{"id":33717,"date":"2018-11-27T21:24:46","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T17:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/?p=33717"},"modified":"2025-02-12T12:09:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T08:09:05","slug":"differential-backup-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/differential-backup-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Differential Backup Explained and Compared to Incremental"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, we will overview differential backup and its specifics. This type of backup cannot be used for file-level or image-based backups<\/a>. However, there is a popular scenario where you can meet and should use differential backup. Continue reading to learn more about this type of backup and the difference between incremental and differential backup.
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What Is a Differential Backup?<\/h2>\n

A differential backup is a type of backup that uploads the new and updated files <\/b>after the first<\/b> full backup. It\u2019s essential to remember that each consequent differential backup compares the dataset only with the initial full backup.<\/p>\n

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Differential backup<\/div>\n

\"Differential<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Facts About Differential Backup<\/h2>\n
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  1. It\u2019s faster to perform a differential backup than to perform a full backup<\/li>\n
  2. A differential backup will become larger than a full backup. Thus, you need to run another full backup from time to time.<\/li>\n
  3. It\u2019s easier and faster to recover files from a differential backup than from an incremental backup<\/a>. The reason is the architecture of both solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Incremental vs Differential Backup<\/h2>\n

    Incremental and differential backups both perform a backup of changed and modified files. However, there is a distinct difference between incremental and differential backup.<\/p>\n

    Storage Space<\/b><\/h3>\n

    A differential backup grows over time, as it consists of all the changes since the initial full backup. Thus, differential backup is slower and takes more storage space than an incremental backup.<\/p>\n

    Cost<\/b><\/h3>\n

    If you compare the cost of a differential backup with an incremental one, you\u2019ll find that the former is more costly than the latter. This is because cumulative differential backup will take more storage space over time than the incremental backup process. It will consume more resources, and you either need to get additional storage or require an audit to perform a clean-up in order to continue using this strategy. If you need cost-effective <\/span>backup operations<\/b>, you should go with an incremental one.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Backup Speed<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Another difference between differential and incremental backup processes is their backup speed. An incremental backup requires one full backup and then<\/span> subsequent backups<\/b> over time. On the other hand, the differential backup process requires one full backup that is the source of comparison for subsequent differential backups.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s understand that with an example.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Your IT staff performs a full backup on Sunday and schedules incremental backups on Monday, Tuesday, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If your staff is using a differential backup strategy, the system will create backup files of all changes that occur on Monday and then all changes that happen on Tuesday, alongside any changes that occurred on Monday since Sunday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Since incremental backup takes less space, its backup speed is quicker than a differential one.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Data Restoration Speed<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The purpose of backing up is to streamline the restoration process. You should be able to recover data as and when required. In the case of differential backup, the recovery process requires you to have one full backup file and a recent differential backup file. Since a few steps are required in differential backup, the recovery time is quick in this backup strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

    On the flip side, if you have implemented an incremental backup process in your system, the whole process of recovery takes more time. It requires you to have a full backup file and also multiple backup copies. In the event that one of the subsequent increment copies is missing or corrupted, recovery time will increase.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Further reading<\/span> Understanding RPO and RTO<\/a><\/p>\n

    You can go with an incremental backup recovery process when you only need partial data restoration.<\/span><\/p>\n