NAS | The best of 2022

In our guide to buying the best NAS, we will explain what this particular type of accessory is, to whom and for what reasons it is recommended to buy one and how to orient yourself in the event of a purchase. This particular market segment also suffers from crises due to the shortage of semiconductors and war instability, while presenting more contained cost increases. In this update we are introducing a new “entry-level” product: the TERRAMASTER F2-221 is replaced by its successor, the TERRAMASTER F2-423. Released in March 2022, the new TERRAMASTER F2-423 is a basic product, perfect for home use and for SMEs that need few features with rock-solid performance.

What is a NAS?

A NAS (or Network Attached Storage) is a PC designed for saving and managing files. Like your PC, NAS are devices with a proprietary operating system that facilitates data operations. Over time, such systems have evolved more and more and can now be used as servers by small and micro businesses. High resolution photos and video capture are two constant requirements in our lives, both professionally and in our free time. As you may have noticed, the storage space of our devices, be they PCs, smartphones, external drives, etc., fills up at a frightening speed. However, these solutions have some disadvantages and, in particular, suffer from the impossibility of remote access. The best NAS solve both the problem of space and access, by connecting to your private or corporate network and making sure you can select which users can access your files.

Is it worth buying one?

There are two parameters to consider: privacy and (above all) management costs. If you handle sensitive data (personal, customer, banking information, etc.) you will be safer with a NAS (cloud service providers have access to the files, technically). In terms of costs, except for the initial investment, Network Attached Storage can save you a lot in the long run.

These devices also support advanced encryption features, for an extra layer of protection. Saving data on the cloud is convenient, even more so with an excellent internet connection, but it presents risks. Overall, it is better to take advantage of these services for files of little relevance.

The characteristics to consider

The parameters to consider when purchasing a NAS are:

Number of rooms: this is the basic parameter for choosing a NAS; the greater the number of bays, the greater the amount of data supported by the system, as well as the RAID available. RAID: As mentioned, the number of bays is a key factor in this. The safest storage techniques require at least three bays (RAID 5). RAM: a NAS is a PC dedicated to data protection and storage and, like any computer, the more RAM it has, the higher its performance will be. Most NAS are sold with little RAM (SO-DIMM format) on board, however in the more expensive models it is possible to increase the total amount. NAS used as host servers support ECC RAM. SSD Cache: In order to speed up file operations, some products have dedicated slots for SSD M2. Information is transferred from the disks to the SSDs, where it is processed at considerably faster speeds. Processor: you will think this is a fundamental component, but it is not quite so. Almost all NAS have CPUs with low power consumption (after all, such systems are active 24 hours a day, generally) and with poor performance. Typically, the entry-level and low-end models have ARM CPUs, while the more expensive x86 processors (Intel and AMD). Operating System: To date, DiskStation Manager, Synology's operating system, is considered to be the best OS for NAS in the world. This is due to the excellent native apps, support for numerous third-party programs and the many system functions (virtual machines, video surveillance, virtualization, etc.). I / O Ports: As you can imagine, the more ports, the better. If you intend to buy some mid-range model for professional use, make sure it has two Ethernet ports, in order to take advantage of Link Aggregation and Failover technologies.