What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

Network Attached Storage, known in English as network attached storage (NAS), is a device that provides file-sharing based storage through a standard Ethernet connection, operating within a local network and performing the process of file storage.

NAS devices do not have a keyboard or screen. They can only be managed through a browser-based program. Within a local network (Local Area Network – LAN), each NAS actually represents a network node and has its own IP address.

The most important advantage of network attached storage is that it allows simultaneous access by multiple users on a network to a file. Before NAS systems, many companies had perhaps hundreds or even thousands of separate file servers. Each of these servers was located and maintained in different places, with different configurations. Considering current conditions, the need for greater storage capacity has led to the expansion of NAS applications to include larger disks, and these applications can be scaled vertically or horizontally along with clusters.

Many NAS manufacturers collaborate with cloud storage providers to offer customers additional disk space for file backup.

In which fields is NAS used?

NAS devices used in home environments are usually used for automatic backup, storing media files such as images, videos, audio recordings, etc. NAS devices are used in many smart homes for storing components such as smart TVs, security systems, and other internet devices (internet of things – IoT).

In business, company, and institutional environments, NAS devices are usually used as a backup point for archiving NAS directories or for recovery in extreme cases. If the NAS device has a server mode, it can perform a wide range of tasks, from email and multimedia to browser servers for small enterprises.

Some high-quality NAS products have enough space to support RAID. RAID is a storage technology that can combine multiple hard drives into a single logical unit, thus providing better performance time, high availability, and even redundancy.