An operating system level backup is usually not enough in order to serve as a db-backup.
One exception is, if the database is shut down at the time of the backup.
Normally, a consistent backup needs some special handling in the database, for example doing a “flush tables with read lock;” before copying the files and a “unlock tables;” afterwards.
I’ve seen many companies that only had an OS level backup. And with Mysql, unlike virtually all other databases, even such a backup can be of help, if you only have MyIsam tables: You can restore those files from the backup and try a “repair table” – you’ll be able to get data back, even tho all tables will be from a different point in time.