Unit 03: LO 2 - 2.3 - Backup approaches

Full Backup

What It Is:
This is the Swiss Army knife of backups. It copies all your data files, no matter how big or small. Imagine photocopying every single page of every textbook and notebook you have.

Pros:

• Complete Coverage: You've got everything backed up.

• Easy to Restore: If something goes wrong, you just restore from this one backup.

Cons:

• Time-Consuming: It takes a lot of time.

• Storage Space: You need a lot of room to store it all.

Best For:
Critical systems where you can't afford to lose anything. Often done less frequently due to time and storage needs.

Incremental Backup

What It Is:
This is like jotting down the additional notes your teacher gives each day after your main lecture. It only backs up the data that has changed since the last backup.

Pros:

• Quick: It takes less time.

• Saves Space: Only the new or changed data gets saved.

Cons:

• Restoration Is Complicated: To fully restore, you'll need the last full backup plus all subsequent incremental backups.

Best For:
Organizations where data changes are not extensive but occur regularly. Useful for daily backups.

Differential Backup

What It Is:
Think of this as recapping what's been covered since the start of the week. It backs up all the data that has changed since the last full backup but does not overwrite what has been archived.

Pros:

• Faster Restore Than Incremental: You only need the last full backup and the last differential backup to restore.

• Moderate Storage Needs: Takes up less space than a full backup but more than incremental.

Cons:

• Slower Than Incremental: Takes longer to perform as it covers more data.

Best For:
Environments where you can afford a bit more time and storage space for backups, and where you want a balance between restore time and backup time.

As a network technician, understanding these backup methods will help you choose the right "tool" for each situation, ensuring that your network can bounce back from issues as smoothly as possible.