the right backup destination
Once you’ve created a backup, where is the best place to store it safely? Here are the most popular options:
External Hard Drive
- Portable and comparatively less expensive
- Widely used storage media
Cloud Storage
- Secure offsite storage
- Files remain safe & accessible at any time
- Most reliable & convenient for business data
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
- Uses NAS device
- Accessible from anywhere on your network
Acronis Recommends! Local/network backup cannot protect against larger threats like fire, flood and theft. To truly disaster-proof your systems, we recommend combining local and secure cloud backup, following the 3-2-1 rule:
3. Develop an effective disaster recovery plan
When disaster strikes, every minute of downtime costs money and directly impacts your business. You must develop a clearly-defined Disaster Recovery (DR) plan to ensure fast, efficient recovery. Below are questions to ask while developing your DR plan:
- Who is responsible in a disaster scenario?
- Can I easily recover larger amounts of data from my cloud storage?
- Can I restore a system to hardware of a different make/model?
- When I restore a computer or server, will I have to reconfigure and re-install items manually?
- Can I easily restore multiple systems at once?
- What happens if an employee’s computer crashes on the road?
- Can I restore servers located in another office or location?
- Can I perform full bare-metal recovery easily?
Acronis Recommends! Test your DR plan regularly to ensure that your procedures are up to date, easy to follow, and accessible to your DR team. Save time and money by choosing a backup solution that can easily restore a system to new, dissimilar hardware (even a different make/model).
3 Quick Backup Tips!
1. Keep it simple – Save time and effort by finding a solution with a fast installation, an exceptionally easy-to-use interface, and seamless integration with your current system setup.
2. Make it scalable – Look for a flexible backup solution that combines incremental and differential backup and can grow and evolve along with your business. You don’t want to replace your backup strategy every time you expand or upgrade your infrastructure.
3. Ask for more – Beyond file-level backup, disk imaging and bare-metal recovery, demand more advanced features that will make your life easier, including:
- Incremental and differential backup
- Compression and deduplication
- Easy system migrations
- Application-consistent backup
- Automated Disaster Recovery (DR) plans
- Centralized management tools
- Support for both physical & virtual systems
- Easy, flexible data recovery (from a single file to a full system)
3-2-1: A Simple Rule for Complex Data Protection
When companies lose data, the ripple effect reaches all the way to the bottom line. For a gargantuan company like Amazon, data loss and its associated downtime would cost more than $65 million per minute, Acronis Fellow Joel Berman writes in TechRadar. For small and medium businesses, downtime can be just as painful.
In a study from Acronis and IDC, 80 percent of SMBs estimate that data recovery costs $20,000 per hour. The remaining 20 percent put that figure at more than $100,000 per hour.
Companies incur additional costs from lost goodwill and legal fines when customer data is compromised. At Maricopa Community College in Arizona, a massive security breach exposed personal information of 2.4 million former students and faculty. The board allocated $17 million to address the fallout, specifically maintaining a call center and retaining a law firm.
3-2-1 Rule
Data backup is more complex than ever for IT managers today, as companies strive to protect physical, virtual and cloud environments. “These incidents prove that today, more than ever, all companies need a comprehensive data protection plan, so that at least one copy of data will always survive,” Berman says. He recommends that companies follow the 3-2-1 rule: Make three copies of every piece of important data, store that data in two different formats and keep one copy offsite. Here’s a further breakdown.
- Three copies ensure that no single event will wipe out all the data.
- Two formats likely includes an internal drive plus external media (disk, tape, network, cloud, etc.)
- One copy offsite protects data against a physical disasters like theft, fire or flooding.
Data loss is a question of if, not when, Berman says. The faster that companies implement the 3-2-1 rule and establish a plan, the better equipped they’ll be to prevent an incident from escalating to a disaster.
h/t: TechRadar
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