Match each backup method to its description.
Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
Copies all selected data; longest time, fastest restore
Copies only data changed since last backup (full or incremental)
Copies all data changed since last full backup
Creates a sector-by-sector copy of an entire drive
Stores data off-site via internet service
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Full backup: Copies all selected data; longest backup time but fastest restore.
In backup methods, a full backup copies all data; incremental copies changes since last backup (any type); differential copies changes since last full. The distractor swaps incremental and differential definitions.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Full backup: Copies all selected data; longest backup time but fastest restore.
Why this is correct
A full backup creates a complete copy of every selected file, regardless of when it was last modified. Because it captures the entire dataset in one pass, it consumes the most storage space and takes the longest to complete. However, restoration is straightforward: only the most recent full backup is required to recover everything.
Incremental backup: Copies data changed since the last backup of any type; requires last full and all incrementals for restore.
Why this is correct
An incremental backup stores only the data that has changed since the most recent backup—whether that previous backup was a full or another incremental. This makes backup windows very short and efficient, but restore operations become complex: you must first restore the last full backup and then sequentially apply every incremental in the exact order they were created. Missing or corrupting any single incremental chain link invalidates the entire restore.
Differential backup: Copies data changed since the last full backup; restore requires last full and the latest differential.
Why this is correct
A differential backup copies all data that has changed since the last full backup, regardless of any differentials made in between. Each successive differential grows larger until the next full backup resets the baseline. To restore, you need only the last full backup and the most recent differential, because that latest differential already contains all changes accumulated since the full.
Incremental backup: Copies data changed since the last full backup; restore requires last full and all differentials.
Why it's wrong here
This statement incorrectly describes an incremental backup by applying the differential backup's characteristics. An incremental backup does not copy changes since the last full backup; it copies changes since the last backup of any type, which may be another incremental. Also, restoring from incremental backups requires all intervening incrementals, not a single latest differential—confusing these two methods will lead to incomplete data recovery and inflated RTO estimates.
Go deeper
Learn chapter
Data Classification Levels
Key term
Backup
A backup is a copy of computer data taken and stored separately so that the original data can be restored if it is lost, damaged, or corrupted.
Key term
Full backup
A full backup is a complete copy of all selected data, files, or system state, serving as the foundation for any backup strategy.
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