Network Attached Storage (NAS)

10th November 2021 | Cybrary

Network Attached Storage (NAS) is high-capacity storage that connects to your home or office network so that you and other trusted users can access your files from mobile devices and PCs without physically plugging into the drive. NAS systems are flexible, meaning that as you need additional storage, you can add on to what you have. NAS is similar to having a private cloud in the office. It’s faster, less expensive, and provides all the benefits of a public cloud, only it gives you such access onsite at your home or office. This level of control can be beneficial, especially when restoring large volumes of data to the speed of locally attached storage devices versus your Internet bandwidth speeds which are much slower for data transfers.

With a NAS system, data is continually accessible, making it easy for employees to collaborate, respond to customers in a timely fashion, and promptly follow up on sales or other issues because the information is in one place. Because NAS is like a private cloud, data may be accessed remotely using a network connection, meaning employees can work anywhere, anytime.

What does this mean for an SMB?

Network Attached Storage systems are great options for Small to Medium-sized businesses. NAS is known to be easy to operate, with low cost of ownership, easily accessible data backups, all in a centralized, safe, and reliable system. If you’re an SMB looking for the right data backup solution, a NAS system might be the right tool for you.

Additional SMB Cybersecurity minimum essential Recommendations

There are other actions you should take to protect your business from potential attacks and harm including:

Adopt a password manager for better personal/work password hygiene
Require two-factor authentication on any SaaS solution or critical accounts
Require 14+ character Passwords in your Governance Policies
Train employees to spot and avoid email-based phishing attacks
Check that employees can spot and avoid phishing emails by testing them
Backup data using the 3-2-1 method
Incorporate the Principle of Least Privilege
Perform a risk assessment every two to three years

To learn more about Network Attached Storage (NAS), watch this short 5-minute video:

Sources:

PCMag – Best NAS Devices for 2021

Seagate – What is NAS

Additional Reading:

3-2-1 Backup Guide

Related Terms:

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Solid State Drive (SSD)

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