Backup method that copies only data changed since the last backup, reducing time and storage.
Incremental backup copies only data that has changed since the last backup—whether full or incremental. This minimises backup time, network bandwidth, and storage compared to full backups. Recovery requires the last full backup plus all subsequent incrementals. Modern backup solutions use forever-incremental approaches with synthetic full backups, providing incremental efficiency with simpler recovery.
Why It Matters
The DSC Perspective:
Incremental backup enables frequent backups without excessive resource consumption. Understand your backup solution's approach—some increment methods complicate recovery while others provide best of both worlds.