Which backup type should be scheduled to ensure data can be restored quickly while minimizing backup time after month-end?

The best choice for ensuring data can be restored quickly while minimizing backup time after month-end is synthetic full backup. A synthetic full backup is a process that creates a full backup from existing full and incremental backups without requiring a complete read of the data from the source. This type allows for a more efficient backup process, as it combines multiple backup images into one synthetic full backup set while minimizing the impact on network and storage resources.

Synthetic full backups are advantageous because they provide a full backup that can be used for quick restoration while reducing the backup window. After the end of the month, when backups are larger due to the volume of data, synthetic full backups help maintain performance and reduce the time it takes to complete the backup without compromising data recovery options.

In contrast, while differential backups capture all changes since the last full backup and would typically offer a balance between speed and recovery time, they can grow larger over time compared to synthetic full backups. Incremental backups only capture changes since the last backup, making them smaller and faster but requiring multiple backup sets for restoration, which can lead to longer recovery times. Full backups, although providing the fastest recovery, can be time-consuming and resource-intensive to perform regularly, especially after a month-end when data size is significant.