Incremental vs. Differential Backup: Which Saves More Space?
When it comes to backing up your data to the cloud, you have several options. Two of the most popular methods are incremental and differential backups. While both options aim to protect your data from loss and corruption, they work in different ways.
So, which backup method should you use? In this article, we will look at the pros and cons of each method, including which one can help you save more space.
What is Incremental Backup?
An incremental backup only saves the changes that have been made since the last backup. For instance, if you have a 10GB file and you add 1MB of data to it, only that 1MB of new data will be backed up.
This process helps save space, as you’re not duplicating data that hasn't been changed. Furthermore, because backups are smaller, they can be completed faster than other backup methods.
What is Differential Backup?
A differential backup, on the other hand, backs up all changes made since the last full backup. So if you have that same 10GB file, and add 1MB of data to it, the 1MB of new data will be backed up.
However, if you change anything else in that file and create a new version, the entire file, including the previous changes and the new changes, will be backed up again. This can make the backup process slower, and it requires more storage space.
Which Backup Method Saves More Space?
Both methods have pros and cons, but in terms of space-saving, incremental backups are the way to go. This is because they only save new changes, while differential backups save everything that has changed since the last full backup.
Suppose you're backing up a 10GB folder that has only undergone small changes (below 5%) between backups. In that case, the incremental backup method will help save considerable space.
On the other hand, a differential backup will save just as much space as an incremental backup if there have only been significant changes (above 10%) since the previous backup. Still, with each backup, the differential backup process requires more storage.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, both incremental and differential backups have their place in cloud backup and recovery systems. The incremental backup method is less time-consuming, more space-efficient, and uses less backup storage space. On the other hand, the differential backup system saves everything since the last full backup and can provide a more comprehensive backup history.
It's best to choose the backup method that works best for your specific use case. Do you need quick backup and recovery times? Then choose incremental backups. Do you need complete historical backups of critical data? Then the differential backup is the way to go.