Best NAS devices 2022
Choosing a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device for either individual, or business use can be a little overwhelming due to complex terminology and the variations of products out there. There are also various different uses for NAS, whether it be for media streaming or sharing files between co-workers, you’re going to want a slightly different setup. With this NAS focused article, we’re going to be breaking down what NAS actually is alongside how to choose the best NAS products for your needs, helping you build the optimum storage machine.
Products at a Glance
Best NAS devices 2022
- Storage included
- Ideal for home use
- IronWolf health management system built in
- Made for NAS
- So many bays
- Need to add a lot of storage at extra cost
- Huge storage option
- IronWolf health management system built in
- Disks this size are not cheap
- Fast transfer rates
- Need to buy storage
- Only two bays
What is NAS?
NAS has been a storage solution since the 1990s, offering businesses the opportunity to securely share files with their employees without having to store them on the respective machines. It utilizes a multi-hard drive based approach in a server-like housing to store all the necessary files and create a personal ‘cloud’. Today, NAS as a whole has had its fair share of upgrades, including the ability to form NAS clusters and create online backup solutions. However, many home NAS users are using the solution for something you may not have thought of, media streaming. This is due to software such as Plex which can be installed on other devices and pull your files from your shared NAS device. If you want to delve a little more into the history of NAS, speed comparisons, and how it works, take a look at our full breakdown.
Our Verdict
When choosing the best NAS device for you there are a number of considerations you need to make in terms of storage, reliability, and overall functionality. However, if you’re a home NAS user, we suggest you go for the diskless Synology option as this offers the most customizability for your needs, allowing you to slot in the specific storage from the get-go. However, the WD 4TB version should be more than enough storage for many of you out there, so if you want an all-in-one package, go for that. For business users, even though the Synology 12-bay variant offers huge amounts of upgradability, the QNAP is superior overall. With Thunderbolt 3, the speeds you’ll be getting are unprecedented and will enable your employees to access data instantaneously.