ATAR Survival Guide

Backup Techniques

Backup techniques in the WACE syllabus falls under four main types, full, differential, incremental and daily.

​

Full Backup

A backup that makes a copy of the entire contents of a system onto an external source. 

​

Advantages:

• Consolidated, central location for all backups

​

Disadvantages

• Backup process uses the largest volume of storage space

• Requires the longest time to complete the backup

​

Differential

A backup that makes a copy of all new or modified files since the last full backup. 

​

Advantages:

• Uses less space than a full backup

• Faster to complete a differential backup than a full backup

​

Disadvantages

• Backup files are scattered amongst multiple locations

​

Incremental

A backup that makes a copy of all new or modified files since the last full backup or incremental backup.

​

Advantages:

• Uses less space than a full backup

• Faster to complete a incremental backup than a full backup

​

Disadvantages

• Backup files are scattered amongst multiple locations

​

Daily

A backup that makes a copy of all new or modified files on the day of the backup. Daily backups are performed each day.

​

Advantages:

• Uses least amount of space

• Shortest backup time

• Regular backing up of files

​

Disadvantages

• Backup files are scattered amongst multiple locations