With the vast amount of data we produce in today’s digital world—at home or in a business—photos, videos, documents, backups and software, all require recurring or potentially recurring, space and intelligent storage. It is at this moment that NAS (Network Attached Storage) becomes an effective solution.
What is a NAS?
A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a storage appliance connected to your home or office network. Unlike traditional external hard drives, which are connected to one computer, a NAS system can be accessed by multiple devices over the network. NAS can be thought of as your own private cloud that you manage and control with no monthly subscription charge, no data mining, and safely stored and managed in your dusty old comms cabinet. NAS appliances are really mini-computers with hard drives, by design, they are built to efficiently store and share data to over a network.
Why You Might Need a NAS
A NAS could be a life-changing tool – for a SMB, content creator or simply someone who has seen their digital life grow over time.
Here are some of the reasons why:
Centralized file storage – Store everything in one spot and access from any device on the network.
Automatic backup – You can setup backup schedules to back to the NAS using something called snapshots.
Cloud backup – Transfer your backed up data or snapshots to a cloud service like Wasabi or Amazon S3.
Media streaming – Stream movies, music or photos directly from your NAS on smart TVs or mobile devices.
Remote access – Have the ability to access your files from anywhere in the world.
Data redundancy – Protect your data by utilizing RAID configurations that would mirror or stripe disks.
In a nutshell, a network attached storage solution provides comfort, safety, and efficiency.
Top NAS Brands Comparison: Synology, QNAP, and TrueNAS
When choosing a NAS, three major players dominate the market: Synology, QNAP, and TrueNAS. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and the right choice depends on your needs.
| Feature | Synology | QNAP | TrueNAS (Core) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Home users, SMBs | Power users, creative professionals, SMBs | Advanced users, enterprise setups, DIY builders |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Extremely user-friendly interface | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Powerful but slightly more complex | ⭐⭐ – Steep learning curve, CLI-driven for many tasks |
| Operating System | DSM (DiskStation Manager) | QTS (QNAP Turbo NAS OS) | TrueNAS CORE (based on FreeBSD & ZFS) |
| Expandability | Good – up to 12-bay expansion (depends on model) | Excellent – wide range of models and add-ons | Unlimited – depends on hardware used |
| App Ecosystem | Extensive third-party app support | Extensive with more experimental features | Limited GUI apps, strong in command-line and plugins |
| Performance Options | Good consumer-grade options, some enterprise | High-end models available with GPUs, 10GbE, NVMe cache | Fully customizable – depends on your build |
| RAID & File System | RAID + Btrfs or ext4 | RAID + ext4/ZFS (on some models) | ZFS only – extremely resilient and advanced |
| Cost | Mid-to-high depending on model | Wide range from budget to high-end | Can be low-cost (DIY) or expensive (TrueNAS Mini/Enterprise) |
| Security & Updates | Very regular firmware and security updates | Regular, though sometimes slower than Synology | Community-maintained but reliable for tech-savvy users |
Network Storage Solutions for Small Businesses
A network attached storage device can be a practical network storage solution for a small business that needs central file storage, local backups or fast access to large amounts of data.
Instead of connecting an external drive to one computer, a NAS sits on the network and can be accessed by authorised users and devices. Depending on the design, it can store shared documents, application data, workstation backups, archives or large media files.
The right setup depends on more than the number of terabytes required. Businesses should also consider disk redundancy, network speed, user permissions, snapshots, offsite backup, encryption, monitoring and how quickly data would need to be restored after a failure.
A NAS can also work alongside cloud storage. For example, a business may keep frequently accessed files locally for performance while sending backup copies or snapshots to an offsite cloud destination.
A NAS should not be treated as a complete backup strategy by itself. If the only copy of important data is on the NAS, the business can still lose that data through theft, ransomware, hardware failure or accidental deletion. Important information should have a separate backup that is protected from the same incident.
NAS vs SAN: What Is the Difference?
NAS and SAN are both used for network storage, but they solve different problems.
A NAS, or Network Attached Storage system, normally provides file-level storage over the existing network. Users and applications can access shared folders using common file-sharing protocols. This makes NAS popular for small and medium businesses that need centralised file storage, backups or shared access to business data.
A SAN, or Storage Area Network, provides block-level storage to servers. It is generally used in more complex environments where applications or virtual servers need high-performance shared storage. SAN environments can require dedicated switching, specialised storage hardware and more complex management.
For many small businesses, NAS is easier to deploy and manage. A SAN becomes more relevant when performance, scale, redundancy or virtualisation requirements justify the added complexity.
The best choice depends on the workload. A business storing shared documents has very different requirements from an organisation running a large virtual server cluster or data-intensive application.
How to Secure Network Attached Storage
A business NAS often contains a large concentration of valuable information, so it should be treated as a server rather than a simple external drive.
Start by keeping the NAS operating system and installed packages updated. Remove unused applications and services, disable default accounts where possible and use strong unique administrator credentials with multi-factor authentication when the platform supports it.
Access should follow the principle of least privilege. Staff should only have access to the folders and data required for their role, and administrator access should be limited to people who actually manage the device.
Avoid exposing the NAS management interface directly to the public internet. Remote access should be provided through a secure method such as a properly configured VPN or another controlled access solution.
Snapshots can help recover from accidental changes or ransomware, but they are not a replacement for an independent backup. Important data should also be copied to another protected location so a failure or compromise of the NAS does not destroy every recovery option.
Businesses should also monitor storage health, failed disks, available capacity, backup status and security alerts. A NAS can run quietly for years, which makes it easy to forget until a drive fails or storage runs out.
For organisations using NAS as part of a wider business environment, Accel IT can help design storage, backup and security around the actual recovery requirements of the business.
A NAS solution isn’t just for tech nerds or corporations anymore. Whether you’re storing family photos or managing terabytes of business data, network attached storage will provide peace of mind and productivity.
If you’re not sure which NAS is best for you or need help setting one up, our team at Accel IT can help you get started with the best solution for you.
