Which backup type only saves changes made since the last backup?

Which backup type only saves changes made since the last backup?

• A. Full backup
• B. Differential backup
• C. Incremental backup
• D. Mirror backup

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is based on the definition of an incremental backup. An incremental backup is designed to capture only the data that has changed since the last backup, whether that was a full backup or another incremental backup. This approach allows for more efficient use of storage space and quicker backup times, as only new or modified files are included in the backup set. In contrast, a full backup copies all data regardless of whether it has changed since the previous backup, making it the most comprehensive but also the most storage-intensive. A differential backup, on the other hand, saves all changes made since the last full backup; therefore, it will accumulate data over time until the next full backup is performed. Lastly, a mirror backup creates an exact image of the data at the time of the backup, which means it does not save only changes—rather, it reflects the current state of the data, effectively replacing the previous backup.

The correct answer is based on the definition of an incremental backup. An incremental backup is designed to capture only the data that has changed since the last backup, whether that was a full backup or another incremental backup. This approach allows for more efficient use of storage space and quicker backup times, as only new or modified files are included in the backup set.

In contrast, a full backup copies all data regardless of whether it has changed since the previous backup, making it the most comprehensive but also the most storage-intensive. A differential backup, on the other hand, saves all changes made since the last full backup; therefore, it will accumulate data over time until the next full backup is performed. Lastly, a mirror backup creates an exact image of the data at the time of the backup, which means it does not save only changes—rather, it reflects the current state of the data, effectively replacing the previous backup.