What is NAS? A Practical Guide

Table of Contents

How NAS Works
- NAS vs Cloud Storage
- NAS in an Office Setup
- NAS and Storage
- NAS and Security
Synology and QNAP
- NAS Software
NAS and Backup
Conclusion

Network-attached storage, or NAS, is a smashing mode to store large amounts of data while too making it accessible from anywhere. Here at Cloudwards.cyberspace nosotros recommend that a NAS be part of any thorough backup strategy and in this article we'll get through what is NAS and, more than specifically, what a NAS is not.

We'll be taking a quick look at what a NAS tin and cannot practice, as well every bit how you lot can employ it in your personal setup to enlarge your storage space, while also keeping information secure for any minor problems that may arise. Do not recollect, however, that network-attached storage is a backup solution past itself: if you're looking to keep your data safe, check out our best online backup services or our best cloud fill-in for NAS article.

How NAS Works

In essence, a NAS is a mini-server that sits on your desk. You can connect it directly to your computer through a USB cablevision, but that would negate its main benefit: the network. A NAS creates a small network all its own that whatever device with the right credentials (username and password) can access. A NAS is a step upward from using a simple external HDD, and a step toward creating your own personal cloud storage.

If you desire to know more well-nigh the differences between external HDDs and NAS, besides equally how they interact with cloud fill-in solutions, we have a comparison article that explains exactly that.

NAS vs Cloud Storage

If you lot have a NAS set upwardly, you can shop data on it then admission it from whatsoever other device you own, only similar with a cloud storage provider. For those of you wondering why non just become a service that you pay $5 per month rather than buy a $300 box, the principal benefits are speed and lack of a third party.

NAS are faster than a remote deject server: while your up- and download speeds to a remote server might depend on a host of factors — from Internet connection, to server firmware, etc. — the connectedness speed to your NAS is only limited by your network speed and the NAS' hardware. If that for whatsoever reason your network isn't fast enough, you tin can merely connect your computer to your NAS directly using the USB and transfer information at your HDD's read/write speed.

The other main do good to a NAS is that you're hosting the files yourself, without a tertiary party having annihilation to exercise with it. Much like whatsoever of our best nothing-knowledge providers, only y'all hold the keys to your data and you never need worry near authorities warrants or corporate intrusion. Privacy is assured when using a NAS, every bit long every bit y'all keep upwards your security protocols (more on that later).

NAS in an Part Setup

As you can imagine, NAS are perfect for anyone handling large amounts of data: sound and video hobbyists, sole entrepreneurs, even small- to medium businesses can benefit from having a NAS in the office. Everyone that works with you lot can admission the NAS and leave files or pick them up and, with the correct software, fifty-fifty edit and manipulate files simultaneously.

The collaboration aspect of having a NAS within your organization makes information technology very bonny, indeed, especially if the NAS is hooked up to a LAN. Without the lag associated with cloud collaboration software, you can go piece of work washed faster than always in your team and investing in a robust NAS should mean that you lot'll run into productivity skyrocket.

NAS and Storage

Not that having a NAS means you tin abolish your cloud storage subscriptions: most NAS hit their limit at the 10TB mark and though y'all could ready some kind of networked RAID array for more space, it may be meliorate to store your archives with any of our best cloud storage providers, instead (you can use our chart to compare online storage solutions). NAS are not bad for storing current projects that you need to access at the drop of a hat, older ones are probably amend off stored in a cheaper location.

Do annotation that the storage cap is i of the limitations of a NAS: if you have need of a huge corporeality of infinite you may want to consider setting up a file server instead (read our article on the best affordable servers for small-scale businesses if yous want to know more). Though file servers and NAS work in a very similar fashion, a server is far more powerful and volition requite you even greater control over what goes in and out. The cost, however, rises as well as not simply will you need more specific hardware, you'll need to pay someone to maintain it.

If connectivity isn't your main concern, setting up a RAID assortment might also be an option if you lot demand to store huge amounts of data. Information technology will likely exist a lot cheaper than setting up a file server or NAS and will requite you groovy speed every bit it'southward basically only a huge hard drive. To find out more, check out our commodity on RAID.

NAS and Security

Like anything connected via a network, NAS are vulnerable to outside attack by cybercriminals or spying past intelligence agencies like the NSA. By and large, the security measures that come with a NAS are perfectly adequate, only buyers should be enlightened that this is not ever the case. A perfect example is the Europol agent who took confidential files home and stored them on his NAS, which did not automatically come with countersign protection.

Bureaucratic idiocy bated, this story shows that it pays to brand sure y'all've followed all the instructions when setting up your NAS. Cloud security is no joke and it pays to check-double-check that you've done everything by the book. For more information, brand sure to check out our NAS security guide.

Synology and QNAP

Though there are plenty of manufacturers and vendors out in that location that offer network-attached storage, the general consensus seems to be that QNAP Systems and Synology offer the best bang for your buck. Though neither is particularly inexpensive (prices start at $200 and get up steeply from there), both offer plenty of bells and whistles as well every bit improved security measures.

The cheapest NAS usually come up with around 1TB of storage and are perfect for people that don't demand much space, simply do desire access to small, personal, remote server. A few steps up from that come larger trophy that can fit upward to 10TB and are great for medium-sized organizations. Whatever bigger than that and yous're straying into more than technical territory, where HDDs can be swapped out at volition into always larger arrays.

Here at Cloudwards.net, we're specially large fans of Synology (which is why we have an article defended to the best cloud backup for Synology) and we have put together a video with five essential tips you'll demand to know when using your Synology DiskStation.

NAS Software

In both cases, yet, the main attraction is the software that comes with the NAS. Synology and QNAP offering high-terminate, user-friendly software that will make setting up the NAS easy and using it even more so. On tiptop of that, more experienced users will exist able to configure their NAS using this proprietary software to make their petty box into their ain personal cloud storage.

Do note, however, that if personal deject storage is the ultimate goal, you may want to consider using CloudBerry Fill-in instead. This is a highly developed piece of software that will let you to setup your NAS, integrate it with any existing cloud storage yous may have and also configure your backup for the whole shebang. For a more detailed await at this service, check out our CloudBerry Fill-in review.

NAS and Backup

Speaking of backup, this brings the states full circle to the beginning of the commodity: NAS are keen and a wonderful culling to cloud storage, only a fill-in solution they are non. If something happens physically to your NAS (fire, flood, electric surge), that data is gone for good.

However, a NAS can take the identify of cloud storage in a thorough hybrid backup strategy and in that location are plenty of great options out at that place for people that want to fill-in a NAS. Using any of our best online backup for NAS services volition allow you lot to rest easy knowing that your data, come what may, is safely backed up somewhere on a remote and secure server.

Conclusion

NAS are wonderful machines that are perfect for anyone that wants to store large amounts of data, but wants to be able to admission it from anywhere. If you're shackled to your home computer and only ever admission files from in that location, you may want to await into setting up a RAID array rather than a NAS, but pocket-sized- and medium-sized organizations, as well as people that are oftentimes on the move while working, will love the flexibility and speed a NAS offers.

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The downsides to NAS are that decent models do not come up cheap and security needs to be a concern that you lot keep in mind at all times. We recommend that people unused to dealing with applied science have their time when setting upwards their NAS to avoid catastrophe up similar our Europol agent mentioned before. Too, having a proficient backup plan in identify never hurts.

Are you a NAS user? Share your experiences below in the comments, nosotros would beloved to hear your have on all this. Give thanks you lot for reading.

Source: https://www.cloudwards.net/what-is-nas/