Which type of backup is the most resource-efficient in long-term data storage?

Incremental backup is the most resource-efficient option for long-term data storage because it saves only the data that has changed since the last backup, whether that was a full backup or the last incremental backup. This means that as time goes on and more data is changed, the size of the incremental backups remains relatively small compared to a full backup, which captures all data every time it is executed.

In long-term scenarios where storage space and backup duration are concerns, incremental backups minimize the amount of data that needs to be stored and transferred. As only the modifications are captured, this results in efficient use of both storage media and backup window times.

This method also allows for quicker backups, as less data is processed and written compared to full or differential backups. Overall, for environments where data changes frequently but only a portion of the data needs to be backed up, incremental backups represent a cost-effective and resource-efficient solution for long-term storage.