NAS Vs Cloud. Advantages and disadvantages of these solutions and which one to choose

Every day we receive and generate huge amounts of data in the form of texts, photos and videos that we would like to keep forever. Safeguard them from losses and Unwanted cancellations are often a priority, both on a personal and business level.

When we opt for a back-up solution we then turn to the market with the hope of being able to find something that is right for us and we usually find ourselves faced with two alternatives: Nas Vs Cloud.

Two options, both functional and with many advantages, but which one to choose?

Continue reading our comparison and at the end you will have a little clearer ideas.

Nas vs Cloud. What is a NAS?

Acronym for Network Attached Storage, NAS is an intelligent storage solution, usually composed of a series of redundantly configured disks and software that verifies their correct functioning and manages the back-up process

The NAS is therefore a hardware device, which is connected to a single PC or to a network which is used as a secure storage space for all connected devices.

Nas vs Cloud. What is the Cloud?

The term cloud refers to an online storage system, on external servers managed by the operator offering the cloud service. These are servers managed by the operator who offers the service and of which the customer rents a small portion of it.

Nas vs Cloud. Which is better?

Having said that in many cases the choice is personal, there are various aspects that we must evaluate to understand whether, in our opinion, a NAS or a Cloud system is better. Let's see them.

Configuration

From the point of view of this aspect, the Cloud obviously wins.

Being a service, it will be sufficient to register, pay the fee and you can immediately start uploading and saving our files.

The procedures are very user-friendly and simple, regardless of the service provider (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, others).

From a NAS perspective, the first startup is a little more complicated, as you will need to purchase the hardware, place it and integrate it into your computer network.

Then it will be necessary to configure the action of the NAS using the relevant software, an uncomplicated operation, but which once again requires some time and skills.

Use

How do these two solutions work in everyday use? They are simple to use, what kind of service and value can they provide?

Also in this case there is a disproportion, at least at first sight, between the two solutions.

The NAS is in fact less "user-friendly" at first glance than Cloud services.

At first glance because these storage solutions have also made great progress. Today a modern NAS can offer web-based applications and interfaces and direct support for connection from smartphones also via dedicated applications.

A very effective improvement, which however is not yet comparable to what a Cloud service can offer.

The latter can in fact offer applications, browser access, proprietary apps and much more to simplify user access.

An advantage that is reduced if not eliminated completely when the need is for data access and sharing, especially in an internal network.

Sharing and access to data. Nas vs Cloud.

From this point of view, the physical presence of the NAS is an advantage. Properly configured, it can in fact act as a backup solution, external storage system and media center for a flexibility of use that is difficult to achieve from the Cloud.

The NAS, being a local one, does not require an internet connection of any kind, for an always-present connection possibility without risks of interruption or drops in download or upload speed.

The Cloud service, on the other hand, depends indispensably on the connection to the network, which is a fundamental part of the service.

An advantage of the Cloud is the possibility of accessing practically anywhere; This operation is also feasible by configuring the NAS on the network correctly, but it is certainly more complicated and less simple to manage.

Performance. Nas vs Cloud

A fundamental factor in comparing the two solutions, performance is a complicated battlefield for a comparison.

On the one hand, the performance of the NAS depends on several factors to be combined; in fact, we must consider the type of hardware mounted and the network or other connection between our machine and the NAS itself.

As regards the cloud, however, the performance speed is almost entirely linked to that of the internet connection. Therefore, to make the best use of a back-up via the Cloud, a "fiber-type" connection becomes almost essential.

We can therefore consider, at least from a performance point of view, the two systems as alternatives and for different uses. The Cloud is in fact perfect for light back-up, such as from a smartphone, of photos and small files, the NAS for heavy back-up, for large files that must be saved and accessible from any point of a network.

Safety and reliability

At this point we have to decide what these two words mean for us.

Does security mean having the data in your exclusive possession without handing it over to someone else? Then we will have to opt for the NAS .

Does safety mean not having to worry about hardware exploding, catching fire, etc.? Then we will have to opt for the Cloud.

In this second case we can in fact be certain of the safety in the conservation of our data which will be verified and saved in a redundant manner in order to avoid risks.

However, the data is not "exclusively" under our management, as would happen with a NAS .

On the other hand, with this solution, not only the data would be "in our hands" but also the management of the system and the periodic verification of its quality.

Costs

It is difficult to make a comparison per Gb or even per Tb between the two systems. This is precisely because the cloud is more designed for small systems, while the NAS is for large storage.

It must also be considered that the first has a low entry cost, but it is a monthly cost that is repeated, while the second has a higher, but "one-off" cost.

Conclusions Nas Vs Cloud

There are various points to analyze and check for your condition. The Cloud is easy to use, immediate and secure. Simple to implement and increase if necessary, the Cloud can be a good solution for a private user who wants to save photos and some documents.

The NAS, on the other hand, is functional, convenient and economical. Probably the best solution when the back-up is for large files that need to be securely preserved and shared and updated over a network.