Understanding (at last) incremental backup and its differences from differential backup
Backing up your data is crucial to the survival of your business. And with good reason: it ensures that your business can continue in the event of a disaster (theft, damage, data destruction, etc.) that would wipe out all your strategic data.
However, different backup methods exist: incremental, differential, full, full synthetic... so which one should you choose? And why?
Let's take a look at the different criteria that determine your backup.
Understanding incremental backup
How incremental backup works
An incremental backup starts from the previous copy.
In other words, only new changes since the last backup (and not since the last full backup) are taken into account. Only newly added items are duplicated and saved.
Benefits of incremental backup
Incremental backup offers numerous benefits. Here are the main ones:
- ✅ Fast backup time.
- ✅ Ease of management.
- ✅ Reduced bandwidth.
- ✅ Reduced storage space requirements.
Differences with differential backup
How differential backup works
A differential backup is based on the most recent full backup. It integrates and updates all modifications made since then.
As a result, the number of items that have changed since the last full backup is greater every time. Synchronizing them therefore requires more time and storage space.
Items modified since the last full backup are therefore more numerous each time. Synchronizing them therefore requires more time, and more storage space.
Differences between incremental and differential backup
The differential method facilitates data recovery. In the event of a problem, you only have two versions to restore: the original and the most recent. In contrast, with an incremental backup, you have to restore all versions, each with its own unique information.
Setting up a differentialbackup system is slow and cumbersome on a day-to-day basis, but ensures faster recovery on the day you need to restore your system.
With an incremental system, you opt for smooth, continuous management, even if it means a longer recovery plan in the event of an incident.
Evaluate the risk-opportunity ratio of each scenario according to your situation, and compare them.
Other types of backup
Full backup: a one-off effort
A full backup involves copying all your data.
But once the data reaches a certain volume, the process becomes time-consuming and laborious. If, moreover, the data in question is subject to change along the way, transferring it may run into synchronization problems, and cause the backup to fail.
In other words, it's necessary to make a full backup, but not advisable to do so often. Choose to do it at a time when your company's activity is slowing down, in August for example. This will minimize the inconvenience and maximize the chances of success.
Full synthetic backup: complete and fluid
Full synthetic backup makes it possible to back up all your data, much more quickly than with full backup.
How does it work? Rather than backing up everything again, full synthetic "updates" the initial full backup, identifying changes in the blocks and reflecting them in the new backup. So what's identical isn't needlessly backed up again.
Synthetic backup guarantees perfect reproducibility of all your data in the cloud, without overloading the servers, which remain operational.
Delta-bloc backup
Delta backup ( ) is a variant of incremental backup , with finer granularity at the level of blocks of data, rather than at the level of individual files.
The aim of this innovative backup system is to back up only those parts of a file that have changed since the previous backup. A first complete backup is therefore necessary, but after that, only the modifications are taken into account.
In this way, bandwidth is not unnecessarily burdened, as only the modified blocks are sent to the servers. It's a kind of incremental backup, but at block level (rather than file level).
Here's a diagram to help you understand:
The best incremental and differential backup software
When it comes to choosing between incremental, differential, full, full synthetic or delta block backups, the criteria of speed and volume are paramount.
If different backup software packages offer different types of backup, be sure to identify the advantages of each to choose the most suitable solution.
Beemo Data Safe Restore
Beemo Data Safe Restore is a software package that offers a range of different backup methods, as well as triple protection for companies: data is backed up on a NAS storage server located on the company premises, as well as in two highly secure French data centers.
The Beemo Data Safe Restore solution focuses on data confidentiality, thanks to hosting and development carried out exclusively in France. This guarantee prevents unwanted use of your data, as can happen when it circulates in certain countries.
What's more, in the event of a major disaster, Beemo Data Safe Restore undertakes to restore your entire system and working environment (not just your files) to their original state within 72 hours. So you can easily ensure business continuity.
Last but not least, the software features an intuitive interface and requires no technical skills, making it easy to learn.
BeBackup
BeBackup is an innovative, flexible backup solution for IT service providers and businesses. Its mission? To simplify your data backup as much as possible, by implementing high-performance, secure replication mechanisms.
Accessible online, it offers a user-friendly interface, and, should the need arise, its technical teams can be contacted to resolve the situation.
BeBackup uses Delta block mode backup, which enables it to keep a history of modifications to blocks of data in your files for up to 5 years. These data are encrypted at source by a backup agent using an encryption key, and stored on several secure servers on French soil. You can also opt for a different type of hosting - it's up to you!
In addition to keeping your data safe, BeBackup can reduce backup times by up to 80% and limit the amount of storage space required. The result: significant savings, and bandwidth that's not overloaded, guaranteeing the availability and performance of your services.
Nuabee (UCover)
UCover by Nuabee is a specialized solution for protecting corporate information systems. Flexible, it adapts to architectures of all types and sizes, offering levels of protection tailored to different needs: from outsourced backup of servers and PCs, with or without testing, to the implementation of a complete disaster recovery plan.
UCover uses the full synthetic backup method . Server and PC backups are stored on the Orange Business Services Cloud, which is based in France and therefore subject to European law. UCover's service is fully managed by its own teams, who monitor backups and carry out any necessary tests.
What's more? By modeling your database, UCover can automatically restore and restart your servers within a few hours, in the event of downtime or a cyber-attack. This ensures business continuity, whatever the circumstances.
Oxibox
The Oxibox backup solution guarantees total protection of corporate data, including both differential and incremental backup on a highly secure local NAS, duplicated on the Oxileo cloud in France.
Oxibox is a high-performance, easy-to-use backup software. Data is hosted in a high-security, ASTM-certified environment.
What's more, Oxibox's NAS is fireproof, waterproof and theft-proof, thanks to its ground attachment and reinforced cage.
RG System Data Backup & Restore
RG System Data Backup & Restore is a solution focused on eliminating business disruptions. Its publisher, RG System, offers a global solution whose entire administration is handled by a single dashboard: configuration, DRP, planning, monitoring of your hybrid infrastructure, etc.
Transparent, RG System Data Backup & Restore makes it easy to protect your critical data and environments with incremental backup, without disrupting your business. The software is based on the installation of an RG Box, which drives agents to capture the items to be backed up.
Finally, RG System Data Backup & Restore alerts you in real time to any problems encountered, via SMS. At the same time, dashboards enable administrators to monitor the status of individual servers and focus on specific hardware or directories.
Building cyber resilience
Finally, choosing the right type of backup and software for your needs will help your company build its cyber resilience.
This term describes a company's ability to prepare for cyber-attacks, so that they have as little impact on its business as possible. Given the growing number of attacks in recent years, this is a concern that is set to take on increasing importance, and will soon become essential.
And what about you? What type of backup do you use? Do you think you're cyber-resilient?
Article translated from French