A simple storage solution

Backing up files is an uphill battle for small businesses. And the solutions employed — from USB hard drives attached to individual PCs to file-server backup — often leave much to be desired.

That's where network-attached storage (NAS) comes in. NAS devices add dedicated data storage to your computer network. They're easy to deploy and expand, and are more reliable than other backup methods.

The sole purpose of NAS is file sharing. It does not provide any of the functionality that a server in a server-centric system would provide, such as Web and e-mail. And with data expanding exponentially, NAS provides small businesses with the flexibility and ease of use to make backing up a no-brainer.

Back up with fewer worries

There are two backup methods that most small businesses usually follow. One is having individual users backing up their own data to external storage devices, such as USB-connected hard drives. The other approach is backing up data on the file server.

There are problems with both of those approaches. With the first method, you're leaving an important task to the whims of individuals who have other tasks they consider more critical than backing up their data. And with data scattered over different machines, accessibility becomes an issue. While the second approach is better in that data is centrally located, it's also inefficient and potentially disastrous since the file server's main task is to deliver applications to clients on the network. And if the hard drive fails, all the data is lost.

NAS solves those problems by providing dedicated data storage at the network level. It's centrally manageable, and businesses can easily add devices to environments that contain both Mac and Windows computers. And adding storage is as simple as adding another NAS device to the network. Just as important is the fact that all the data is available to anyone on the network, and access to certain data can be granted to only those who need it.

Storage with flexibility

NAS also provides advanced storage functions, such as Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID). In a RAID setup, data is distributed across multiple disks that appear to the operating system and the user as a single disk. So the loss of one disk won't result in the loss of data. And while it handles disk failures, you still need to back up.

Federal regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or Sarbanes-Oxley, and business-continuity plans have made archiving increasingly critical. NAS devices can be used to archive data to tape drives or disks, which can be kept offsite.

NAS solutions can also provide more than storage. For companies looking to get more value from their networks, some NAS devices offer
media-streaming capabilities. This can be used for storing things like training videos that anyone in the company can access.

Ultimately, NAS provides accessibility to your data. Whether it's for basic backup, archiving or even media sharing, a NAS system can simplify how small businesses organize their data.

%%d_amdefault_cta%%