Data Backup Methods

Four fundamental backup methods are: full backup, incremental backup, differential backup, mirror backup.

To choose a data backup method, you must first weigh three factors: the capacity of your backup media, the period of time available for your backup, and the level of urgency expressed by you or other users when a file restoration is necessary.

For example, conducting full backups on a daily basis will require both high number of media and a long period of time. But doing so will facilitate rapid and easy restoration because you will need only one media to pull data from. On the other hand, weekly full backups combined with daily incremental backups will conserve media and shorten the daily backup period, though data recovery would require the last full backup and each subsequent incremental backup up to the most current - a process that can seem to take forever when there are needy users waiting for a file.
After you select a backup method, you need to schedule backups and pick the most appropriate rotation scheme for your organization and network needs. Ideally, this reduces media costs and extends the longevity of your media, while ensuring that every file is protected.

See also: Media Devices, Backup Rotation Schedules, Backup Registry, Backup Mobile