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The 9 Types of Data Backups You Need to Know

Backing up your data is a vital part of running any business. This applies to you regardless of the nature of your business, as losing important information can be disastrous. 

That’s why understanding the types of data backups is so important.

In this guide, I’ll break down the different types of backups into simple terms. By the end, you’ll know what each backup type does, its pros and cons, and which one might suit your business best.

Types of Data Backups

1) Full backups

A full backup is a complete copy of all selected data. It duplicates every file and folder in the system or specified dataset to a backup location.

This type of backup gives you the most complete safety net. If something goes wrong, you can restore everything exactly as it was.

Benefits of full backups

  • Easy recovery: Since all your data is saved in one backup, restoring it is straightforward.
  • Reliability: Contains everything, making it less prone to gaps in recovery.

Drawbacks of full backups

  • Time-consuming: Backing up all your data can take a while, especially if you have large amounts of information.
  • Storage-heavy: You’ll need more space to store full backups compared to other types. More space also means more spending.

Best for: Businesses with critical data that can’t afford to lose anything, like hospitals or financial institutions. You can schedule full backups weekly or monthly, depending on your needs.

2) Incremental backups

An incremental backup saves only the data that has changed since the last backup, whether it was a full or another incremental backup.

This makes them quicker and more efficient than full backups. However, restoring data might take a bit more time because you’ll need the full backup and all the incremental backups to rebuild your files.

How it works:

  • After a full backup is performed, subsequent backups include only new or modified data.
  • Each incremental backup depends on the previous backup for restoration.

Example Use Case:

  • Daily backups in environments where data changes frequently, such as business databases.

Benefits of incremental backups

  • Faster backups: Because it only saves changes, this method takes less time.
  • Space-saving: It uses much less storage compared to full backups.

Drawbacks of incremental backups

  • Recovery time: Restoring all your data may take longer since multiple backups need to be combined.

Best for: Businesses with frequent data changes, like e-commerce stores or marketing firms. Combine incremental backups with periodic full backups for the best results.

3) Differential backups

Differential backups are similar to incremental ones but with one key difference. They save all the changes made since the last full backup, not just the latest updates.

Thus, it grows larger with time as more changes accumulate.

But it also means recovery is quicker compared to incremental backups, as you’ll only need the full backup and the most recent differential backup.

Benefits of differential backups

  • Quicker recovery: You don’t need to piece together multiple incremental backups.
  • Less storage than full backups: It uses more storage than incremental backups but less than full backups.

Drawbacks of differential backups

  • Larger size over time: The more changes you make, the bigger the backup grows until the next full backup.

Example Use Case:

  • Weekly full backups combined with daily differential backups for balancing recovery speed and storage use.

Best for: Small and medium-sized businesses looking for a balance between recovery speed, cost, and storage efficiency.

4) Mirror backups: real-time duplicates

Mirror backups create an exact copy of your data. They’re updated continuously, reflecting any changes made in real-time.

This type of backup ensures you always have the latest version of your data ready. However, it doesn’t protect against accidental deletions or corruption because those changes are also mirrored instantly.

Key features:

  • Up-to-date: Always reflects the latest state of data.
  • No versioning: Does not retain old file versions; overwritten data is lost.

Benefits of mirror backups

  • Immediate access: Your data is always up to date.
  • Simple setup: Easy to maintain and manage.

Drawbacks of mirror backups

  • Risk of overwriting: If you accidentally delete a file, it’s also deleted in the mirror backup.
  • Higher storage requirements: Since it duplicates everything, you’ll need plenty of space.

Best for: Industries that need real-time access to their data, like manufacturing or media companies.

5) Continuous data protection (CDP)

CDP goes a step further than other backups. It captures every single change to your data as it happens. 

This ensures no data is ever lost, even if a failure occurs moments after the last change.

Key features:

  • Granularity: Data can be restored to any specific point in time.
  • No schedules: Eliminates traditional backup intervals.

Benefits of CDP

  • Zero data loss: It’s the most reliable way to protect your information.
  • Real-time backups: Changes are captured instantly.

Drawbacks of CDP

  • Resource-heavy: CDP can be expensive and requires significant bandwidth and storage.
  • Complexity: Setting it up may need technical expertise.

Best for: Critical operations like banks or government agencies that cannot afford any downtime.

6) Cloud Backup

Cloud backup stores data on remote servers maintained by third-party providers. It is accessible over the internet.

How it works:

  • Data is uploaded to cloud storage either manually or automatically.
  • Redundancy ensures the data is stored across multiple servers for security.

Key features:

  • Accessibility: Data can be restored from anywhere with internet access.
  • Cost-effectiveness: Scalable pricing for different storage needs.

Example Use Case:

  • Businesses needing off-site storage for disaster recovery.

7) Local Backup

A local backup involves storing data on physical devices located within the same premises as the primary data source. 

These devices can include external hard drives, USB flash drives, network-attached storage (NAS), or local servers. 

Local backups are commonly used for their speed, control, and ease of access.

How it works:

  • Data is transferred to a local device via direct connection or over a local network.

Key features:

  • Fast: Backup and recovery speeds are typically quicker than cloud solutions.
  • Physical control: No reliance on external providers.

Example Use Case:

  • Personal backups on an external hard drive for photos, documents, and videos.

How Local Backup Works

  • Data Selection: Specific files, folders, or entire systems are selected for backup.
  • Storage Destination: The data is copied to a local device such as:
    • External hard drives.
    • NAS devices.
    • Local servers.
  • Backup Frequency: Backups can be scheduled (daily, weekly) or performed manually.
  • Management: The backup files are stored in formats that allow restoration when needed

What is an NAS?

NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a shared storage device accessible through a local network, ideal for small teams or offices.

8) Hybrid Backup

A hybrid backup combines the strengths of local backups and cloud backups, offering a robust, dual-layered data protection strategy. 

This ensures critical data is stored both locally for quick access and in the cloud for off-site security and disaster recovery.

How it works:

  • Critical data is stored locally for quick access.
  • A copy is also uploaded to the cloud for redundancy and disaster recovery.

Key features:

  • Redundancy: Protects against both physical damage and cyber threats.
  • Comprehensive: Ensures data is always accessible.

9) Image-Based Backup

An image-based backup is a comprehensive backup method that captures an exact replica or “image” of an entire system, including the operating system, applications, settings, and all data. 

This type of backup allows for the restoration of the system to its exact state at a specific point in time, making it a popular choice for disaster recovery.

How it works:

  • It captures the entire system state at a specific point in time.
  • Can be restored to the same or different hardware.

Key features:

  • Full system recovery: Allows restoring the system to its exact state before failure.
  • Hardware independence: Can migrate the system to different hardware.

Example Use Case:

  • IT departments preparing for hardware failures or system upgrades.

Choosing the right backup strategy

When deciding on a backup method, think about your business needs. Here’s a quick comparison to help:

Backup TypeBackup TimeRecovery SpeedStorage NeedsBest For
Full BackupLongFastHighComprehensive, periodic backups
Incremental BackupFastSlowLowDaily changes for dynamic data
Differential BackupMediumMediumMediumBalancing recovery speed and space
Mirror BackupInstantFastHighReal-time, up-to-date data
Continuous Data BackupInstantInstantVery HighCritical operations

Mixing strategies, like weekly full backups with daily incremental ones, can help you cut down on cost and recovery time.

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