SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
Which backup type copies all data that has changed since the last full backup, regardless of any incremental backups?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse differential backups with incremental backups, but the key differentiator is the reference point: differential backs up all changes since the last full backup, while incremental backs up changes since the last backup of any type.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Differential backup
A differential backup copies all data that has changed since the last full backup, regardless of any intermediate incremental backups. This means each differential backup grows in size as it accumulates all changes made after the last full backup, making it distinct from incremental backups which only capture changes since the last backup of any type.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Synthetic full backup
Why it's wrong here
A synthetic full backup reconstructs a full image from the last full plus incrementals; it does not itself capture changes since the last full. It is tempting because it produces a full backup without re-reading source data, which suits reducing backup windows, but the stem describes a differential backup.
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Full backup
Why it's wrong here
A full backup copies all selected data regardless of change, not just data changed since the last full backup. It is tempting because it forms the baseline for other backup types, yet the scenario describes a differential backup.
- ✓
Differential backup
Why this is correct
A differential backup captures every change made since the last full backup, ignoring any incremental backups taken in between. This directly satisfies the stem's constraint of copying all data changed since the last full backup regardless of incrementals, because each differential accumulates changes cumulatively rather than resetting after each incremental run.
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Incremental backup
Why it's wrong here
An incremental backup copies only data changed since the last backup of any type, so it excludes changes already captured by prior incrementals. It is tempting because it is the most space-efficient type, but the described behaviour is a differential backup.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SSCP exam.