Image-Based vs. File-Based Backups: A Comparison

You can set up Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows to create a file-level backup. The file-level backup captures only data of individual folders on the computer.

The file-based backup data contains the vCenter Server core configuration, inventory, and historical data such as statistics, events, and tasks.

vCenter Server supports a file-based backup and restore mechanism that helps you to recover your environment after failures.

You can schedule file-based backups for vSphere 6.7 and later. You can set up a schedule that is used to perform periodic backups.

File-based backups provide fast, easy recovery of individual files and folders, while image-based backups ensure recovery if a significant disaster strikes.

Image-based backups are typically larger than file-based backups, so they'll cost more to store. File-based backups are smaller and cost less to store.

File-level backup lets you pick specific files or folders to save. This method is great for safeguarding important documents or data you might ...

File-based backups are copies of individual files and folders. This backup approach operates at the file-system level to process source files.

I think file level backups are better because they are more cost effective and faster to restore with better granularity.