Business Storage: NAS & SAN Setup in Newton & Boston

What is the difference between a NAS and a SAN?

A NAS shares files over your office network, while a SAN gives servers fast, block-level storage over a dedicated connection.

A NAS (network attached storage) is what most small offices need: one box that holds shared folders, scans and documents for everyone. A SAN (storage area network) usually sits behind servers and virtual machines, where speed and redundancy matter more than simple file sharing.

Does a small business need a NAS?

If files are scattered across individual PCs or an aging file server, a properly configured NAS is often the simplest fix.

• Shared folders with permissions by person or department
• Central storage for scans, contracts and client files
• A target for workstation backups
• Room to grow without replacing a full server

It is not always the right answer. If your team works mostly in Microsoft 365 or a cloud application, we will tell you so.

How do you set up a NAS so it stays secure?

A secure NAS is never exposed to the internet, uses strict permissions and gets regular firmware updates.

This matters because ransomware groups specifically search for unsecured NAS devices and exposed backup shares. Our setup work typically covers:

• Named user accounts and role-based access instead of one shared login
• Separate administrator credentials with multi-factor authentication where supported
• Encryption for sensitive data, in line with 201 CMR 17.00
• Disabling remote-access features you do not need
• Firmware updates and health monitoring for drives

For a wider look at your exposure, see our network security service.

Is a NAS a backup?

No. A NAS is where your working files live, so it needs its own backup kept separately.

RAID protects against a single drive failing, but it does not protect against deletion, ransomware or a failed device. We design storage and backup together; our backup and disaster recovery service covers verified backups and quarterly test restores.

When does a business need enterprise storage like IBM FlashSystem?

When downtime or data loss would seriously hurt the business, enterprise storage is worth a look.

As an authorized IBM reseller, we install IBM FlashSystem storage for New England businesses. It adds IBM Safeguarded Copy immutable snapshots that ransomware cannot change or encrypt, plus Cyber Vault recovery architecture that isolates and validates clean copies. Law firms, healthcare offices and accounting practices are common fits.

How does a storage project start?

It starts with a review of what you store, who uses it and how it is backed up today.

A site survey checks your servers, storage and backup systems, along with warranty and lifecycle status. If storage sits behind virtual servers, it also ties into server virtualization planning.