When using differential backups, what factor is likely to increase compared to incremental backups?

When using differential backups, what factor is likely to increase compared to incremental backups?

• A. Backup duration
• B. Larger backup size
• C. Networking requirements
• D. Backup times

Answer: (B)

When utilizing differential backups, the primary factor that is likely to increase compared to incremental backups is the backup size. This is because differential backups store all changes made to the data since the last full backup. Essentially, every time a differential backup is performed, it includes every modification since the last full backup, which can result in larger backup sizes if there have been many changes.

In contrast, incremental backups only preserve the changes made since the last backup—whether that was a full or incremental backup. Therefore, each incremental backup is typically smaller in size, as they only include the changes made after the most recent backup, regardless of whether it was a full or another incremental backup.

Thus, the cumulative nature of differential backups leads to an increase in their size over time, particularly after multiple changes or if several differential backups are performed without doing another full backup in between.