Should You Use File Backup or Image Backup?

There are number of processes available for data backup.  The most common for businesses fall into one of two categories.  The first is file-based backup, which essentially saves application data but not applications themselves.  The second, more robust process is image-based backup, which creates an image of a hard disk in its entirety.

File-Based Backup Advantages and Limitations

File-based backup is the most common type of data protection software.  Consider a user copying all of a computer's documents to a disk or a CD.  This manual process is similar to the automated process file-backup software follows.  Some of the programs available for this type automatically back-up all files in specified locations while others back-up only files that have changed since the previous backup.

There are two primary advantages to the file-based backup process.  Initially, the time required is minimal because of the limited scope of the procedure.  This can be significant in the case of a company with multiple desktops and users.  The second advantage is that the backup files are considerably smaller than other options, requiring less storage space than a file containing all of the contents of a hard drive.

There are definite drawbacks to file backups.  Initially, they rely on the user to a great extent, making it possible to neglect to inform software of important files requiring backup.  In addition, restoration of data can be labor intensive and can involve compatibility hurdles in the case of data migration or hardware failures.

Image-Based Backup Advantages and Limitations

Image-based backup is essentially a backup of the entire hard drive. All data is copied without regard to file type.  The primary advantage of this kind of backup is realized when the system experiences a catastrophic event.  The contents of the image disk can be placed on a new disk without reinstalling applications or fear of forgetting important data or files.  The restoration is therefore a simple, uncomplicated process.

Image-based backup has a few drawbacks.  The primary problem is time.  An image backup generally takes much longer than a file backup.  This leads many companies to back up with less frequency, extending the time when data is at risk.  In addition, the space requirements for this kind of backup are greater than for file-based backup, which means companies must weigh the value of the data and potential productivity loss against infrastructural investments.

Which Is Right?

The needs of companies vary, and the best solution for one may not scratch the surface of another's. As a general rule of thumb, most end-users are companies with a small number of computers can probably get by with file-based backup.  For those companies with a wide user base or no room for user error, an image-based backup is probably more appropriate.