NAS devices connect to the network either via ethernet cable (hardwired) or Wi-Fi. This enables the device to intelligently manage filesystems, handle read-write operations, run applications, and provide simultaneous access to multiple users. The hard drives used in NAS devices are specially designed for high usage and 24x7 operation.Įach NAS device contains an operating system and a processor with a fair amount of computing power. The multiple drives not only provide high storage capacity but also provide redundancy and facilitate faster file access. NAS devices generally contain three to five hard drives. They offer a convenient way to store and backup data, which can be accessed from anywhere as long as there is access to the internal network. NAS devices have high storage capacity and are fast so they feel like having a private cloud in the office. Rather, it connects directly to the network and is accessible to everyone on the network. Unlike an external hard drive, it does not need to be connected to a computer. The Cloud: How Do They Compare?Ī NAS is a network-connected device that allows the storage and retrieval of data by authorized network users. Now the growth in storage needs begs the question: where should businesses store the data? This article answers this and other questions related to data storage and evaluates the common storage options, namely, Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, local servers, and the cloud. According to a report by Spiceworks, 59% of SMBs expect local shared storage needs to grow. But data is equally, if not more, valuable to smaller businesses as well. In 2020, the installed storage capacity was around 6.7 zettabytes, and this is expected to keep growing at a compound annual growth rate of 19.2 percent from 2020 to 2025.Ī majority of this data is captured and stored by the tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Nevertheless, along with the growth of data volumes, the storage capacity is also projected to increase. Of the data produced and consumed in 2020, just two percent were retained. Thankfully, not all of the data created is saved.

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