Network Attached Storage: Does it make sense for your business?
Network Attached Storage is still a very popular solution for storing business data and sharing it on the network. But does this solution make sense for your business? There has been a lot of conversation about storage lately. And while that conversation is focused on how much storage you will need for your company's future needs, there is another conversation bubbling around - "Does it really make sense to invest in Network Attached Storage for my business?"
Why more and more businesses are turning to Network Attached Storage?
Network attached storage devices are slowly turning into a must-have for businesses big and small. With their popularity on the rise, it is only normal for business owners to wonder if they need to comply with this new standard or not.
Here are some thoughts on whether or not an organization of any size benefits from installing the best NAS systems.
Do you want a more centralized data repository?
Whether you’re a small business or a mid-sized enterprise, a constant challenge you face is protecting and accessing your computing data. Network Attached Storage provides a centralized server where your company files can be stored, accessed, and backed up to DR devices. And this is where the benefits of an enterprise NAS begin.
Consider your cost and output requirements before you buy
Consider how much you would like to invest initially and calculate the costs. For example, if you are a small business, a small appliance like StoneFly’s mini tower with 64 terabytes of storage may be just enough. If you are a medium-sized business, you may need a bit more storage, but if you are a large enterprise, you may have to deal with some serious data and may need a high amount of storage and high-performance appliances. In that case, you should prefer scaling out your infrastructure for the required output.
Also, consider manageability and future growth
What do you plan for future growth? Do you think you will be expanding your business and will have broad customer data in the future? If so, network attached storage is an excellent choice since it grows with you as your business grows. In addition, it is effortless to scale out, and you pay only for as much as you need.
Bottom Line - Do a detailed analysis and look beyond space and performance
For any business, just having enough storage is not enough. All businesses want their operations to be streamlined and their storage management hassle-free. That is why it is advisable to do your research and look at your business requirements. While space and performance are essential, look for features like automatic storage tiering, anti-ransomware support, replication, deduplication, and AES 256-bit encryption. If you are interested, we recommend checking out StoneFly’s NAS solutions that come with all these features at a fraction of the price of the traditional storage.