What does a differential backup do?

A differential backup focuses on efficiently capturing and saving the changes made to data since the most recent full backup. This means that it only includes files that have changed from the state of the last full backup. As a result, it allows for quicker restoration processes because it consolidates all changed files into a single backup set, making it easier to recover data to the latest point following a failure.

By utilizing differential backups, organizations can manage their storage needs effectively while ensuring that they have the necessary data protection in place. It strikes a balance between the resource-intensive process of full backups and the specific changes captured in incremental backups, which only track changes since the last backup (be it full or incremental). In this way, differential backups maintain a comprehensible record of what has been altered since the last full snapshot, providing a robust solution for data integrity and recovery.