What is RAID?
The acronym RAID means Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks. When originally developed at the University of California at Berkeley in 1987, the word was "Inexpensive", referring to the fact that it was basically an array (or group) of relatively inexpensive disk drives grouped together in such a way that to the computer it appeared to be one very large (and thus very expensive) hard drive. Comparatively speaking, the cost of hard drives is now much less, so when you mention "RAID", your colleague is most likely thinking Redundant Array of Independent Disks. Five levels of RAID were originally defined, each providing different trade-offs in features and performance.
Why Is RAID Important?
There are two main purposes to RAID:

1) a method of storing the same data in different areas (where the word "Redundant"comes in)

2) a way to speed up and stabilize your computer's performance.

One might think that with today's high-speed and large capacity drives, RAID would no longer be relevant. However, transfer rates and capacity of current individual drives cannot keep pace with the continuingly increasing need for data storage capacity and high speed data access. RAID is still the best answer to the question of how to provide quick access to a lot of stored data at a reasonable cost, with the added plus of data protection.

RAID is not necessarily easy to install and maintain on your own computer system, but if you have ever had a hard drive crash, you know how costly in time and effort it is to restore the data on that hard drive.
What is the Relationship Between RAID and the Backup of Data?
Whether you decide to install RAID on your computer or not, the most important thing to remember is that RAID is not a replacement for a systematic and regular backup process for your computer system. You should be keeping backup copies of all your data separately.

Take responsibility for ensuring that your data is backed up as frequently as you need (daily or more backups are of course the ideal) no matter what type of RAID you install for your system.

RAID provides improved data storage capabilities and increased fault tolerance, but it is not a substitute for a regular backup procedure in the ultimate goal of keeping all the hard work you have done safe and secure.
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