Best cheap nas to keep your information safe

In the market today we can find a large number of cheap NAS and variants of networked shared storage towers. But if what you are looking for is a product that only adjusts to your needs in the domestic sphere to keep your information safe and with a much better expandability than that of a PC, in this article we will show you everything you should have in mind to not fail in your purchase.

Index of contents

What is a NAS and what does it need to function

In case you are still new to this NAS (Network Attached Interface), let's see quickly and basically what it consists of. A NAS is a device with storage that is connected through the network, making the main function of data repository. A NAS can be found in our home, office, or in the company where we work, usually in the form of a server.

The way to connect to these devices will always be through the network, it can be via Ethernet cable, Wi-Fi, or even remotely through a VPN or a cloud. That is very important to be clear, since in the market we also find equipment called DAS (Direct Attached Storage). Both devices allow RAID storage volumes, but a DAS can only be connected to a computer through an internal port, be it USB, SATA or Thunderbolt, and it does not have network cards or shared access protocols.

Having clarified this situation, a NAS is more than just a cabinet in which to install disks and store files. It is provided with its own hardware, such as a motherboard with RAM and CPU memory, its own internal storage, and also an operating system with which we will be able to interact through the Web browser of the computers connected on the same network.

Key characteristics that a NAS gives us

A cheap home NAS will have the same basic properties as any equipment intended for more professional functions. Of course, they will always be more basic or limited depending on the model at hand. The keys that we must know about a NAS will always be whether it has an operating system, its internal hardware, storage capacity and functions, its level of security and physical connectivity.

A NAS is a server, data, multimedia, surveillance, or virtualization. Always oriented to an advanced use of all the functions that a network operating system can provide.

A NAS is a server, with many surnames, but all derived from the concept of a server. Thanks to these elements that we have listed, we can turn our NAS into a data server, its most generic use. Your operating system should allow us to mount RAID levels and provide us with access to information based on user credentials using LDAP, Active Directory, or similar protocols.

But it can also be a print server, working through LPR / LPD or IPP. A file server shared by SAMBA or FTP or create our own multimedia server, with which to access and play content over the network using DLNA. And if we silver it, we can also connect it to a PoE switch and create a surveillance server with IP cameras connected to it, one of its star functions. In fact, the most powerful support hardware virtualization, such as the QNAP TS-677 with a 6-core Ryzen.

Another key use for a NAS is the need for a user to perform advanced tasks. We are not talking about simply putting data on a device with two hard drives in a RAID 0, since we can also do this on our personal computer. It is then about applying functions such as storage with strong replication and data redundancy, for example, creating a RAID 1 or 5 with three disks and AES 256 bit protection. The possibility of accessing our data not only from our internal network, but from anywhere remotely or thanks to cloud services such as those provided by QNAP, Western Digital or Sonology.

Having our own networked computer with shared services in the private cloud is what a NAS can become thanks to the operating system.

One of the most attractive functions of each home NAS is to mount our private cloud to have a large number of shared multimedia files (and data) and with access credentials. Many of them allow video decoding and transcoding in real time. In this way, videos saved on the NAS can be played from any device in real time from the network.

Applications is another key for home use, and without a doubt at the head of this is QNAP's QTS system. It has its own APP Store with a huge number of applications to do almost anything. They are free and compatible with all your devices.

The advantage of having an operating system

QTS is one of the most advanced systems that we find today for the NAS of the Taiwanese manufacturer, although it is not the only one, for example, we have the DSM system of Synology or My Cloud OS of Western Digital although a step behind these two giants.

On the DSM side, it is a system that certainly has its advantages, especially in regards to its immensely simple interface. Where any user, without prior knowledge, can mount a RAID or use the NAS more or less completely. In addition, it has an extensive community support network, since it is a system that can be virtualized and where we can work developing applications, as is the case with Android, for example.

QTS for its part is a system based on the Linux kernel, where QNAP has created an empire of applications around it. We can assume that it is the most complete system to manage a NAS that exists. It has a graphical interface that is also quite intuitive and easy to use, although the user will need basic knowledge to correctly configure their server. Let's say something similar happens to Linux desktop systems, not being as intuitive as Windows.

But in exchange for this we have immensity of options, for example, the ability to directly connect a monitor to an HDMI port (if it has one) and use it as a normal operating system. It also supports hardware virtualization, something that can only be done with QTS, being compatible with Windows systems , Linux Solaris, etc. Perhaps for a home user these and other functions may not be important, but if someday we are looking for something more versatile and powerful, QTS will make a difference.

Are cheap NAS safe?

The positive aspect of NAS is that it is a data warehouse with a highly developed security. Let's keep in mind that they are devices connected to a network, and every element connected to the global network is susceptible to being watched, hacked or interfered with. With this fact we all have to live, and nothing is infallible, but companies are concerned about the security of their devices.

The weakest link in the security of a device is us, plain and simple. The famous "layer 8 error", referring to the network layers of the OSI model, yes, there are 7, but we put one more to introduce ourselves, the culprits of almost everything. The case is that a NAS, laptop, computer, mobile, etc., will be as safe as we want it to be, avoiding getting into compromised sites and from compromised sites. A clear example is connecting to our NAS remotely from a public Wi-Fi. Who knows if the one next to us intends to spy on us?

NAS internal security

Again QTS stands as the main protagonist, being a Linux-based system will have fewer vulnerabilities, thanks in part to the security patches that the manufacturer implements.

From the hardware itself we already have AES 256-bit protection in the storage system. And it is important to know that all connections to the NAS server from the client will be encrypted using SSL / TLS and other protocols at the network level. In fact, one of the novelties that QNAP presented at Computex 2019 is Hybrid Backup Sync 3 to ensure this type of encrypted communication.

And due to the remote management capacity, we can configure a VPN network on the server itself so that all these connections are encrypted from point to point. Another option that manufacturers make available to the user is the connection through the cloud, an intermediate filter between our NAS and us.

Storage and RAID

If we buy a NAS, we can not avoid having to buy the disk or hard drives necessary to mount our system. And is that in most cases this NAS does not include the discs, except in certain cases such as Western Digital which is a disc manufacturer.

Currently we find NAS that support not only mechanical hard drives, the typical 3.5 and 2.5-inch SATA HDDs, but also solid storage in the form of S SD SATA or PCIe through internal M.2 slots. If something stands out in these teams it is that we will be able to install enormous storage capacities, depending on the bays it has available, but 20 TB will be a fact in almost all of them. We always recommend purchasing a NAS that has at least two mechanical disk bays and supports EXT3, EXT4, NTFS, FAT32 and HFS + file systems .

The most advanced servers allow you to install SSDs to establish a hybrid configuration, using that SSD as a data cache. The most used data will be put into it so that it is available more quickly to the user. Similarly, we have the Autotiering technology, with a similar operation to this, although in this case it will be the NAS that intelligently evaluates the use of data to place it in different priority levels depending on the speed of our storage.

Very important will be the RAID configuration that we choose for our server, and we have three main configurations:

• RAID 0: At this level, we are only creating a virtual hard disk the size of the physical disks. There is no file replication. RAID 1: It is just the opposite of the above. In this case the information we store on one hard drive will be stored repeatedly on the other hard drive. RAID 5: in this case the information is stored divided into blocks that are distributed among the RAID hard drives. Simultaneously, a parity block is generated without the need to replicate them. We need at least three hard drives.

Another of the capabilities that a NAS has along with its operating system is its storage application capacity, for example, with a DAS connected to it. Do not think that a DAS is just a "giant hard drive", but that its greatest use is precisely to connect it to NAS servers as a way to scale storage and expand to more complex RAID levels such as RAID 10, 01, 101 or 50.

NAS hard drives

Processors

An element that has vital importance in a NAS is the processor, not in this case to move the operating system, but to move applications, disks and all the services that we can deploy. The home NAS servers we see here have processors such as the Alpine AL-314 32-bit with ARM Cortex cores, very valid for use as the quintessential storage server. And others of greater magnitude like the Realtek RTD 1926 of quad-core that allows transcoding of video in H.264 to 1080p, for the enthusiasts of multimedia content.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg in cheap gear, which is what we're talking about. If we go to more expensive NAS we find Intel Celeron processors with integrated HD graphics or the powerful equipment with AMD Ryzen 1600X with virtualization capacity.

RAM memory and internal storage

RAM is important to support large loads of data and applications. It is normally installed using DDR3L or DDR4 SO-DIMM modules and in capacities ranging from 1 GB to 64 for the most powerful NAS. We recommend at least a 1GB or 2GB capacity for transcoding. If we need a potential extra, the best will be to opt for a more expensive NAS that supports memory expansion, since it will allow us to play with the possibilities if we become very advanced users of these teams.

They all have internal storage, the one necessary to install the operating system and the applications that we can download from the App store. It almost always comes in the form of non-expandable flash memory from 512 MB to several GB.

Expansion slots

In the home environment, the truth is that it is not a primary matter, in fact, only the most powerful NAS have PCIe slots to install expansion cards. In them we can place, for example, a 10 GB network card, high-power Wi-Fi cards or even graphics cards such as the Nvidia GT 1030.

Connectivity you need to have

If you are interested in a NAS for home or a small office, then the minimum you should ask for are two hard drive bays and a USB 2.0 or 3.1 Gen1 connector that allows you to insert flash storage drives.

It is taken for granted that a NAS will always have an RJ-45 port to connect it to the network, although if we have the possibility of finding it with two of them, then better than better. In this way we can connect dedicated teams in it, or expand our network with various physical interfaces.

The USB port that we see on the front of a NAS, is used to make instant backups or even to connect a Wi-Fi network card. Something that many users will appreciate in the face of integration with wireless devices. Anyway, you should not worry about that, since we only need a Wi-Fi router to expand these possibilities.

Remote cloud connection service

One of the most interesting functions that today's NAS can have is their ability to connect to them remotely only by making a simple configuration on our router and NAS with the help of the wizard provided by the manufacturers. It is then a cloud service where we avoid possible security breaches such as the opening of ports and the use of our Public IP or a DDNS to access the NAS.

Manufacturers like QNAP with MyQNAPCloud, or Synology with QuickConnect, have services of this type implemented on their servers, and we just need to create an account and a private domain or ID in their respective clouds to connect without any problem. For user purposes, we will be able to enter only by putting a domain created by us through a url in the browser.

Why is it worth having a home NAS?

Without a doubt, a user who is committed to the security of their personal data and a more advanced use of computer systems and their internal network, will have a NAS connected to the network as their best ally. The ability to encrypt data by hardware, and the establishment of encrypted client-server communications is something that only a NAS can give us in a native way, without any configuration and with its sole presence. Without a doubt, storage is the specialty of a NAS, and even the medium cost have support with SSD and M.2 sometimes.

Then we have the good possibilities in the multimedia field that some of these teams give us. We are talking about the retransmission of content through DLNA compatible with Smart TV, Android, etc. Being able to play videos using real-time transcoding directly from the network location is being physically on-site. In addition, we can integrate it with systems such as Google Chromecast, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV without any problem.

What's more, we will have applications that are capable of downloading content through P2P directly to the NAS, or even websites and other content. It is always an extra advantage to have a centralized repository to store files that fill our equipment with files, especially if we move with a laptop. Something that is also very interesting is the possibility of integrating the NAS with Android, not only to make backups, but also to share files and control functions of the NAS from the terminal.

What if you go on vacation and don't want to leave the house alone? Well, you take the NAS and you set up your own surveillance system. A pair of IP cameras, a switch and the NAS as a video storage device with the Western Digital Purple installed on it. With applications like Surveillance Station or QVR Pro there is no problem, even in these models that we will see below.

Best cheap NAS for home

Due to the extensive power of the QNAP QTS system and the versatility it offers us in applications oriented to the domestic and multimedia field, we have selected these three key models for the tightest pockets. Let's take a quick look at them:

TS-328

QNAP TS-328 3 Bay NAS Desktop Box

• With just three disks you can build a secure raid 5 array on the ts-328 Compatible with h.264 / h.265 hardware decoding and transcoding offering a better video viewing experience Snapshots fully record system status and data (included metadata) Qfiling automates file organization greatly improving work efficiency

224.95 EUR Buy on Amazon

In our opinion, it is the most recommended model of the three, since we found it for a price of only 275 euros with a Realtek 4-core and 64-bit CPU that is capable of playing content in 4K H.264 and H.265 through DLNA. Although we do not have an HDMI port, we do have a double RJ-45 at 1 Gbps and rear USB ports and a front one compatible with Wi-Fi card. It also supports three 3.5 ”/ 2.5” HDD-compliant RAID 5 bays.

TS-231P2

QNAP TS-231P2 NAS White Ethernet Tower - Raid Drive (Hard Drive, SSD, Serial ATA II, Serial ATA III, 2.5 / 3.5 ", 0, 1, JBOD, FAT32, HFS +, NTFS, ext3, ext4, Annapurna Labs)

• For transferring large numbers of files For streaming high-bandwidth multimedia Highly efficient media center Remote access in a secure private cloud

279.90 EUR Buy on Amazon

In this case we have a NAS that offers us a great performance in domestic applications and for a professional environment, especially in offices and home offices. It mounts an Alpine AL-314 Quad Core processor with 1 GB of DDR3 RAM expandable to 8 GB, along with good connectivity with dual RJ-45 GbE and three USB 3.1 Gen1. They are ideal for using a Wi-Fi AC adapter and providing it with wireless connectivity. It does not have HDMI, but supports streaming via DLNA, AirPlay, and Chromecast.

TS-228A

QNAP TS-228A NAS Mini Tower Ethernet White Storage Server - Raid Drive (Hard Drive, Serial ATA III, 3.5 ", FAT32, Hfs +, NTFS, ext 3, ext 4, 1.4 GHz, Realtek), Enclosure

• Supported storage disk interfaces: SATA, Serial ATA II, and Serial ATA III Processor model: RTD1295 Flash memory: 4000 MB Chassis type: Mini Tower Installed operating system: QNAP Turbo System

163.84 EUR Buy on Amazon

We end with this model as one of the basic and home-oriented ones with the lowest cost that the manufacturer has. We wanted to put this, instead of the 128A, for the simple fact of having two bays for SATA hard drives, something that gives us the possibility of RAID. The QTS 4.3.4 system has been installed through a Realtek RTX1295 4-core CPU and 1 GB of DDR4 RAM, the truth is not bad. Supports backups with Hybrid Backup Sync, media playback via DLNA and compatibility with myQNAPCloud private cloud.

Conclusion about cheap and recommended NAS

If you do not have a NAS yet, it is because you do not want to, since there are many options, but we have chosen just the three that, by far, are more recommendable in our view. We have taught you a little about the possibilities and advantages that a NAS brings us in our life, now you just have to say "I want to".

We leave you with some interesting links where we can see more NAS models from our complete guide, and also routers in case we need to improve our network.

What NAS would you buy yourself? If you want to know more information or recommendations about these devices, feel free to leave us a comment in the box below or open a discussion in our hardware forum.