What is a Full Backup?

The full backup type copies all selected files and folders. Full backup is time-consuming (when compared to incremental and differential backup types), but it allows the fastest and easiest restore. It is the starting point of all other backup types.

What is a Full Backup?

A full backup is the process of creating one or more copies of all organizational data files in a single backup operation to protect them. Before the full backup process, a data protection specialist such as a backup administrator designates the files to be duplicated — or all files are copied.

Why should you do a full backup instead of a partial backup?

Because of its breadth, it is useful to complete a full backup periodically as it represents a stable copy of all of the data listed for backup. Because only a single version of every file is collected, a full backup could be completed and stored for long-term archival purposes using long-lasting and stable media. Whereas partial backups are usually run incrementally as part of business continuity, there is churn in the versions being generated and discarded. A periodic full backup is a useful complement to a continuous backup with frequent versioning.

How does it work?

The process of creating a full backup requires extensive and continuous backing up. While some organizations employ a Mon-Fri format and reset on Monday, others do it three days a week. For instance, some organizations would do it like this:

• A 100% backup was performed on Monday.
• Additional 10% on Wednesday to savior the new changes and files.
• An additional percentage of backup on Friday to keep newer files in line.
• A 100% backup again next Monday.

While this ensures thorough safety, it requires keeping track of separate files. That’s why some organizations would set up a backup on Monday, then delete it on Tuesday and set up a new backup entirely. Then continue this process until the end of the week.

Besides the Windows backup utilities, third-party backup software can also provide a convenient file backup option and create a system image.

What are the advantages?

A full backup is often considered the most secure, reliable method of copying data. A few additional advantages include:

• Restore and recovery times are shorter because complete data is always readily available.
• All data is backed up at once, making version control easy to manage.
• Backup files are easier to locate as they are all kept on the same storage medium.

What are the disadvantages?

However, there is a trade-off with full backups and some disadvantages to the strategy are:

• Higher bandwidth and more storage space are required.
• Can be time-consuming to perform depending on the amount of data being backed up.
• Backups can become redundant as unaltered files continue to be copied repeatedly.
• If the copy of the data is leaked or compromised, the entire backup repository can be stolen.

Full backups in the world of cloud backup

Given the large amounts of data they must process and maintain, many companies today rely on cloud backup services to protect their data rather than hosting the entire backup environment internally. But even within a cloud backup scenario, full backups play a key role.

For cloud backups to provide effective data protection, they must host the latest full copy of a company’s data. Of course, that amount of data might be voluminous, and getting it from the corporate data center to the cloud backup service provider over a telecommunications line can be problematic. To avoid what would be a long, very slow data transmission process, cloud service providers offer customers the ability to seed their backup data in the cloud by sending a full backup copy of their data to the cloud service on some form of physical media. The cloud service can then transfer that data to their system using a fast copy or replication process.