Full, Incremental and Differential Backups
Not all backups copy the same thing. The three common methods — full, incremental and differential — trade off how much storage they use against how quickly you can restore. Knowing the difference helps you understand the plan we recommend.
In practice most sensible setups combine them: a periodic full backup with smaller daily backups in between.
The Three Methods
Each method answers the question “what do we copy this time?” in a different way.
- Full: a complete copy of everything, every time.
- Incremental: only what changed since the last backup of any kind.
- Differential: everything that changed since the last full backup.
How They Fit Together
A typical schedule runs a full backup weekly and an incremental every night. That keeps daily storage small while still letting us rebuild any day quickly.
| Method | Storage used | Restore speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Highest | Fastest | Weekly baseline copy |
| Incremental | Lowest | Slower (chained) | Frequent daily backups |
| Differential | Medium | Medium | A balance of the two |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why not just take a full backup every day?
You can, but it uses a lot of storage and time. Mixing methods gives you frequent protection without the cost.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.