Time for a change?
Files are getting bigger and we’re now saving more documents, so switching to a faster, more intelligent storage solution now makes more sense than ever
Data is crucial to business, be it emails, spreadsheets or documents. Every document on your network needs to be kept safe and secure, and should be easily accessible. Your server is normally the place where your shared data sits, but there’s a limit to the amount of disk space your server can cope with.
While servers are good at print and file sharing, there are better uses for the server’s processor. So it’s a good idea to offload some of the storage to other dedicated devices.
Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are ideal solutions if your business needs a second level of storage. The latest NAS devices can store huge amounts of data (up to 4GB), have fast network connections (1GB), include advanced back-up and synchronisation software and protect against data loss by automatically mirroring (copying) your data across multiple disks.
However, there are a few more features that you should be looking for when you buy a NAS solution. The latest NAS devices enable you to set up email alerts, so if the device is about to reach more than 80 percent full, or a disk is about to crash, you get an email warning in advance, so you can take steps to head off any potential problems.
Most businesses work around the clock, which means there’s seldom a particularly good time to start switching off the storage server while you fit new disks or replace old ones.
However, some of the newer NAS devices now include features that allow for automatic disk expansion while the system is running, sometimes known as hot-swapping. Although businesses do work 24/7, there will inevitably be times when the NAS is quiet. Some of the latest devices also have a special energy saving mode for automatic shutdown when the NAS is idle.
Not all data that needs backing up is held on the network. The rise in popularity of USB keys means there is a lot of data being stored in employees’ removable devices.
To help get this sort of data back into the network, some of the new NAS devices include USB ports for adding an external storage device (most hide them at the rear, but the more useful NAS devices also have a front-mounted port as well). The best NAS devices also include dedicated back-up buttons which, when pressed, automatically transfer data from the USB on to the NAS.
Lastly it’s also worth looking for a NAS device that supports UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) so that if the power fails, the NAS will automatically shut down and no data will be lost.
For more information on NAS devices, call PCWB on 08701 600 902 or visit www.pcwb.com/services
This article originally appeared in the December 2007 edition of Expand.