10 Reasons You Need to Invest in NAS Storage for your data center

Network Attached Storage or NAS storage refers to a centrally located data storage accessible by all devices on a network. No complex server installation or configuration is required for these enterprise storage devices. These devices are typically a bit more expensive than traditional storage solutions and available with a wide range of storage capacities.

However, the most important advantage of using NAS storage systems is that they provide centralized data storage, facilitating efficient data sharing with multiple clients. NAS storage devices are therefore a perfect fit for modern data centers that need reliable and easy-to-access storage solutions on a budget. Not just this but NAS storage is also beneficial for larger enterprises as well and for businesses that are not on a lower budget and want the best possible storage solution.

In this blog post, we highlight the 10 good reasons why you need to consider and invest in NAS storage for your business and your data center. So, lets get started.

NAS Storage Accommodates Data Growth

The amount of data we use every day is increasing rapidly. According to IDC, “every minute of every day we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data–the equivalent of 250,000 Libraries of Congress.”

A real-world example would be retail businesses. It is often required to store and manage data from security cameras and CCTV cameras. Another example would be warehousing. Different goods may be stored under different stages, such as warehouse picking goods or goods for re-shipping purposes or discarded goods.

These retail and warehouse environments require high-capacity storage systems to store large volumes of shipping data. Other examples include educational institutions requiring security surveillance for libraries, classrooms, laboratories, hospitals that need surveillance systems for conference room recording patient monitoring rooms, emergency rooms, etc.

Enterprise NAS caters to a diverse set of data needs that go from a couple of terabytes to petabytes.

NAS Storage Eliminates Chances of Lost Data

According to an IBM study, each gigabyte of data that goes missing costs $143 per megabyte in the first year and $57 per megabyte each year after that. Of course, this depends on the industry you are in; however, with the proliferation of cloud-based solutions and BYOD solutions, this number will increase significantly.

NAS storage is known to be highly redundant. With technologies like RAID volumes, redundant components, anti-viruses, anti-ransomware support, and much more, the best NAS systems reduce the chances of data loss to a minimum.

Cost-effective & Reliable Data Storage

NAS devices can store large amounts of data, which means there’s no need to buy multiple storage systems anymore. Everything can be stored in one convenient location. You also don’t have to change your whole storage infrastructure just for the sake of upgrades.

NAS storage is also easier to manage. If you choose NAS storage, it means you can avoid any major complications that come with managing a storage solution like SAN. You don’t need to worry about configuring RAID arrays or failing drives because NAS comes pre-configured, and most of the time, storage operation is automated.

NAS Storage is Easy to Deploy and Maintain

The operations and maintenance costs of traditional storage solutions are much higher than those associated with NAS storage devices, which adds up over time. They are more expensive, both in terms of money and manpower. When you choose NAS, however, it means saving money on labor costs while also not dealing with some high-maintenance equipment. This is the best choice for most companies on a budget.

NAS Storage Offers Data Replication

NAS storage is designed to replicate your data to various remote locations. This is an excellent way to protect against your data loss due to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes.

Centralized Management of Multiple Servers

NAS storage can be used with multiple servers and desktops through a centralized management interface. Storage administrators can manage all the networked storage nodes from a single user interface, saving valuable time and money.

Easy to Go Administration

NAS storage makes it easy to add, remove and configure users with simple point-and-click configuration tools. This means you won’t have to spend time training end-users on how to install and configure their desktop software and settings to access their data. This is extremely helpful for business admins as they do not have to worry about any complex management tasks of the NAS solution.

Automated Backup Options

If you need central storage for your backups and your primary data storage, NAS has a solution for you too. They easily get integrated with backup and DR appliances to give seamless smooth backups. This really helps enterprises to ensure that their remains safe and backed up.

NAS Storage Allows Remote Access

NAS storage allows you access to your data from anywhere using the internet. These devices are geographically independent and allow anyone with access to use data from the storage cluster. This is great for businesses that have many different sites. It eliminates the need to mail files from site to site just to get a hold of essential data. Essentially it eases the cross-site communications within the enterprise.

Bottom Line

While NAS may offer many advantages, that doesn’t mean that every business needs the same storage. You may be a small business with a completely different set of needs. Businesses may only need a couple of terabytes of storage. In this case they will only need a small tower with a couple of hard drives. Enterprises can be a business with a considerable need for storing data. But may not need to access it frequently. In this case you won’t need a scale-out cluster since you won’t be needing more performance.

However, if you are a large enterprise dealing with heavy-duty workloads like data analytics and need fast access to loads of data, a scale-out type enterprise-grade NAS solution might be the best choice. In which case, you should check StoneFly’s super scale-out systems. They offer some of the best NAS systems. And with a buck load of feature set integrated into their devices and are definitely worth giving a shot.