What does Autonomous Database's incremental backup method minimize?

The incremental backup method of Oracle Autonomous Database is designed to primarily minimize resource usage during backup operations. This method works by only backing up data that has changed since the last backup was taken, rather than duplicating all data within the database. As a result, it significantly reduces the amount of I/O operations, CPU usage, and memory consumption during the backup process compared to a full backup.

This efficiency is particularly advantageous in a cloud environment where optimizing resource utilization translates to cost savings. By minimizing the resources consumed, the Autonomous Database can maintain high performance levels even during backup windows. This is essential for operational continuity, as it allows database performance to remain stable.

While the incremental backup method can have benefits in other areas, such as potentially reducing the time for restoration by allowing for point-in-time recovery, its primary design and focus is on minimizing resource usage during the backup itself.