Expanding your data storage plan may also be necessary as your business grows. However, many businesses can initially use cloud-based storage for fewer data. Eventually, they will need to search for an additional room. Fortunately, if you are running a small organization, then you must need the Best NAS For Small Business. For small businesses, NAS is the ideal solution for their backup needs. It can provide secure and reliable data storage while offering daily access without the help of professionals.
NAS devices offer a convenient way to back up important files to a centralized storage location and access them from anywhere. Additionally, the multiple hard drives that comprise the device are configured to provide the optimal combination of storage capacity and data security, reducing the likelihood of data loss in case of a hard drive breakdown. But they offer even more than that, with features designed to improve efficiency and productivity for small businesses.
NAS devices not only serve the purpose of storing data, but they can also provide users with more features, like the ability to use a media center for viewing films and other media content. When selecting a modern NAS device for your IT setup, there are multiple factors to consider, including user experience, RAID configurations, cloud connection, scalability, and velocity. When you’re away from the office, you’ll likely need to get to your files, so check if your planned NAS can be used over the internet.
6 Best NAS For small business
Here are recommendations for the Best NAS For Small Businesses:
Synology DiskStation DS1618+ NAS
The Synology DS1618+ is a step up from the DS1517+, having six bays that offer an abundance of storage of up to 84 TB. Of course, not everyone will require this capacity, but more bays can be useful for those with a limited budget; for example, if someone wants to upgrade from their previous Synology model to this one, they can add the drives from the old NAS and still have plenty of room left for further developments. In the future, if you are currently running a small business and it grows, you don’t need to buy a new NAS. You can use Synology DS1618+. All you need to do is add hard drives.
By opting for six bays instead of four, you afford yourself the flexibility to buy more inexpensive and lower-capacity drives. It can benefit you, as the cost per gigabyte of these drives can be significantly less than using fewer, higher-priced larger drives. If you get a good deal on the drives or are looking for the best rackmount NAS for small businesses, value for money, the savings on the drives (for the same overall capacity) can likely cover the cost of the extra two bays.
What power lies within the DS1618+? At the core of it, you can find the Intel Atom C3538 CPU, which was recently released in 2017 and is a big step up from the ones that Synology was previously using. This C3538 chip gives off four cores that can reach a max speed of 2.1 GHz and 8MB of L2 cache. The NAS already has 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which can be bumped up to 32GB using the two slots. In the rear are four Gigabit LAN ports, three USB 3.0 ports (one on the front), and two eSATA connectors allowing external drives to be connected. Link aggregation and failover support are also offered.
Specifications:
- Storage: 2TB SSD
- Connectivity: USB, SATA
- Brand: Synology
- Hard Disk interface: Serial ATA
- Number of Bays: 6-bays
- Processor: 2.1 GHz celeron_j3455
Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220+
The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a best nas for small business backup. This Network Attached Storage (NAS) device two 3.5-inch drive bays, which take up much of the front, but these are hidden when the bezel is in place. Additionally, on the right side of the device, there are indicator lights, a USB 3.0 port, and a power button. Furthermore, the sides of the NAS have ventilation slits with Synology branding.
This 2-bay unit, the DS220+, provides a convenient, space-saving way to manage data and multimedia and supports video streaming, photo indexing, and data sharing. It’s the best small NAS for home use. Additionally, two 1GbE Rj-45 LAN ports are included, enabling network failover and link aggregation.
This best synology nas for small business is also very attractive in its minimal design for simple small business names. It is small enough to sit on a small desk, with LEDs to let you know the status. An advantage of this device is the top cover you can pop off and the drives you can set up without tools. In addition, the front panel can be removed to slide in your NAS Hard Drive storage disks, which can be either SATA or SSDs.
Specifications:
- Storage: 2GB
- Connectivity: Rj-45,USB
- Brand: Synology
- Hard Disk Interface: RAID
- Number of Bays: 2-bays
- Processor: Intel Celeron J4025
WD 8TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra
Western Digital NAS could potentially increase My Cloud sales if they altered the pricing, which is currently the same whether you purchase a pre-stocked EX2 Ultra or an empty one and populate it yourself with WD Red drives. The My Cloud EX2 Ultra NAS by Western Digital fits nicely between the My Cloud and My Cloud EX4, targeted toward consumers and businesses. Setup is as easy as the home NAS, with extra advanced features from the EX4. Looking at and working similarly to WD’s other two drives, the user-friendly interface remains the same.
Opening the latched top of the enclosure is a simple task to switch 3.5-inch drives. It is done by unscrewing a clip and moving the drives in or out. However, if 2.5-inch hard disks or SSDs are to be inserted, a SATA data/power extension cable and an adapter tray must be acquired due to the different way the drives are mounted, which involves screws that fit in slots close to the top of the bays.
The EX2 Ultra is equipped with a Marvell Armada 385 processor and 1GB of RAM, making it one of the most powerful systems in our tests. Along with two mirrored 4TB WD drives, its results were barely outweighed by the much higher-priced Netgear Ready SSD NAS 212. The excellent performance enabled smooth 4K UHD streaming and rapid backing up.
Specifications:
- Storage: 8TB
- Connectivity: USB
- Brand: Western Digital
- Hard Disk Interface: RAID
- Number of Bays: 2-bays
- Processor: Marvel ARMADA 385 1.3 GHz dual-core
BUFFALO LinkStation 210 2TB 1-Bay NAS
This network-attached storage system is budget-friendly and offers great value for money, with the potential to store and access sensitive information worldwide. The LinkStation 200 series network-attached storage from Buffalo is ideal for securely and conveniently keeping your data in one central location. Effortless setup and connection to your wireless router allow access to your important files at home and when you’re away. Furthermore, it’s designed to be easy to use and ensure your data is safe.
The 2-bay NAS model provides the security and flexibility of RAID data protection. The drives can be configured for a RAID 0 array that increases the storage capacity or a RAID 1 array that safeguards data even if one drive malfunctions. It’s the best NAS for a home media server. So create your cloud storage system without any subscription fees! Keep your videos, music, and photos safe and sound, and be able to access them from anywhere – all while avoiding the dreaded monthly storage charges.
Back up and store data from your home computers and other gadgets without requiring a PC for setup. All you need to do is connect the best nas for the small business file server to your router, and you’re all set. This device has a pre-tested HDD for added reliability and a trouble-free setup. In addition, it is manufactured in Japan, so you can trust its high quality. Moreover, North America-based support is available 24/7, including drive access.
Specifications:
- Storage: 2TB
- Connectivity: Ethernet 1Gbe
- Brand: BUFFALO
- Hard Disk interface: Serial ATA
- Number of Bays: 1-bay
Asustor Lockerstor 4 AS6604TÂ
Formed in 2011, Asustor is an offshoot of the Asus corporation designed to offer cloud network (NAS) and video surveillance services. Since its inception, the brand has grown a strong reputation for producing top-quality hardware suited to large and small businesses and home users. Recently, Asustor has made some new additions to its ‘Power User to Business’ selection. It’s the best 4-bay NAS for mac.
Having the IP number visible makes it easy to quickly access the web interface without utilizing an external tool. However, this setup could be more revolutionary. It features four drives on the front side-mounted vertically, one USB 3.0 port, several buttons, two additional USB 3.0 ports at the rear, dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, and an HDMI output.
Including a quad-core NAS CPU and plenty of RAM in a NAS is a great advantage when selling, yet it can often be pointless if it’s mostly inactive due to network congestion. This new AS66604T NAS series from Asustor has an Intel Celeron J4125 processor, which utilizes 14nm technology with a 10W TDP configuration. This processor runs at a base clock speed of 2 GHz and includes a 2.7 GHz Turbo clock frequency. It also supports 4K visuals with embedded graphics support for multimedia transcoding capabilities accessible via the NAS’s native media applications and Plex Media Server (although the latter requires a premium subscription). Regarding its memory, it includes 4GB of DDR4 memory and can be further expanded to 8GB with an additional 4GB via the extension port. All of this is while being energy efficient.
Specifications:
- Storage: No
- Connectivity:10 Gigabit Ethernet
- Brand: Asustor
- Hard Disk Interface: SSD
- Number of Bays: 4-bays
- Processor: Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core
QNAP TS-253D-4G 2 Bay NAS
The TS-253D is the best qnap nas for small business. Also, it includes a PCIe slot that allows 10GbE NVMe SSDs to be added, and it is optimized for use with an external display connected to its HDMI port.
This attractive NAS box has two 2.5 GbE ports and a PCIe port, allowing the connection of 10 GbE, SSDs, or both. It is also capable of streaming multimedia directly to a 4K display.
QNAP can do more than play movies, run slideshows, browsing the internet – it can be used as a basic workstation. But on the other hand, Asustor has a limited interface, offering only a command line for administration. A QNAP TS-253D-4G device is a two-bay NAS box with a tower alignment and attractive design. The measurements for the unit are 6.6 inches deep, 4.1 inches wide, and 8.9 inches tall.
On the outer part of the box, two power and copy buttons can be located, in conjunction with a USB port and status lights that show the power, LAN, and hard drive activity. At the back of the device, two 2.5GbE ports can be seen, along with an HDMI output that can support up to 4K display of 4096 x 2160 pixels, four USB ports, and a reset button that is recessed in its shape. In addition, there is also a port for using a Kensington lock.
Specifications:
- Storage: 4GB
- Connectivity: 2.5GbE, USB
- Brand: QNAP
- Hard Disk Interface: SSD
- Number of Bays: 2-bays
- Processor: Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core
Buyer’s Guide
Selecting a NAS from the many options out there can be overwhelming. Thus, this first installment of our NAS feature series outlines the essential elements to remember when purchasing.
- Multiple bays
- Network support
- Antivirus
- PC backup
- Mobile access
- Media server
Multiple bays
NAS units with a single bay are available for purchase, allowing a single hard drive to be held. However, if more flexibility is desired, multiple-bay systems are the optimal choice.
Network support
The network bandwidth required increases as you upload and download more data from the NAS. For demanding users to take full advantage of the data-transmission speed that RAID and SSD configurations are capable of, they may need to look into models with multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports and upgrade to 10GbE.
Antivirus
Scanning a NAS for malware on a connected PC can be done. However, it is quite taxing for network bandwidth. Therefore, using the malware scanning options available on the NAS is best to save bandwidth.
PC backup
Using a NAS for a single backup destination for multiple computers is popular. If it comes with the appropriate software, you can save on the purchase if the included license covers the number of PCs you need.
Mobile access
Many organizations find mobile applications from vendors an appealing alternative to cloud solutions like Dropbox or OneDrive, making it simple to access information from phones and tablets.
Media server
NAS devices often include media server functions, predominantly intended for home users. However, they can also be utilized in a work setting, for instance, to broadcast promotional and other videos in public areas and provide background music.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is NAS acceptable for small businesses?
For small business backup needs, NAS is an ideal choice. It can securely and dependably store data, provide daily access, and offer maximum efficiency to small businesses.
Does NAS have the capability of the internet?
Yes, NAS has the capability of the internet and is connected to multiple devices for sharing data.
What is the role of SSD in NAS?
The SSD provides up to 30 times faster performance than a traditional HDD. Not only that, but SSD in a NAS drive also helps to conserve energy and ensures a noise-free experience.
Conclusion
NAS is an excellent option for those looking to join the small business game and expand their home networks. With NAS technology, you can easily access, share and manage your data remotely, no matter where you are. These six top-rated NAS options are great starting points and will help you. Good luck!