A network attached storage drive is a type of external hard drive that connects directly to a network rather than to a computer. NAS drives have specialized hardware and software that allow them to act as file servers for an entire network so that users can store and share files amongst each other. Many NAS devices are expandable and allow you to use your own hard drives so you can scale capacity to your network’s needs.
A SAN (storage area network) is a network of storage devices that can be accessed by multiple servers or computers, providing a shared pool of storage space. Each computer on the network can access storage on the SAN as though they were local disks connected directly to the computer.
This, in a nutshell, is storage space accessible from any internet connection. Your data is held in an offsite data centre. Some companies offer a small amount of storage for free (Google, Dropbox, Microsoft etc.) with more space, and enhanced security options, available if you pay a subscription fee. Major advantages of offsite storage are; that it is not affected by potential disasters that could occur at your premises’ It is highly reliable (most companies offer a 99.9% financially backed SLA) and, it is backed-up to a separate location. Disadvantages include the potential for speed issues if you don’t have a fast enough internet connection. You also need to be aware that some providers may host your data outside of the UK. You should ensure your data is held in a UK data centre where the security is at its most stringent.
Brands Supported : IBM, EMC, Netapps, HP etc