Best NAS for Small Business in 2023
Network-attached storage (NAS) devices let you back up files to and access them from a central storage device. NAS devices use multiple hard disks to balance storage space with data redundancy so that your data isn’t lost should a disk fail.
However, NAS devices are often more than simple fileservers and provide features to increase your efficiency, productivity and more.
We look at four of the best NAS for small business in 2022.
Products at a Glance
Features and considerations
Modern NAS devices are much more than data repositories and can form the backbone of your IT setup. You need to consider a number of things, but particularly ease of use, RAID options, cloud access, expandability and speed.
You’ll probably want to access your files when out of the office, so see if your intended NAS allows internet access.
Modern NASs have sophisticated Windows-like operating systems that make it easy to configure, use and update them. QNAP has its QTS operating system for example, while Synology has DSM. You can typically download apps and utilities that extend a device’s functionality to boost efficiency, productivity and save time.
RAID options let you set up your NAS’s disks for speed, data redundancy or some combination of both. Check that a NAS has a good set of RAID options before buying.
You also need to consider:
- Data transfer speeds
- Drive types supported (2.5in, 3.5in, m.2, et cetera)
- Network connections (faster is better)
- Connection ports such as USB3 and eSATA
How we picked the best NAS for small business in 2022
The best NAS device for you depends on the features you need and your budget. We’ve chosen four NAS devices that provide a combination of specs, extra features and price to satisfy most owners. It’s worth using a device before purchase if possible so you can judge its speed, ease of use, et cetera.
Product Reviews
- Can expand number of disks with an expansion unit
- Feature-rich QTS OS makes NAS easy to use
- Loads of ports including a HDMI output for 4K video
The QNAP TS-435D is a four-bay NAS with up to 8GBs of RAM and a four-core Intel Celeron J4125 processor. It also has a HDMI port so that you can output 4K video to a monitor or TV. The TS-453D has a PCIe expansion port to which you can add network cards for up to 10-Gigabit Ethernet.
You can use port-trunking to have up to 5-Gigabit Ethernet from the two 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet for faster data transfer. Other ports include two USB3.2 Gen 1 and three USB2 ports so that you can attach external drives.
You can add disk expansion units to the TS-453D so that it can control a higher number of disks. This lets you keep the TS-453D even as your data storage needs increase.
The TS-453D uses QNAP’s QTS operating system, so you can use a Windows-like OS to set up and interact with the TS-453D. You can even download and install apps on the TS-453D to enhance its functionality and boost your efficiency and productivity.
This is the best NAS for small business in 2022 if you need an expandable device with lots of outputs.
- Can expand number of disks with an expansion unit
- Feature-rich DSM OS makes NAS easy to use
- Easily Accessible USB3 port for quick backups
- Would prefer 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet ports as seen on some other NAS
The DS920+ is a four-bay NAS, but you can add a DX517 expansion unit to make a nine-bay NAS. This lets you keep the base unit even if you need to expand your storage capacity.
An Intel Celeron J4125 processors powers the DS920+ along with 4GB of RAM that you can expand to 8GB. The DS920+ has two USB3 and one eSATA ports for attaching external drives and two Gigabit Ethernet ports for data transfer.
The DS920+ has two built-in slots for m.2 (2280) NVMe SSDs to increase cache performance and speed up data transfer. You need to add your own SSDs, but this SSD cache acceleration feature could boost your efficiency and productivity.
The user-friendly DiskStation Manager (DSM) is used to configure and interact with the DS920+. You can also use the various Synology apps and utilities for productivity, collaboration, backup (local and cloud), and surveillance use.
This is the best NAS for small business in 2022 if you want an expandable unit.
- Feature-rich DSM OS makes NAS easy to use
- Easily Accessible USB3 port for quick backups
- Only 2GB of RAM
The Synology DS420+ is a four-bay NAS, so you can use a number of RAID options. An Intel Celeron J4025 processor powers the DS420+, and you can expand the DS420+’s 2GB to 6GB. This NAS has two USB3 ports for attaching external drives and two Gigabit Ethernet ports for data transfer.
The DS420+ benefits from DiskStation Manager (DSM), which is a built-in OS for easier interaction with the DS420+. You’ll have no trouble using DSM if you’re familiar with Windows and you can consult built-in guides for help.
DSM lets you back up to the DS420+ or to cloud services to protect your business’s data. It lets you configure the device so that it uses LDAP for easier user onboarding and administration. You can also download and install apps to extend the DS420+’s functionality to save your time and increase productivity.
The DS420+ has two built-in slots for m.2 (2280) NVMe SSDs to increase cache performance and speed up data transfer. You need to add your own SSDs, but this SSD cache acceleration feature could boost your efficiency and productivity.
The Synology DS420+ is the best NAS for small business if you need one with a user-friendly OS.
- Designed for file access via the internet
- Information displayed via screen on device’s front panel
- OS not as feature rich as some other NAS brands’ OS
The My Cloud Pro PR4100 is a four-bay NAS that lets you install disks without using tools, so that installation is easier. The display on the front lets you know the status of the device so that you can act if necessary. An Intel Pentium N3710 processor and 4GB of RAM power the My Cloud Pro PR4100.
You can access your files over the internet using a browser or the My Cloud app for efficiency and convenience. This lets you use the device as your private cloud server that you can use wherever there’s an internet connection.
You interact with the PR4100 using My Cloud OS 5, so you’ll benefit from the latest security patches and more. One-touch copying lets you back up files to an attached USB drive to save you time and boost your efficiency.
Our Verdict
Best NAS for Small Business in 2023
You’ll have no problem storing and accessing your files using any of the devices here. However, the QNAP TS-453D is Editor’s Choice due to its expansion options and outputs including the 4K HDMI output.