Cloud Vs. Network-Attached Storage: What are the pros and cons of each?
Most small and medium sized businesses don’t enjoy the luxury of a dedicated in-house IT team. As a result, important decisions like how to backup and store your business’ data are made by you, the owner.
Whether you are looking for a robust backup solution or searching for cost-effective data storgae, finding the right system to meet your business’ requirments can be tricky. Two of the most popular systems are the Cloud and network-attached storage devices (NAS). Chances are you know a little bit about each, but not enough to make a decision you feel comfortable with. We’re here to change that and to help you make an informed decision.
We’ll shed light on the Cloud and NAS by providing you with the primary advantages and disadvantages of each storage system. Read over our straightforward guide and in moments you’ll be armed with the basic information you need to choose the system that will serve your small business best.
Network attached storage (NAS) – what is it?
You’re probably familiar with Cloud products (DropBox, OneDrive, G-Drive etc), but might be wondering what NAS is all about. A NAS is essentially a data storage unit that connects to your network. Typically, for small and medium sized businesses a NAS unit typically has 2 to 4 hard drives on which you can store all of your data in a safe and easily accessible place for you and your employees. The disks can be configured in such a way that they are mirrored and so if one hard drive fails, you can recover the data from the other disk. This makes a NAS arobust backup solution. NAS is quickly emerging as an affordable and easy way to store files and share them between a number of computers, as well as locations. As a small business owner, you’ll be glad to know that most NAS are relatively easy to install and maintain, and therefore don’t require the expense of a dedicate IT professional.
Comparing features
Traditionally, NASes were used to store, share and backup files. These days, NAS features are getting more sophisticated. For example, some NASes can be used as multimedia servers, as well as iTunes and print servers. Developed specifically to meet the needs of small business, some NASes can function as email or lightweight database servers. Small business owners will also appreciate that vendors are developing software on NASes that allows integration with social media, such as Facebook and YouTube. If you are a home business, you may wish to partition the NAS to utilise for your personal use too.
The Cloud doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles of NAS, but when you use Cloud storage you’ll get access to a wealth of other Cloud solutions that could save your business money. For example, de-duplication features reduce storage needs (and thus cost) while making storage more efficient. Additionally, when you use a Cloud provider, you’re tapping the knowledge of industry professionals who are there to support your business 24/7. If you have a large volume of data, your broadband can experience blockages as bandwidth is consumed whilst backing up to the Cloud.
Considering Cost
A quality NAS will be easy to setup, have a user-friendly interface and offer solid read/write performance. From sharing files to backing up data from Windows, Mac, and even Linux machines, a good NAS delivers a range of features. The cost of a NAS that’s appropriate for serving most small business varies depending on the NAS specifications and number (and capacity) of hard drives ranging from $800-$2000. Synology is the brand we highly recommend and we are one of the main dealers of Synology in Singapore. Should you require assistance in set up, configuration and training, we usually estimate approximately 3 hours of our time.
Just like with NAS, the more storage space you need, the more you’ll pay. Some Cloud providers offer a limited amount of free storage. For example Dropbox offers 2GBs of storage at no charge, and some providers offer up to 25GB for free. But if you’re running a small business, you’ll most likely need more storage space. As you’d expect, plans and fees vary from provider to provider, but 1TB of storage will generally cost about $95 per month. You’ll avoid the initial outlay of cash that purchasing a NAS requires, and the costs associated with buying more hard drives, but you’ll pay a monthly storage fee and it can be an expensive monthly commitment.
Control Over Security
NAS offers data redundancy and protection options, plus data encryption and user access controls. You’ll also have the comfort of knowing that because you host the files on your own hardware, you have complete control over data security. On the downside, you’re also accepting full responsibility for data security with NAS. It’s important to know that several NAS vendors have partnered with Cloud providers to offer you the option of backing up your data to the Cloud for added redundancy and protection. We highly recommend doing this.
When you use a Cloud service, the Cloud provider takes on the responsibility of keeping your data secure. Your data will be backed up to multiple centers across the U.S. for added protection, and reputable Cloud providers use the very latest security methods. Using the Cloud, you relieve yourself of the responsibilities associated with security, but the fact is you’re turning control over your data to another party. When you do so, there’s always a chance it can get hacked.
Storage Limitations
There are different sized NASes which have capacity to hold between 2 to 24 hard drives, although for small and medium sized businesses a 2 or 4-Bay NAS is usually sufficient. The way in which the NAS is configured determines how much storage space is available. For example, a 2-Bay NAS with two 4TB hard drives will give you 4TB of storage and a 4-Bay NAS with three 4TB hard drives will give you 10TB of storage. It is important to have an idea of how much data you currently have and how much for forecast for the future. If you’re unsure of your storage needs, there’s also the chance that you’ll waste money by buying more storage than you need.
If you predict your business to grow to having over 4TB of data, we would recommend getting a 4-Bay NAS and starting it with two or three hard drives. As your storage requirments grow you have the option to add in a fourth hard drive to expand the storage space available. Offering the ability to add more hard drives as needed, a NAS with multiple hard drive bays is a more fitting solution for small businesses that need multiple computers backed up or for those with large multimedia libraries, such as architects and photographers.
Using Cloud storage, you’ll never have to worry about running out of storage space or the hassle of swapping out hard drives. When you need more storage, you simply upgrade your plan with your Cloud provider. This however, does have a big impact on monthly charges for storage!
Choosing the best system for the backup, storage, and recovery of your small business’ data is a critical decision that will impact your company on a daily basis. We hope we’ve given you the basic information you need to start thinking about which system will serve your business best, the Cloud or NAS, or both! Should you wish to discuss your business’ storage and backup requirements in greater detail, please do not hesitate to contact us on 81138682.
Tekkie Help is an authorised retailer of Synology NAS servers. Call us now on 81138682 to request a price list, book a private demo or to discuss your general storage requirements in more detail.