The capabilities of network attached storage or NAS storage have improved dramatically due to an insatiable desire for increased storage capacity. They are also much cheaper than they were a decade ago. This affordability presents a tremendous opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses to host multiple terabytes on their network at a fraction of the cost of traditional storage area networks or SAN storage or file servers.
But what more should SMBs look for in a Network Attached Storage?
Below is a list of the most important features. Although you may not require all the features, it is hoped this will help decide which Network Attached Storage is right for your company.
Security is closely linked to user management which refers to how easy it is to manage user accounts and often extends to creating groups. The Best NAS systems models might be able to encrypt data on hard drives; for example, StoneFly offers AES 256-bit encryption which is a great feature, especially if you are in areas where it is difficult to secure the Network Attached Storage. However, unless a Network Attached Storage has dedicated encryption hardware, enabling encryption will significantly negatively affect the NAS's write performance. Large organizations may find it difficult to manage user accounts or share folders with ease. It is worth asking for an evaluation unit.
The first thing to consider in hardware will closely correlate with the number of hard disk drives. Some NAS systems may allow for expansion of drive bays by adding an expansion chassis. In addition, it would be best to look for external storage devices that use USB or eSATA ports which may be helpful for temporary capacity fixes or backups.
Some Network Attached Storage appliances can be used with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch forms, but the latter may not be as useful if there is a plan to use solid-state drives (SSD). A hot-swappable HDD is also a good option for maximum flexibility. However, the NAS models that are most basic do not support this feature.
The next thing to look for in hardware is the network which means gigabit Ethernet. However, dual gigabit Ethernet ports have become more common in mid-range NAS models. Some also work in fail-over mode, like StoneFly’s dual node NAS.
Another thing to consider in the hardware is whether Network Attached Storage includes a redundant power supply unit. The PSU, which is the most vulnerable component of a hardware system, can fail anytime. This failure could lead to a long downtime and loads of other mess.
Some NAS Storage products can perform data backups over the network or onto external storage media to address the need for backups. An external storage drive can be connected via USB or eSATA, which is the simplest approach.
The best enterprise NAS vendors are now offering support for online storage services. Amazon S3 is the most popular supported platform. In addition, every data stored in the cloud is protected by encryption.
See what your needs are and then choose accordingly.