RAID is becoming a more popular storage setup method than ever before, especially among business users, and there are a number of reasons why. For starters, RAID gives you the ability to focus on either fast and extensive storage or information security.
Yet, despite the increasing popularity, there are still a number of misconceptions regarding the use of RAID in different situations. Let’s debunk some of those misconceptions and take a look at some interesting facts about RAID for business.
RAID 0 or RAID 1
The two most popular types of RAID setups are RAID 0 and RAID 1. RAID 0 is geared more towards performance and storage capacity. It combines the storage space of multiple drives into one and utilizes multiple channels to speed up read and write speeds.
RAID 1, on the other hand, focuses more on data protection. It mirrors the data written to one drive onto another, depending on how many drives are used. When one drive fails, the RAID 1 setup can still pull files from the remaining drives without a problem.
While these two are very popular, there are actually more than two RAID configurations to choose from. We also have RAID 5, which combines striping (RAID 0) with parity for an added layer of data protection. A portion of the drives set up in RAID 5 can fail and files will still be accessible.
We also have RAID 6 and RAID 10. The latter completely combines the functions of both RAID 0 and RAID 1, allowing you to combine 4 or more drives for both maximum performance and data protection.
RAID Failure = Loss of Files
It is also a big misconception that RAID failure always results in files getting lost and being irreparable. This certainly isn’t the case with RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6 and RAID 10 since all RAID configurations have backup and mirroring mechanisms built in. Of course, you can always choose to integrate more drives to achieve the right balance between performance and protection.
On top of that, there are more recovery solutions to choose from, even for drives configured in RAID 0. Hardware failure doesn’t always result in complete loss of files now that there are data recovery software and specialists capable of restoring RAID configurations.
RAID 1 Means No Need to Backup Files
One last misconception we will debunk in this article is the use of RAID 1 to eliminate the need for backups completely. While RAID 1 is designed to offer an extra layer of protection to your files, not having a backup routine in place is still a mistake, especially if the information you store is essential to your business’s operations.
Even with RAID in place, it is a good idea to have proper backup policies in place. Keep an offline backup for easy restoration and make sure you also maintain a cloud backup for maximum long-term protection. Having the ability to restore from your RAID 1 setup is just an early safety measure to tie the whole environment together.
These are some of the misconceptions people still have about using RAID for business and the interesting facts behind them. Take these details into consideration the next time you want to implement RAID as part of your business.
