Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What is the primary characteristic of a full backup?

1. It only saves changes made since the last backup

2. It stores data on the same media

3. It makes a complete copy of all data

4. It is the quickest backup option available

The correct answer is: It makes a complete copy of all data

A full backup is defined by its comprehensive nature; it creates a complete copy of all the data within the specified backup set, regardless of when the last backup occurred. This means that all files and folders, system states, and settings are included, making it an essential part of a robust data protection strategy. This complete capture of data ensures that a full restoration can be performed without needing to reference any other backup. In scenarios where data integrity and availability are critical, such as in business operations, having a reliable full backup simplifies recovery processes. The other choices focus on different types of backups or characteristics that do not apply to a full backup. For example, incremental backups only save changes made since the last backup, and differential backups include data changes since the last full backup. In terms of storage, a full backup can be distributed across different media or stored in the same location; thus, the second option does not accurately describe a full backup's defining feature. Lastly, while full backups are vital, they are generally not the quickest to perform compared to incremental or differential backups, which are designed to save time and storage when only partial changes are made.