Network-attached storage, or NAS, has become an increasingly popular data storage solution for both home and business use. But what exactly are NAS devices used for? Here we’ll explore the many applications and benefits of NAS.
Centralized Storage
One of the core functions of a NAS is to provide centralized storage and backup for all devices on your local network. With a NAS, you can store your files in one place instead of across multiple devices. This makes it easier to organize and access your data from any networked computer, smartphone, media player, or other device.
Rather than relying solely on the limited storage of your computer or phone, a NAS gives you abundant capacity for all your files. It also serves as a central hub to stream media, automate backups, and share files securely over the local network or internet.
Key Benefits
- Centralize storage of files, media, backups
- Access files from all networked devices
- Abundant storage capacity
- Organize and manage files easily
File Sharing and Collaboration
NAS devices excel at letting multiple users share and collaborate on files securely. This makes them ideal for small businesses, workgroups, and other multi-user environments.
Rather than emailing files back and forth or using consumer-grade cloud services, a NAS gives your team a private place to access, share, and sync files. Most NAS platforms support granular user and permission management, so you can control who can access which files.
Many also provide handy collaboration features like version history, commenting, and real-time document co-editing. This improves workflow and productivity for remote workers, creative teams, and business departments who need to share and edit files collaboratively.
Key Features
- User access controls and permissions
- Secure remote access capabilities
- Real-time file syncing and sharing
- File versioning and history
- Collaborative editing of documents
Media Storage and Streaming
With their abundant disk space, NAS devices are ideal for centrally storing and streaming your media library. Rather than having your music, videos, and photos scattered across multiple devices, you can store them all on your NAS and access them from any device.
Most NAS platforms also come with media server software for streaming audio, video, and photos. You can stream media on your local network to smart TVs, media players, gaming consoles, and other DLNA/UPnP-compatible devices. Many also let you stream remotely when away from home.
Storing your media on a NAS keeps it organized in one place while enabling seamless streaming. It also avoids loss if a device like a laptop fails, since the media lives on the NAS instead.
Key Features
- Abundant storage for media libraries
- Media server software for streaming
- Local and remote streaming capabilities
- Centralized media storage and organization
Surveillance Storage
NAS devices are commonly used to store footage from security camera systems. This enables long-term storage that would not be practical with standalone NVRs or DVRs.
Specific NAS models like Synology’s Surveillance Station are designed for storing camera recordings. They support connecting multiple IP cameras and can manage all aspects of the surveillance system. The recordings are then stored securely on the NAS for weeks, months, or years depending on storage capacity.
Storing surveillance footage on a NAS maximizes retention time for security and compliance purposes. The NAS can also stream live and recorded video for remote viewing.
Key Features
- Long-term retention of surveillance recordings
- Support for numerous IP cameras
- Video management and analytics
- Remote viewing capabilities
Backup
One of the most popular uses of NAS is as a centralized backup target and solution. Rather than backing up client devices to external hard drives or cloud storage, you can leverage the ample capacity of a NAS.
Most NAS platforms include backup software for protecting PCs, Macs, servers, virtual machines, and mobile devices. Solutions like Synology’s Active Backup suite offer feature-rich and multi-platform backup capabilities.
Backing up to a NAS provides ample capacity with the added benefit of local backups. This improves security compared to cloud backup alone. NAS backups also avoid the need to plug in external drives.
Key Features
- Centralized backup target
- Platform-agnostic backup software
- Local and offsite backup capabilities
- Versioning and scheduling
Virtualization
Many business-oriented NAS platforms can act as virtualization hosts, running virtual machines and containerized applications. For example, Synology’s Virtual Machine Manager lets you run Windows, Linux, and Docker-based VMs and apps directly on the NAS.
This allows you to consolidate workloads onto the NAS rather than running separate servers. Common use cases include DNS, DHCP, databases, web servers, development environments, and more.
Virtualization support turns the NAS into an all-in-one storage, backup, and compute platform for small businesses and remote offices. VMs also enable sandboxed environments for increased security.
Key Features
- Hypervisor for hosting VMs
- Docker and container support
- Consolidated platform for storage, backup, and computing
- Isolation and sandboxing
iSCSI and SAN Storage
Many enterprise NAS models can provide block-level SAN storage over iSCSI. This allows them to replace traditional SANs at a lower cost while consolidating file and block storage.
With iSCSI support, servers can connect directly to logical drives on the NAS. These appear as local block storage volumes to the connected host. The NAS essentially functions as an iSCSI SAN while also handling file storage and shared access.
For cash-strapped IT departments, a multiprotocol NAS with iSCSI replaces both a SAN and NAS appliance. Consolidation simplifies management and reduces hardware costs.
Key Features
- iSCSI target support
- Block-level SAN storage
- Lower cost consolidation of file and block storage
- Simplified storage infrastructure
High Availability Clustering
Business-oriented NAS often support high availability (HA) clustering between two units. If one node fails, the other takes over immediately to avoid downtime.
HA pairs provide redundant shared storage with automatic failover. This level of reliability keeps data protected and accessible 24/7. Mission-critical applications like virtualization, databases, and enterprise workloads benefit greatly.
While HA was once limited to expensive SANs, it is now attainable for SMBs by clustering two affordable NAS units. Dual controllers and redundant parts like PSUs protect against typical hardware failures.
Key Features
- Active-active or active-passive redundancy
- Continuous data availability
- Protection for mission-critical workloads
- Affordable HA shared storage
FTP Server
Most NAS appliances can be used as FTP servers for easy file transfers. FTP access lets you directly upload and manage files on the NAS from any FTP client program or even a web browser.
This allows easy bulk uploading of large files that are impractical to transfer via network shares. FTP can also simplify workflows where external partners need to deliver or access files on your NAS.
Using your NAS as an FTP server provides a simple way to transfer large files and folders without VPNs, cloud storage, or external drives.
Key Features
- FTP/FTPS/SFTP access
- Easy bulk file transfers
- Simplified workflows with partners
- No VPN required
Cloud Synchronization
To expand storage capacity and enable remote access, most NAS platforms support syncing with major cloud services. Popular options like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, and Microsoft OneDrive can act as secondary NAS storage.
This provides essentially unlimited capacity for backups, archives, and shared files. Cloud sync also enables secure remote access from anywhere with an internet connection.
Hybrid NAS deployments harness the performance of local storage with the convenience of the cloud. Active file sync ensures local and cloud copies remain up to date.
Key Features
- Hybrid local and cloud storage
- Expandable capacity
- Secure remote access
- Continuous cloud sync
Web Server
Many NAS operating systems allow hosting web sites directly on the device. This turns the NAS into a simple web server for intranet sites, prototypes, testing, etc.
With web server capabilities, you can stand up intranet resources for your business accessible to LAN clients. Common examples include internal wikis, documentation portals, dashboards, monitoring tools, and development environments.
Self-hosting lightweight web apps on your NAS keeps traffic local rather than relying on external hosting. Page load speeds are extremely fast since content resides on the LAN.
Key Features
- Host websites directly on the NAS
- Stand up intranet sites and web apps
- Local hosting improves speed vs. internet
- Reduces reliance on external hosting
Mail Server
Business-oriented NAS can also function as email servers, hosting mailboxes for domains and email accounts. All major protocols like POP3, IMAP, and SMTP are supported to enable full-featured mail serving.
Self-hosting email on a NAS appliance allows businesses to gain control over their critical communications and avoid relying on outside providers.
With ample storage and proven NAS reliability, your email can be stored on-premises without risk of cloud account suspensions or third-party downtime.
Key Features
- Full email server protocols
- Self-hosted email accounts and domains
- Increased control over email
- Improved reliability vs. cloud email
Database Hosting
Many SMB applications rely on databases like MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server. NAS platforms aimed at businesses support hosting databases directly on the appliance.
This allows consolidating databases alongside storage, backups, and VMs rather than provisioning separate servers. All popular database engines are available as native packages or Docker containers.
For small databases that don’t justify dedicated infrastructure, hosting them directly on your business NAS can simplify management and resources.
Key Features
- Native database packages
- Dockerized database containers
- Consolidation on the NAS
- Simplified management
Web Applications
Thousands of web apps like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Bitwarden, GitLab, and more have NAS-optimized packages. Rather than relying on external hosted services, you can self-host web apps directly on your NAS.
This brings popular solutions like content management, document management, project management, and productivity tools under your control. Web apps can be exposed on your LAN or privately on the internet.
Self-hosting web apps improves performance, security, and reliability while reducing SaaS costs. The NAS provides a turnkey application platform.
Key Features
- Turnkey installers and management
- Self-hosted alternatives to SaaS apps
- Faster performance on LAN
- Greater security and reliability
Home Automation Hub
For home users, NAS devices can serve as automation hubs to connect smart devices and orchestrate tasks. Integrations with IP cameras, smart lights, sensors, switches, locks, and thermostats allow unified control.
Using the NAS as a central automation gateway enables creating scenes and programmed actions. With robust apps like Synology’s Home Assistant, you can tie events like motion detection to automated responses.
As an always-on local server, the NAS makes an ideal controller for the smart home. Its storage holds historical footage and backups of your automation configuration.
Key Features
- Centralized control of smart home devices
- Programmable scenes and scheduled actions
- Event-driven automation
- Local server enhances reliability
Conclusion
Modern NAS devices are extremely versatile for home and business applications. Beyond just basic file storage, they can handle backup, virtualization, media management, surveillance recording, automation, web hosting, and much more.
With excellent software ecosystems, abundant capacity, and rising performance capabilities, NAS continues gaining popularity as an all-in-one storage solution.