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What is NAS, and why do creators and small businesses trust QNAP?
What is NAS?
Network-Attached Storage (NAS) is a data storage device that accommodates digital files, such as photos, videos, music, and documents. As its name stands NAS allows you to access files via Wi-Fi or a wired networks based on your use cases.
In general, NAS users place multiple hard disks into a NAS to build a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks). RAID is a technology that combines multiple disks into one large storage space, which is called a volume.
What benefits does RAID provide?
RAID provides a significant difference between NAS and traditional external drives. Let’s take a look the three biggest benefits.
Learn more: Learn what is RAID?
NAS vs. Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud?
Why should you get a NAS?
Using public cloud services to store files is convenient at first, but many concerns can arise over hidden costs, storage/bandwidth limits, service availability, data ownership, and security.
With a NAS, you can build a secure private cloud that’s fully under your control, easily expand storage, and not be worried about losing access to your files in the event of your cloud provider discontinuing service or suffering a security breach. All the features you know and love in public cloud services, including team collaboration and file sync, are also available from QNAP NAS!
Learn more: Qsync, use a NAS like a Dropbox
A smart operation system that fully supports your creativity
Running an award-winning smart operating system, QNAP NAS provides a familiar user experience and many more features than cloud storage and external drives. The NAS OS is routinely updated to provide you with greater security and amazing new functionality.
Learn more: QTS operating system, ZFS-based QuTS hero operating system
What NAS can do
Besides storing digital files, NAS is a fun solution to utilize your data! These excellent features are not supported by all NAS brands, but QNAP does.
Search photos by people, things, and places
AI is a must-have feature in the modern NAS world. The QNAP NAS AI engine organizes photos based on people, animals, things, or location. You can always enjoy photos and videos across devices.
Learn more: QuMagie, the AI photo album
Store all of your files
NAS accommodates backup data from your phones, PC/Macs, external drives, and cloud. Extensive file types can be backed up, including photos, videos, music, Microsoft Office files, Adobe files, WordPress, and more.
Learn more: Backup solution for home users
Find files faster
Most people and organizations have over ten years’ worth of files, making it hard to find one or two files that you really need. Our AI search engine enables you to find files using tags, like "Italy, Architecture, Brown color".
Learn more: Qsirch full-text search engine
Access from PC/Mac without impacting local spaces
NAS folders can be seamlessly accessed from Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder the same as you would access any folder on your device!
Learn more: Map network drive in Windows, Mount a shared folder to a Mac computer
Access files safely, anytime, and anywhere
NAS files are always within your reach with the Qfile Pro mobile app. You can also back up photos and videos from your phone with it. No complicated network set up is required as Qfile Pro supports the myQNAPcloud DDNS service to allow secure remote access to your NAS.
Learn more: Qfile Pro, myQNAPcloud
Protect your QNAP from ransomware
Snapshots are the standard method to protect your data from the impact of ransomware. Most NAS manufacturers only have this functionality in high-level business NAS, but QNAP NAS provides it to every user!
Learn more: What are Snapshots?
Tips
Can I access the NAS with a PC, Mac, iPhone, or Android?
Yes. This is because QNAP NAS supports a variety of protocols including SMB and AFP. “Protocol” refers to the rules a computer follows to send/receive data. Data can't be forwarded or shared if its protocol is not supported.
Why do creators and businesses trust QNAP?
QNAP is a trusted brand recognized by creators, IT professionals, and many storage-demanding users in the world. Let’s see what benefits it can bring to your workflow.
For creators
QNAP is an official Adobe partner
Files made with Adobe software like Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Lightroom can be stored, accessed, and directly edited on the QNAP NAS.
Learn more: Storage for Adobe users
For creators
Streamlined collaboration with remote teammates
QNAP enables you to stay connected with remote teammates. You can build shared folders for different projects and set specific access permissions. A collaboration editing environment of Adobe Premiere Pro Productions or DaVinci Resolve can also be built on the NAS.
Learn more: Storage for content creators
For creators
Access over fast network
QNAP is at the forefront of multi-Gigabit ethernet adoption and provides various models with 2.5GbE and 10GbE as standard. Faster networking is an essential requirement for modern bandwidth-demanding applications, and you can add 10/25/100 GbE or Thunderbolt™ connections to a QNAP NAS to accelerate creative works.
For business
Back up business digital assets
QNAP NAS supports backup solutions, including for local/remote servers, clouds, virtual machines, Microsoft 365®, Google Workspace™, WordPress, PCs, and Macs.
Learn more: Backup solution for business
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Hybrid Backup Sync
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Hyper Data Protector
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Boxafe
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VJBOD Cloud
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Multi Application Recovery Service
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NetBak PC Agent
For business
Expand storage capacity
Business growth and increasing storage requirements go hand in hand, and with a QNAP NAS you can expand your storage by swapping near-full disks for larger ones. You can also attach JBOD enclosures to easily add storage without time-consuming RAID rebuilding.
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Swap new disks
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Add enclosures
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Use VJBOD
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Install existing disks to the new NAS
For business
Office surveillance system
Build easy yet flexible surveillance systems with QNAP. Recordings can be analyzed by NAS applications and checked with PCs and mobile devices.
Learn more: QVR Elite
QNAP is easy-to-use. Really, believe us.
Online/offline user guides in plain words
Wondering if a QNAP NAS is too “technical” to use? Don’t worry - during initial settings your QNAP recommends settings based on your usage requirements. QNAP provides very specific settings compared to other NAS manufacturers, which may look technical, but shall help you in the future.
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Tutorials
Every QNAP NAS comes with a Quick Install Guide (QIG) to help your initial setup. Video tutorials are also available for further understanding.
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Security guides
System security is our top priority. Let’s look over all to-do lists online or by downloading a PDF.
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Try before you buy
Check out our free demo site to see the NAS operating system in action.
Get started with our recommended models
 Small 2-bay
TS-233
|
 Best seller
TS-464
|
 Thunderbolt 4
TVS-h674T
|
 SSD-aware
TS-h973AX
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Storage Capacity1 | 22 TB with RAID 1 |
66 TB with RAID 5 |
110 TB with RAID 5 |
110 TB2 |
| Drive Bays | 2 x 3.5-inch HDD/SSD | 4 x 3.5-inch HDD/SSD | 6 x 3.5-inch HDD/SSD | 5 x 3.5-inch + 4 x 2.5-inch HDD/SSD |
| CPU | ARM 4-core Cortex-A55 | Intel® Celeron® N5095 4-core | Intel® Core™ i5 6-core | AMD Ryzen™ Embedded V1500B 4-core |
| Memory | 2 GB | 8 GB | 32 GB | 8GB; 32 GB |
| Connection Ports | 1 x 1 GbE | 2 x 2.5 GbE (10 GbE optional) |
2 x 2.5 GbE 2 x Thunderbolt 4 |
2 x 2.5 GbE 1 x 10 GbE |
| PCIe Expansion | - | 1 x PCIe Gen 3 | 2 x PCIe Gen 4 | - |
| Learn more | Learn more | Learn more |
1. These figures have been calculated using 22 TB hard drives. Actual capacity will vary based on your configuration and drives used.
2. This figure is sum of using a RAID 5 with five 22 TB hard drives, plus a RAID 10 with four 15 TB SSDs. Actual capacity will vary based on your configuration and drives used.
