Network Attached Storage (known as NAS), is a type of storage system that enables individuals and organisations to quickly and easily store and access large volumes of information very cost effectively.
NAS appliances are small, dedicated servers or devices that are attached to an existing computer network. The aim is to improve performance, reliability and efficiency of the network and these devices are specifically for designed for this purpose. The information that is stored on the NAS can be shared or accessed by anyone with the authority to do so.
As with most storage products and services NAS has many vendors who compete in this market segment. The big boys in NAS are Dell, NetApp, Ciscoand Seagate but the growth area is in the SME / Mid-Market where vendors like: SMC Networks, NETGEAR, Data Robotics with their Drobo product, Hostwayand ZyXEL produce very efficient forms of NAS. Equally, Storage and Security vendor Symantec> is well placed to provide Antivirus for NAS.