Which backup method is used by Oracle Autonomous Database to conserve resources?

The choice of incremental backup as the method used by Oracle Autonomous Database to conserve resources is based on its efficiency and effectiveness in managing storage and processing power. Incremental backups capture only the changes made since the last backup, which minimizes the amount of data that needs to be processed and stored. This approach reduces the time and resources required for the backup process compared to full backups, which require duplicating the entire dataset each time a backup is performed.

By using incremental backups, Oracle Autonomous Database optimizes its resource utilization, allowing it to maintain performance while ensuring data protection. The benefit is particularly significant in cloud environments, where conserving storage space and minimizing compute resource consumption can lead to cost savings and better performance in overall database management.

This method contrasts with other backup types, such as full backups, which are resource-intensive because they involve duplicating the entire data set, and differential backups, which, while less demanding than full backups, still require more resources than incremental backups since they capture all changes since the last full backup. Cloud snapshot backups, while useful for quick recovery, do not specifically focus on minimizing resource usage in the same way that incremental backups do. Hence, incremental backup stands out as the most resource-efficient method for Oracle Autonomous Database.