What is a NAS?
A NAS (Network-Attached Storage) is
a data storage device that allows you to keep photos, videos, music and
documents, which can then be accessed via your computer or mobile device solely
by yourself or by a large group of people such as family and friends or
colleagues. If you've thought about getting a NAS but aren't convinced of the
advantages as opposed to cloud based services, then read on to learn about the
greater convenience and fun features that a NAS can provide!
Data Storage
A NAS can safely store large volumes of any type of data, whether that's
photos, videos, music or documents, the total capacity of which depends on the
capacity of the
hard disk
drives (HDD) or
solid-state
drives (SSD) you insert into your NAS. A NAS can potentially support
huge volumes of data with no monthly fees while maintaining the same convenient
data storage as cloud services.
Backup Data
Once you have set up your NAS, your
phone and computer will automatically back up all their data on to it. And if
your data requires extra protection, this NAS-based backup data can then be
backed up to the cloud or another NAS.
Easy Sharing
Your NAS is your private cloud. Not
only can you use all of its capacity, you can also use it with others as a data
server. You can easily share and sync files between various platforms,
including Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, with your family and friends or
colleagues. If you want to share your music collection, or an important work
document, simply give them the link to the folder and they will be able to view
the contents and upload their own.
Manage all your data in one place
NAS space can be mounted on a
computer. "Mounting" is where your NAS is recognised by your computer so you
can easily view and access its content. When your NAS is mounted to your
computer, you can view its content under, for Windows, File Explore >
Network, and Mac, Finder > Places. 80% of QNAP users take advantage of this
feature to provide them with a highly convenient local environment to access
their files.
This doesn't mean that you can
access all the data on your NAS from a remote location however. Simply open your
browser and all your data is within your reach.
With QNAP's app File Station, you
can also view and manage your files from a variety of other sources including
USB storage, mobile devices, and optical disks (CDs).
Security
The data on your NAS is protected
by QNAP's encryption technology, preventing unauthorised access and securing
your data. The built-in Security Counselor app also protects your files from
viruses and malware.
What is QTS?
When you buy a QNAP NAS, you're not
just getting a simple storage device. Most QNAP NAS' come with a
smart operating system (OS) called QTS, which essentially turns the NAS into a
computer in its own right. QTS provides your NAS with more features than the
cloud or external hard drive, and you can customise it to suit your needs. QTS
is also updated regularly to provide you with cutting-edge applications and
greater security.
What can a NAS do?
Photo management
Quickly free up precious space on
your smartphone by saving photos to your NAS. Any photo stored on a QNAP NAS
will also become available to you at any time by using a dedicated photo
companion app for your phone, so you'll still be able to see your photos
whenever you want. Sorting and finding your images is also greatly simplified
with QNAP's AI image-recognition technology.
Video management
Watch videos on your TV or
computer, and easily share them with family and friends.
Music Management
Save and manage your music from any
device or OS. Search for and categorise your music, create playlists and enter
lyrics, play songs in your car*, or set alarms to wake you up.
*For cars with Apple CarPlay or
Android Auto
Streaming
Stream the photos, music and videos
saved on your NAS straight to your TV and other devices*. For example, play
videos via Amazon Fire TV, DLNA devices, Android TV™, or
connect to speakers using USB or Bluetooth® to play music.
*Check out the Compatibility lists
on QNAP's website for more information.
And more!
The potential uses for a NAS for
endless, use it at home or at work as a surveillance solution, or as a server
in an office. QNAP is a trusted NAS brand and used throughout the world because
of its flexibility, extensibility, and quality.
A few more details…
Below are a couple of the important
technologies that help to keep your NAS at the top of its game!
RAID Structure
RAID is a feature whereby the risk
of losing data is minimised by combining multiple hard disks into one storage
device. The multiple hard drives provide "redundancy" by spreading data between
them, providing protection against one or two drives failing based on the RAID
level used. If this sounds too technical for you, fear not, the default
settings on your QNAP NAS will tell you recommended RAID structure for your
device.
Remote access capabilities
Your NAS is a networked storage
device, meaning it can be access from anywhere in the world as long as you have
access to an internet connection. For example, listen to that perfect summer
playlist whilst keeping your phone storage free for all your summer holiday
pics, or access your home NAS when you're out and about and suddenly need that
old file.
SMB/AFP
Why is NAS data accessible from any
device? This is because QNAP NAS' support a variety of protocols including SMB,
AFP etc. "Protocol" refers to the rules a computer follows to send and receive
data. Data can't be forwarded or shared if its stipulated protocol is not
supported.
QNAP NAS features simple but amazing technology
The three technologies presented
here are not mind blowing but are unique to QNAP NAS' and provide greater value
compared to similarly priced NAS' from other brands.
4K Transcoding
This converts videos to universal
video formats so you can play them back on various devices*. This allows for
smooth playback of high-quality video, even on devices with smaller screens.
*Check the Compatibility lists on
the QNAP website for more info.
Snapshots
Snapshots are a modern data
protection function. Most high-level business NAS have this functionality, but
QNAP features this on their entire range!
No matter which QNAP NAS you buy,
you can quickly and easily backup and recover your data using snapshots.
Snapshots can be complicated, but
the main advantages to snapshots over normal backup are:
They are faster
They save space (normal backups
require the same amount of space as the source data)
They protect against the impact of
malware or hacking
Backups can only save one
generation while snapshots can record multiple generations
Have you ever added unnecessary
changes to a file and then accidentally saved it? If you had a snapshot of the
file from before the changes, you can easily revert the content of the file to
the snapshot's data before the changes.
Expand NAS functionality using
PCIe cards
What are PCIe cards?
Simply put, PCIe cards fit into
PCIe slots on your QNAP NAS to adder greater functionality or potential
applications.
For example, you can add high-speed
network connectivity with a
10GbE
(10 Gigabit) card, Wi-Fi connectivity with a wireless card, and SSD cache
support by installing a
QM2
card.
The support for PCIe cards if a
great benefit for those who want to futureproof their investment, as you can
add additional functions to your NAS as and when you need them.
Click here to see the full list of QNAP NAS' here at Box!