The Evolution of NAS Storage in Today’s Cloud Era

Posted by Kiara Taylor on November 25th, 2022

Introduction: 

The introduction of NAS storage in the late 1980s was a game-changer for the data storage industry. For the first time, organisations had a centralised way to store and manage their data. Fast-forward to today, and NAS storage is more relevant than ever before—despite the rise of cloud storage. Let’s take a look at how NAS has evolved over the years and why it’s still an essential part of any data storage strategy.

How NAS Has Evolved

When NAS was first introduced, it was a revolutionary solution for data storage. But like any technology, it has undergone a few evolutions over the years. Here are some of the most significant changes NAS has undergone.

1. Increased Capacity - When NAS first came onto the scene, its capacity was relatively limited. Today, however, NAS enclosures can hold up to 96 hard drives, which gives them a total capacity of up to 100TB. This increase in capacity is thanks to the introduction of high-capacity hard drives and advances in enclosure technologies.

2. Improved Performance - Another major evolution of NAS has been in terms of performance. Early NAS systems were often slow and cumbersome, but today’s NAS appliances are designed for speed and efficiency. Thanks to the introduction of solid-state drives (SSDs) and increased processor speeds, NAS systems can now keep up with even the most demanding workloads.

3. Greater Flexibility - In the early days of NAS, organizations were limited to using on-premises servers for their data storage needs. Today, however,NAS systems can be deployed in both on-premises and hybrid cloud environments. This increased flexibility gives organizations greater control over their data storage infrastructure and allows them to scale their storage as needed.

Why NAS Is Still Relevant Today

Despite the rise of cloud storage, NAS is still an essential part of any data storage strategy—here’s why: 

1. Cloud Doesn’t Meet All Storage Needs -

While cloud storage is a great NAS solution for many organizations, it doesn’t meet all storage needs. For example, latency can be an issue for applications that require low latency access to data (such as video editing or live streaming). Cloud also isn’t well suited for applications that require high throughput (such as big data analytics). In these cases, on-premises solutions likeNAS are a better option. 

2. Cloud Can Be Expensive -

While cloud Storage-as-a-Service (SaaS) may seem like a cost-effective option at first glance, it can actually be quite expensive in the long run—especially if you have a lot of data to store. With on-premises solutions likeNAS , you only pay for the initial hardware investment and ongoing maintenance costs—there are no usage fees or subscription charges. 

3. Cloud Security Can Be A Concern -

Security is always a top concern when it comes to storing sensitive data in the cloud . With on-premises solutionslikeNAS , you have greater control over who has access to your data and how it’s protected . This increased security can give you peace of mind knowing that your data is safe from outside threats . 

Conclusion:  

Despite the rise of cloud storage ,NAS remains a relevant and essential part of any organization’s data storage strategy . Thanks to its increased capacity, improved performance, and greater flexibility ,NAS is well - equipped to handle even the most demanding workloads . So , if you're looking for a scalable, reliable , and cost - effective way to store your data ,NAS is always worth considering .