How Managed IT Services Providers in San Antonio Determine Backup Methods


managed IT services San AntonioData backup is an important role for a managed IT services provider in San Antonio. Without backups, a business can be wiped out instantly by a cyberattack or even a natural disaster. While you can’t afford to ignore making backups, it’s also crucial to choose the most appropriate backup method. Here are the key differences between different types of backup methods:

Different Backup Methods

The three different approaches to making copies of your files are full, incremental and differential backups. Each approach can be useful for certain types of files, depending on file size and how fast you need to access critical files.

Full backups involve copying all files and folders entirely, which is a common default method due to simplicity. Many times, full backups, however, become a starting point for further incremental or differential backups. Overall, it’s a fast and easy recovery solution and is commonly performed by managed services providers on a weekly basis. The full backup approach allows for switching to different forms of media storage.

Incremental backups are useful for focusing on files that have been modified since the last backup, regardless of the method. The incremental approach reduces the amount of data being copied and stored and saves time between backups. It’s effective for storing various versions of the same files, although incremental backups yield a slower recovery process.

Differential backups are used to duplicate files modified since the last full backup. They are different from incremental backups in the sense that differential backups are based on cumulative incremental backups. Differential backups, which store more data than incremental backups but much less than full backups, are effective for preserving storage space, but take longer to restore specific files.

Making Backups Routine

The best managed IT services firms in San Antonio understand the importance of making sure backups are conducted on a regular basis. For the most part, data backups are part of a disaster recovery plan, as files must regularly be tested to make sure they haven’t been corrupted. The reason you need a solid disaster recovery plan is so that your company can outlast any disruption. The more often you make backups, the more likely you will avoid data loss from a cyberattack or other disaster.

The problem with making incremental or differential backups is that if a backup fails, the recovery process will not be complete. The main disadvantage to a full backup is that it requires more time, bandwidth and storage space. Hybrid approaches are often needed, such as occasional full backups followed by incremental or differential backups.

Data should be prioritized based on how often it must be accessed. Backups and archiving should be thought of as two separate processes. While backups provide copies of files as a form of data protection, archiving is more of an approach to store primary data efficiently, such as using low-cost media storage over a long-term period.


Backing up data is an important routine for managed IT services in San Antonio. It’s important that your provider understands the different types of backups and when full backups are necessary. Contact us at ICS to learn more about the best choices for protecting your data.