What does a mirror image backup refer to?

A mirror image backup is designed to create an exact duplicate of all data on a given storage medium, effectively capturing the entire contents at that moment in time. This type of backup is comprehensive; it includes all files and data, not just updated or newly created files since the last backup. By doing so, it ensures that a complete and identical representation of the original data is stored, allowing for straightforward restoration in case of data loss or system failure.

This approach contrasts with other backup methods, such as incremental backups, which only save files that have been modified since the last backup was performed. Mirror image backups provide a simple and complete recovery solution, which can be critical for disaster recovery situations, making them a preferred choice for many organizations that require quick and effective data restoration capabilities.