Are you tired of running out of space on your drive? Are you worried about the possibility of losing important files from a hard drive that fails unexpectedly? Do you want to share your files on your local network or play image and audio files from any device? Then it may be time to consider buying a File Server/NAS!

What is NAS?

As its name suggests, a NAS, or Network Attached Storage, is a practical and quite popular solution for data storage on a local network. Although it was initially aimed at meeting the needs of primarily small and medium-sized businesses, we can say that it has now become an ideal solution for you, the home user. Essentially, a NAS is a ready-made small-sized computer that has slots for one or more hard drives, usually comes with its own operating system and applications, and is primarily designed to share stored files with all users on the network to which it is connected.

Advantages

• Can be used as a personal cloud
• Access your files both from your local network and remotely if you wish
• Data synchronization on your devices
• Ability to create and maintain backups
• Ability to stream image and audio files simultaneously from different devices within the network
• Low power consumption

Why choose a NAS over other solutions?

NAS vs Cloud

• The cost of maintaining files on a subscription-based Cloud service can progressively be more expensive compared to purchasing a NAS
• There is no dependence on internet line speed, especially in the case of large files, as everything is stored on your local network

Tip: However, it is always a good idea to keep (at least some) important backups off premises, such as a Cloud service.

NAS vs External HDD

• With a NAS, there is easy access to files from anywhere locally or in some cases externally, unlike an external hard drive which you often need to have with you
• It offers greater security as external hard drives are prone to damage and errors
• Ability to expand capacity for NAS units that have two or more bays

What should you consider before buying a NAS?

Now that you have clarified what a NAS is and know its advantages and usefulness, you can proceed to purchase it. Or can you? As with any purchase of a device, there are certain features that you should pay more attention to before making a purchase.

Two main questions

# What kind of use?

A primary criterion to consider before purchasing any device or machine is always what kind of use it is intended for. Will it primarily be used for streaming multimedia files or just for storing backups? The answer to such a question will help you decide on some of the features that the NAS should have.

# How much money?

The budget you have available always plays a key role in a purchase, and ideally, it should align as closely as possible with the needs you wish to meet with your purchase. Additionally, since we are talking about devices, it is important to also consider the power consumption, as the NAS will be continuously operational.

Features

# NAS Type

There are 2 main types of NAS to choose from, Tower or those that are mounted in a Rack. Tower models are the most common type and are suitable for both home use and small businesses. On the other hand, those that are mounted in a rack are suitable for more professional use such as data servers or surveillance servers. 

# Capacity

Whether 1-bay, 2-bay or larger, the total capacity of a NAS is almost the number one buying criterion. The more hard drive bays the NAS has, the more storage space you will have. In addition, provided that you choose a NAS with more than one bay, you can create a RAID array, which will treat the hard drives as a single drive, providing higher security for your data. The most popular choice for an average home user is to have at least 2 bays.

# Compatibility and Applications

It is also quite important to ensure that the NAS device you choose is compatible with all the other devices you intend to access it with, such as computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. This way, you avoid unpleasant surprises that may arise due to compatibility issues, such as between different operating systems or software applications, ensuring access to your data from anywhere and at any time without problems or interruptions. Additionally, an average NAS should support a range of applications for file sharing, backup creation, and media playback, or even popular applications like Plex Media Server.

# Security

In an era where everything is interconnected and the risks to our files and personal data are even greater, security is an important issue when choosing the right NAS device. Make sure that the device supports encryption protocols so that all your data remains safe and protected from unauthorized access or malicious attacks.

# Connectivity

It is important for a NAS to provide additional connectivity through physical ports such as USB ports, e-SATA, HDMI, or beyond the single Ethernet port. In these cases, the choice should be made with consideration and based on possible future needs that may arise.

# Ease of Installation & Use

Installing, setting up, and using a File Server/NAS can often be a complex task for the average user. For this reason, it is important to consider not only the intended use of the NAS but also your level of familiarity with such devices, so that you can meet your needs.

# Guarantee & Support

A quite important factor when purchasing a machine is to have a guarantee and at least some basic support services from the manufacturer, for any problems that may arise either during installation or during use.

Still thinking about it?

If you read the guide but not all of your questions were answered, then you can certainly ask your question and a skroutzer will answer you at the first opportunity. If you are convinced of the usefulness of a NAS but still not sure which one is right for your needs, then you can take a look at the best File Servers/NAS for 2023.