Full Backup

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What is Full Backup?

Full backup is the starting point for all other backups, and contains all the data in the folders and files that are selected to be backed up. Because the full backup stores all files and folders, frequent full backups result in faster and simpler restore operations. Remember that when you choose other backup types, restore jobs may take longer.

Description of the Full Backup Type

It would be ideal to make full backups all the time, because they are the most comprehensive and are self-contained. However, the amount of time it takes to run full backups often prevents us from using this backup type. Full backups are often restricted to a weekly or monthly schedule, although the increasing speed and capacity of backup media is making overnight full backups a more realistic proposition.

Full backups, if you have the time to perform them, offer the best solution in data protection. In effect, a single backup can provide the ability to completely restore all backed-up files.

However, you should be aware of a significant security issue. Each full backup contains an entire copy of the data. If the backup media were to be illegally accessed or stolen, the hacker or thief would then have access to an entire copy of your data.

Advantages

•	Restore is the fastest

Disadvantages

•	Backing up is the slowest

•	The storage space requirements are the highest (compared to incremental or differential backups)

Full Backup Type in Backup4all

Backup4all supports the full backup type and offers a solution for the storage space requirement issue. You can use the Limit maximum number of stored backups to option to reduce the backup size. The output of a full backup is a container file, which is created with zip compression. You can select the zip compression ratio by using the Zip Settings - Advanced options. Backup4all also offers an option to encrypt your backup. This gives you the option to protect your important backed up data in case a backup got lost or stolen.