Understanding (at last) incremental backup and how it differs 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 resume in the event of a disaster (theft, damage, destruction of data, 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 recently added items are duplicated and saved.
Benefits of incremental backup
Incremental backup offers a number of benefits. Here are the main ones:
- ✅ Fast backup time.
- ✅ Easy to manage.
- Reduced bandwidth.
- ✅ Reduced storage space required.
Differences with differential backup
How differential backup works
A differential backup is based on the most recent full backup. It incorporates and updates all changes made since then.
As a result, the number of items that have changed since the last full backup increases each time. Synchronising them therefore requires more time and takes up more storage space.
The number of items modified since the last full backup is therefore greater every time. Synchronising them therefore requires more time and takes up more storage space.
Differences between incremental and differential backup
The differential method makes it easier to recover data. 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 need to restore all the versions, each of which contains 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 fluid, continuous management, even if it means having a longer recovery plan in the event of an incident.
Evaluate the risk/opportunity ratios 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 long and laborious. If, in addition, the data concerned changes along the way, there is a risk that the transfer will encounter synchronisation problems, and that the backup will fail.
In other words, it is necessary to make a full backup, but not advisable to do it often. Choose to do it at a time when your company's activity slows down, in August for example. This will minimise the inconvenience and maximise the chances of success.
Full synthetic backup: complete and fluid
A full synthetic backup makes it possible to back up all your data, much more quickly than with a full backup.
How does it work? Rather than backing everything up again, full synthetic "updates" the initial full backup by identifying changes in the blocks and passing them on to the new backup. This means that identical data is not unnecessarily 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. An initial full backup is therefore necessary, but after that only the changes are taken into account.
This avoids unnecessary bandwidth consumption by sending only the modified blocks 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 backup, speed and volume are key criteria.
While different backup software offer several types of backup, be sure to identify the advantages of each so you can choose the most suitable solution.
Beemo Data Safe Restore
Beemo Data Safe Restore is a software package that offers a range of backup methods, as well as triple protection for businesses: data is backed up on a NAS storage server located within the company, as well as in two highly secure French data centres.
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 work environment (not just your files) to their original state within 72 hours. This makes it easier for you to ensure business continuity.
Finally, the software has 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 make backing up your data as simple as possible, by implementing high-performance, secure replication mechanisms.
Accessible online, it offers a user-friendly interface and, if necessary, its technical teams can be contacted to resolve the situation.
BeBackup uses Delta block mode backup, which enables it to keep a history of changes to blocks of data in your files for up to 5 years. The data is encrypted at source by a backup agent using an encryption key, and stored on several secure servers in France. You can also opt for a different type of hosting - it's up to you!
As well as keeping your data safe, BeBackup can reduce your backup times by up to 80% and limit the storage space required. The result is significant savings, and bandwidth that is not overloaded, guaranteeing the availability and performance of your services.
Nuabee (UCover)
UCover by Nuabee is a specialist 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 tests, to the implementation of a complete disaster recovery plan.
UCover uses the full synthetic backup method . Backups of servers and PCs are stored on the Orange Business Services Cloud, which is based in France and therefore subject to European law. UCover offers a service that is fully managed by its teams, who monitor the backups and carry out the necessary tests.
What's the bonus? By modelling your database, UCover can automatically restore and restart your servers within a few hours, in the event of downtime or a cyber-attack. So you can ensure business continuity, whatever the circumstances.
Oxibox
The Oxibox backup solution guarantees total protection for company 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 package. Data is hosted in a high-security, ASTM-certified environment.
What's more, Oxibox's NAS is fireproof, waterproof and theft-resistant, thanks to its ground attachment and reinforced cage.
RG System Data Backup & Restore
RG System Data Backup & Restore is a solution that focuses on eliminating business disruptions. Its publisher, RG System, offers a global solution with a single dashboard for all administration: 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 allow administrators to monitor the status of different servers and focus on specific hardware or directories.
Ensuring cyber resilience
Finally, choosing the right type of backup and software for your needs will enable your business to build up its cyber resilience.
This term describes a company's ability to prepare for cyber-attacks, so that they have as little impact as possible on its business. 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.
So what about you? What type of backup do you use? Do you think you are cyber-resilient?
Article translated from French