CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

Which backup type should be scheduled to ensure fast restoration and minimize backup time after month-end?

1. Full

2. Incremental

3. Synthetic full

4. Differential

The correct answer is: Synthetic full

Synthetic full backups are particularly advantageous in situations where quick restoration and reduced backup times are critical, such as after month-end. Unlike traditional full backups, which require complete data copies each time they are run, synthetic full backups combine the most recent incremental backups with the last full backup to create a new full backup without the need to read all the data from the source. This approach minimizes the backup window since less data needs to be processed in real-time. Additionally, because the synthetic full backup is generated after the fact and can be stored separately, it allows organizations to restore data quickly and efficiently, enhancing recovery time objectives. In contrast, full backups capture all data every time they are performed, which can lead to longer backup windows and more storage requirements. Incremental backups only save changes made since the last backup, resulting in faster backup times but potentially longer restoration times, as each incremental backup would need to be applied to get back to the full state. Differential backups strike a middle ground, but they still require some additional restoration time compared to a synthetic full backup. Thus, choosing synthetic full backups enables organizations to enjoy the benefits of full backups while ensuring minimized backup time and quicker restoration.