Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Network Attached Storage -helpful information

Network Attached Storage (NAS) offer a cost-effective and easy to implement data storage solution to meet the growing needs of any sized business. As the NAS attaches to the Server or Network there is no need to bring down the network, providing a quick solution.

As businesses increasingly rely on IT-based solutions to support their operations, data seems to take on a life of its own – growing in size at fantastic rates. In early 2006, research giant IDC predicted an annual data growth rate of approximately 52 per cent over the subsequent 12-month period. Historically, the practice of dealing with data growth was to install additional server-based hard drives, but this often costly exercise proved to be more of a “band aid” solution. Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems have emerged as more reliable, efficient and cost-effective, with specialist providers focusing on providing a range of NAS solutions.

Understanding Network Attached Storage (NAS)

NAS is one of the fastest growing areas of shared storage solutions. Essentially, they are server devices dedicated entirely to providing file sharing across the network. Their major advantages are that they can be added anywhere within the network infrastructure and additional hard disk storage space can be added without the need to shut down a server.

Home/small office NAS devices are generally cost-effective solutions, enabling direct connection to a computer system as an external data storage system. These devices can be readily managed from anywhere on the network, simplifying the sharing, access, control and backup of data. They can also offer additional features such as replication and snapshots.

Business benefits of NAS

With businesses experiencing massive growth in data storage requirements, the benefits of a NAS device can be considered as being almost self-evident. They include:

• inexpensive capacity increase to meet growing data storage requirements
• the ability to add hard drives without the need to shut down servers
• central point for data management, access and backup
• the ability to locate a NAS device anywhere within the network infrastructure.

As data volumes continue to grow within your business, the need to implement an effective network storage solution can be inevitable.