The advantages of Network Attached Storage over the Cloud

Cloud-based applications have become increasingly popular in the last decade with many businesses turning to the cloud especially for data storage and computing power.  But traditional methods such as NAS (Network Attached Storage) is still a viable option, and one that we often install into businesses, so what are the advantages?

NAS is an intelligent hard disk storage system with its own network address rather than being attached to any computer. It has its own software for configuring and mapping file locations to the network's attached devices.  It is designed to provide a central place to store and share all your files and data and allow access to them from anywhere on your network.  Security can also be set up so that only certain users can access certain files and information. Your data can also be backed up by a NAS device on the local network and centrally if you’re a larger corporate.

While NAS requires regular maintenance and updating to keep it running at an optimum level, in the long run it generally costs less to operate than cloud-based applications.  These tend to have little up-front expenditure but as your storage needs increase so does the operating expense, whereas NAS will have a bigger outlay up front but will cost less to run on a daily basis.

If you’re wanting regular access to lots of data, you’ll find it’s faster accessing data through NAS rather than the Cloud, and we all know how frustrating it can be waiting for something to download!  So, if you’re wanting an efficient business solution, a NAS device will provide the capacity and speed your business demands.