Network Storage Systems

Development of technologies delivering storage over the network has revolutionized the availability, distribution and accessibility of storage resources. Attaching storage directly to the company network helps to eliminate or reduce the drawbacks business experience when using directly attached storage. These drawbacks include:
• Limited storage capacity and scaling constraints as data assets grow.
• Proliferation of computer hardware and software to meet increased storage capacity needs.
• Proliferation of hardware and software necessary to protect the data allocated to new storage.
• Increased management complexity for the system administrator(s) configuring and maintaining IT client and server systems.
• Poor or inconsistent protection of data on client desktops and laptops. 
• Limited or laborious access to data, especially between company workgroups, departments and branches.
• Temporary or permanent loss of data resulting from hardware failures, data corruption or user error.
• Spiraling costs associated with capital expenditure, increased staffing, and production downtime resulting from data loss.
Network attached storage (NAS) is one solution to these challenges. NAS storage and file serving devices can be attached directly to the company intranet. Storage directly attached to the network becomes accessible to all computers that can access the network. NAS servers are designed for ease of deployment: they can be plugged directly into the network without disruption of services, management is minimal and simplified, and they are largely maintenance free. NAS devices are an ideal means by which to consolidate file servers and backup equipment and to expand storage capacity.