"The cloud" generally refers to storage space that can be accessed from anywhere via the internet. Especially in times of home office and remote work, cloud solutions offer numerous advantages. But where there is light, there is also shadow: Anyone who uses external cloud services is putting their data (or customer data) in the hands of external companies. An alternative would be a private cloud - for example, on a NAS system.
NAS: What Is It Exactly?
The abbreviation "NAS" stands for "Network-Attached Storage", meaning a storage device integrated into a home or corporate network. Unlike simple external storage devices, a NAS has a processor and its own operating system. This means a NAS system can essentially be operated like a normal computer. Setting up your own email server is also possible.
NAS and Cloud: Are There Differences?
In principle, "the cloud" is nothing more than external storage space. Typically, however, it refers to the server(s) of an external cloud provider such as Dropbox, Google, Amazon, and others. The exact location of these servers is not precisely known.
A NAS server (consisting of multiple hard drives), on the other hand, is located at a known location - at home or within a company.
There are also differences in availability: "The cloud" is accessible from anywhere via the internet, but a NAS server is not directly accessible. However, this problem can be solved. A NAS system can quickly be converted into a perfectly "normal" cloud.
NAS Accessibility via the Internet
The hurdle when setting up a NAS as a cloud server lies in the constantly reassigned IP address from the internet provider. This prevents you from accessing the server from outside (outside the internal network) via a fixed IP address. A Dynamic Domain Name Service (DDNS) can solve this problem.
- Choose a free DDNS provider (e.g., dynDNS) or use the NAS manufacturer's own service
- Assign a name for the future connection
- Set up port forwarding in the router to the NAS
Tip: ownCloud for a "Dropbox Experience" with Private Clouds
The ownCloud software provides a user-friendly web interface for managing files. For online access to your personal NAS server, you still need a DDNS or VPN solution, of course. Port forwarding (port 80) in the router must also be configured. The target is always the NAS.
Which NAS System Is Suitable as a Cloud?
There are significant differences between NAS system manufacturers (e.g., QNAP, Buffalo, Synology) and models. The basic rule is: The more RAM and the better the processor, the higher the performance.
At the same time, compatibility with operating systems is relevant. Almost all systems support both Windows and Mac environments. Many NAS systems also work seamlessly with Linux.
Important: The NAS should offer file encryption capabilities. A firewall is also part of the security standards. For additional security, the router firewall can be activated.
NAS with SSD or HDD?
The question of whether to use SSDs or HDDs in a NAS is not necessarily a matter of taste - rather a matter of budget. While flash storage devices like SSDs are significantly faster, they are also significantly more expensive - especially for products with large storage capacities.
Since NAS servers are primarily designed to manage large amounts of data, a NAS with SSDs can become quite costly.
At the same time, SSD speed in a NAS does not play as critical a role as elsewhere. On one hand, the NAS is connected to the router via network cable (Ethernet), and the router in turn is connected to the computer and mobile devices via cable or Wi-Fi. These connections can reduce the end-to-end access speed.
On the other hand, the upload speed of the internet connection plays a role when accessing the private cloud from outside.
Access Speed to "NAS Clouds" as a Disadvantage
A major disadvantage of using a NAS as a cloud server is that many internet connections offer only low upload speeds. Access from outside the internal network can therefore be comparatively slow.
NAS with RAID Configuration
It is also important that the NAS supports setting up a RAID. The abbreviation stands for "Redundant Array of Independent Disks".
The advantage: If a hard drive in the RAID array fails, the files remain available because they were duplicated across different hard drives during storage. However, such a RAID array cannot replace a proper backup on an external hard drive or in the cloud.
Energy Consumption and Noise During Continuous Operation
Especially when using a NAS as a cloud server, the system is in continuous operation. For financial as well as environmental reasons, a look at the NAS's energy consumption is worthwhile. At the same time, noise levels - depending on the NAS location in the office or home office - are likely to be a factor in the purchasing decision for most people.
Professional NAS Data Recovery
In the event of a NAS failure or data loss in a RAID array, our experts are ready to help. We recover data from NAS systems of all manufacturers and from RAID arrays - manufacturer-independent and at a fixed price.
Contact us at 0800-881 12 25 (free, available 24/7) for a free initial consultation.
Lars Müller