A method for data consolidation and preservation during backups of data stored in a source device from the source device to a target device is provided. The method is executed by the source device and includes: obtaining a first snapshot of the data and a second snapshot of the data; generating, in response to the obtaining, a first snapshot difference report using the first snapshot and the second snapshot; transmitting, in response to generating the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot difference report to the target device to be stored with a backup copy of the data; and deleting, in response to transmitting the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot.