NAS systems play a crucial role, especially for businesses. The abbreviation stands for Network Attached Storage and refers to a storage option for emails, images, and documents. Data accounts for the majority of data growth in companies, which is why their organization is a high priority. Larger companies with complex infrastructures primarily opt for NAS systems from well-known providers, such as EMC, NetApp, and HP. Smaller companies choose between various NAS products. It’s important to consider some important points when purchasing.
How do you choose your NAS system?
For now, it’s best to leverage your experience with existing NAS systems. For example, if your company has a larger NAS solution that’s well-received by employees, choose the same manufacturer. If you have no prior experience, you should first plan your storage capacity. To do this, assess the data volume. Companies typically use NAS products for a period of three to five years. During this time, the system should store all data and offer expansion options.
Furthermore, it’s best to find out in advance whether replacing the hard drives will be problem-free. Otherwise, you risk data loss in the worst-case scenario. In addition to capacity, pay attention to the integrated processor. This determines the product’s performance. Manufacturers typically use a quad-core or single-core processor. The amount of RAM also plays a role. If it’s too small, parallel queries, for example, will be slowed down. During operation, this leads to a loss of time, which carries the risk of financial losses.
Are you interested in combination solutions?
In addition to a pure NAS system, you also have the option of purchasing a combined solution. With Network Attached Storage, you primarily store unstructured data. However, for departmental systems, for example, it makes sense to create additional databases. With combined products, note that Gigabit Ethernet interfaces are available. These are located in the software or the hardware, with the latter ensuring faster workflows. Likewise, with NAS systems, there is a need to ensure straightforward usability. A control system that runs via a web user interface is a suitable example.
RAID level support
Another critical factor often overlooked is the RAID level support. Choosing the right RAID configuration (such as RAID 5 or RAID 6) offers both redundancy and optimized read/write performance. Businesses should also consider whether the NAS supports hot-swapping of drives, which allows failed drives to be replaced without downtime. Look into the availability of dual LAN ports with link aggregation; this can increase throughput and provide failover protection. For environments handling sensitive or regulated data, make sure the NAS supports volume-level encryption and integrates with LDAP or Active Directory for access control. Backup capabilities are also essential—check for features like snapshot replication and compatibility with cloud backup services such as Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, or Microsoft Azure. Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of vendor support and firmware update cycles. A NAS is not a set-it-and-forget-it device—it needs regular maintenance, updates, and monitoring to perform securely over the long term.
Are you interested in combination solutions?
In addition to a pure NAS system, you also have the option of purchasing a combined solution. With Network Attached Storage, you primarily store unstructured data. However, for departmental systems, for example, it makes sense to create additional databases. With combined products, note that Gigabit Ethernet interfaces are available. These are located in the software or the hardware, with the latter ensuring faster workflows. Likewise, with NAS systems, there is a need to ensure straightforward usability. A control system that runs via a web user interface is a suitable example.
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