RAID, snapshots and backups: what each protects
These mechanisms address different failure situations. RAID or replication can keep data available through some component failures. A snapshot can preserve a point-in-time state. An independent backup provides another recovery copy according to its retention and protection settings.
Check the failure you need to survive
- Accidental deletion or bad application writes can be reflected immediately in a redundant storage system.
- A snapshot that depends on the original storage may be unavailable if that storage is lost.
- A backup accessible with the same compromised credentials as production can also be at risk.
- Restoration must include application consistency, keys and configuration, not just a successful file copy.
Use a design appropriate to your risk, with separate recovery copies and tested access. Before a major change, confirm what can actually be restored and how long that process takes. No single storage feature guarantees recovery from every type of incident.
