NAS storage or network attached storage is a highly reliable data storage device that works like your own personal Cloud. By connecting a computer network to your storage, you are able to store and retrieve data through a safe, secure centralized storage device.
Information stored on the NAS storage is attached to the network, rather than the data residing on a single PC, your data will always be available to you, no matter where you are. Access the NAS from a simple web browser, or even a mobile app while on the go! Many NAS systems can scale-out or up, we provide a range of NAS including Lenovo ThinkSystem DM based on NetApp or a small SOHO NAS for the office. Easily add additional storage as is needed. This allows for network attached storage to remain an economical option, without skimping on features.
NAS allows multiple users access to a shared pool of disk space that can be accessed via network shares and seen as local drive letters on the user’s PC with access permissions controlled by the NAS.
We provide a wide variety of storage solutions from small two drives NAS systems through to multiple Terabyte storage systems which are ideal if you need to store information for many days, months or years. Depending on the type of NAS it uses either RAID or Object to store and protect files from data loss.
Unfortunately, hard drive malfunctions are an all too common occurrence that can lead to the loss of vital information. However, when you use network attached storage, you will have the peace of mind in knowing all of your files and documents are safe, regardless of what happens to your device or its hard drive.
Depending on the model, NAS storage can provide iSCSI, FC and file storage all from the same appliance. In addition to this many of our network attached storage systems also support SAS or SSD drives and a host of network interfaces.
With NAS, you are able to connect not only multiple PCs, notebooks, smart phones and more. Network attached storage is a vital tool for businesses, families and individuals; Whether you are in need of additional disk space that can be shared across a network, or are looking for a private and secure way to store your digital data, NAS is the perfect solution for your home and business.
Employees can access the network attached storage data any time and can work no matter where they are. This, in addition to the simplicity of sharing information through a NAS helps in fostering collaboration between employees, making for a more cohesive and productive work environment. The advantage NAS has to offer businesses, especially those who do not have their own IT department, it is no wonder why network attached storage is rapidly increasing in popularity.
NAS is an equally suitable solution for home use. Countless individuals use their personal desktops to store cherished family photos and videos. In the event of a data loss, all those memories could be gone forever. With network access storage, it is easy to backup data so that no matter what happens, you don’t have to worry about losing the things most important to you. Better yet, because any device can be connected to the NAS, even the photos and videos stored on your notebook. Tablet or mobile phones are safe from catastrophe!
A NAS solution is very simple to install as set-up is via a web GUI. This alleviates the need to have a dedicated file server for the task as NAS has no software or client licensing costs and integrates with Microsoft Active Directory or Linux LDAP.
It is far easier to buy a network attached storage device that connects to your Ethernet network in minutes after a little setting up. A NAS is simple to install, easy to manage and very cost effective compared to traditional ways of adding storage. Network attached storage was originally designed for file sharing rather than running applications, although today many virtualization applications can also use NAS for storage or to provide the storage as a VM host! They make useful backup devices too since users can copy the contents of their hard disks whenever it suits them. NAS storage can act as branch office backup devices which can those synchronies data with the HQ.
NAS provides businesses with an incredibly cost-effective network storage device offer the user scalable data, allowing for more flexibility. More importantly, when using a NAS, you can be sure that all of the data you have stored across multiple devices is safe, not only from a dying hard drive, but from potential security breaches or the prying eyes of large corporations. In recent years, many individuals have had their personal data stolen from the Cloud; However, network attached storage is different; Your data will remain secure and confidential as though you were using a private cloud, but luckily, NAS is available at a fraction of the cost with no on-going cloud storage fees.
For businesses, loss of important data can lead to a halt in productivity which is certain to in turn, lose a company valuable time and money. Additionally, data outages often result in valued, long-time customers and potential new clients being forced to wait an extended period to receive a response. A lack of responsiveness makes customers feel undervalued and may lead to them choosing to end their relationship with the business altogether. When you choose NAS, the data will be accessible twenty-four hours a day from any device, no matter what. Not only will it help you to keep customers happy, but it will even increase the business’s customer service abilities!
NAS storage gives you all of the advantages of having a personal Cloud while remaining flexible and affordable. Whether your set up is wireless or wired, the NAS system will connect through the network or Wi-Fi Ethernet port, eliminating the need for USB cables. Once you’ve experienced the ease and efficiency of network attached storage, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!
Most NAS solutions available today use Linux as the primary operating system to provide some or all of the following functionality.
Depending on the NAS storage you require many support all of the following protocols:
TCP/IP, SMB/CIFS, NFS, SNMP, FTP/SFTP/FXP, HTTP, HTTPS, Telnet, SSH, AFP, WebDAV, Bonjour, TFTP NAS Volume Support
When you first create a disk volume you can choose the type of format most suitable for your system environment
Learn about the differences between SAN vs NAS.
