Network Attached Storage

Created on Saturday, 08 October 2011 09:27

Offices regularly have to share files between employees, and many utilize a central database for various needs.  Unless a fully-functional server is necessary, a network attached storage device can save you thousands of dollars and help you reach those goals.

These small boxes sit somewhere in your office, plug into the network, require no keyboard, mouse, or monitor, and provide you with many services that you can benefit from.

Office staff members need to have a common place to safely store image files.  Rather than emailing copies back and forth whenever anyone needs them, all of the images are saved to the NAS and all users (that have been given access) can use them.  NAS volumes show up in Windows as a drive letter - "E:" for example.

Mobile staff members need to be able to access all of the files that are stored in the office while they are on the road.  Remote Access can be granted, and the mobile staff will see the same folders and files that the office staff can see.  Large files that can't be emailed are no longer a problem, and you don't need a third-party "drop box" to manage.  Secure FTP is one option for your mobile users.  Mobile VPN is an even better method.

All of your workstations may have different versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, and no one uses a standard backup scheme.  This NAS can perform all of the normal features, plus give you a centralized backup location for all of your computers!  With backup software, built into Windows Vista/7 and Mac OS X 10.5 and higher, you can set up automatic backups and sleep better at night.

Many NAS devices come equipped with multiple hard drives to give you data redundancy and protect against a hard drive failure.  Replacing a failed hard drive is as easy as swapping out the drive, the unit will rebuild the RAID array automatically.

These are just a few examples of why a NAS can help out your small business.  Even if you already own a server, adding a NAS is a still a good idea as it can complement your setup by adding additional storage.

NAS devices are available in all size ranges, but because hard drive cost has come down considerably, the difference in price of a 250gb vs a 500gb is very minimal.  For the real storage-hungry office, a 4TB model can be installed, which is the equal to 4000gb.

For more information, please call (815) 596-9005 and schedule an on-site appointment!

Thanks for reading!

Eli Peters

Private Consulting Services