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Types of Backup

March 5, 2026 12:31 AM
1 min read

There are 3 commonly used types of backups:

  • Complete: A complete backup copies all files in their entirety. With complete backups, you need only the most recent copy of the backup file to restore all the files.
    Note
    It is important to note that incremental backups must be restored in the order they were backed up
  • Incremental: An incremental backup copies only those files that were created or changed since the last complete or incremental backup. If you implement a combination of complete and incremental backups, you must have the most recent complete backup set, as well as all the incremental backup sets, to restore your data.
  • Differential: A differential backup copies files that were created or changed since the last complete backup. If you implement a combination of complete and differential backups, you must have the last complete and differential backup sets to restore your data.

The following table compares the three most common types of backups.
Table 1: Common Backup Types

Backup typeAdvantagesDisadvantages
CompleteEasy-to-find files because complete backups are always on a current backup of your system. When restoring data, requires only the complete backup.Most time-consuming when backing up. Backups become redundant, if files do not change frequently. Requires more disk, tape, or network drive space.
IncrementalRequires the least amount of data storage space. Least time-consuming when backing up. Backs up only those files that were added or changed since the last complete or incremental backup.Difficult to find files because they can be on several different media. When restoring data, requires complete backup first and then each incremental backup in order.
DifferentialWhen restoring, requires only the last complete backup and last differential backup. Less time-consuming than complete backups.Longer restoration time than if files were on a single medium. If large amounts of data change daily, longer backup time is required. Backs up all files that were added or changed since the last complete backup.