Why is RAID not used as a method of backup?

RAID, which stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is primarily designed to improve data availability and performance through redundancy. It does this by spreading data across multiple disks in such a way that if one disk fails, the data is still accessible from the other disks. However, RAID is not a backup method because it does not protect against data loss scenarios that are outside of hardware failure.

For example, RAID will not protect against accidental deletion, corruption of files, or catastrophic events such as fire or flood that could compromise the whole RAID array. Backups, on the other hand, involve creating copies of data that can be stored separately from the original data, ensuring that there are recoverable versions in case of various forms of data loss. Therefore, while RAID can offer some level of fault tolerance, it does not fulfill the comprehensive protection that a proper backup strategy provides.