The Best Nas For Home Backup In 2024

Tim Powers By, Tim Powers
Updated
Best Nas For Home Backup
Best Nas For Home Backup

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Synology 2 bay NAS

The Synology DS920+ is an ideal NAS solution to streamline data management and productivity. With two built-in M.2 SSD slots and Synology SSD Cache technology, this NAS can boost system I/O and application performance. Read Review

2. Runner Up: Synology 4 bay NAS

The Synology DS920+ is an ideal NAS solution to streamline data management and productivity. With two built-in M.2 SSD slots and Synology SSD Cache technology, this NAS can boost system I/O and application performance. Read Review

3. Best Performance: BUFFALO 4TB 1-Bay NAS

Buffalo is a practical and powerful NAS with a dedicated media server for storing and streaming. It is compatible with any operating system, has robust data protection and backup features, and with easy-to-use web interface. Read Review

4. Best Convenient: Asustor 6 Bay NAS

The Asustor 6-Bay NAS does more than act as a home server. With its lightning-fast speeds and four M.2 slots for caching or storage, this NAS can combine the speed of multiple Ethernet ports for speeds way beyond 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet. Read Review

5. Best Quality: WD 56TB NAS

This Cloud Pro Series offers network storage to edit, save and share production files from anywhere with an internet connection. It is perfect for any creative department needing a simple yet powerful and flexible way to store and share its work. Read Review

When your computer gets damaged, files get deleted, or you need a place to safely keep copies of your most important data, a home backup is essential to keeping your digital life organized. A home backup doesn't have to be time-consuming or expensive. The best options are easy to set up.

That's because backing up your computer at home is usually as simple as copying some folders from one drive to another. Who needs a NAS? Using a network-attached storage device (NAS) might make you think twice. But if you don'tdon't know how they work or what they can do for you, then you need one in your life. A network-attached storage device is called a NAS (Network Attached Storage). It'sIt's essentially any drive that connects to a router or other network so that you can share files and access media elsewhere on the same network. If you own more than one computer, have multiple users who log into those computers often, or want additional security in hiding files from prying eyes and hackers, this article will help you find the perfect NAS for your needs.

You can count on our team of experts who have spent hours conducting results through 3,858 genuine customer reviews. Because of this, we concluded that the best nas for home backup is the Synology 2 bay NAS. This NAS device is a perfect fit for you to boost performance and keep your data safe. And Synology 4 bay NAS is another choice for you while keeping the product'sproduct's quality and functionality.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Synology 2 bay NAS
Our Score:
9.9
Synology

DS220j is an entry-level 2-bay NAS designed to store and share photos, videos, and documents for home and personal users. The private cloud solution is powered by the award-winning DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS, providing an intuitive user interface and safe data protection approaches for easy digital asset backups from computers and mobile devices at no additional cost.

You can easily access files on the Synology NAS over the Internet using QuickConnect. DiskStation allows you to synchronize your files across multiple devices or several locations, so you never have to go without your data. It can centralize and organize your photos and videos in your private cloud for easy sharing and management.

Control your data and keep your files safe. DSM makes it easy to back up files for all your devices and avoid accidental data loss. You can even back up data from your DiskStation to other devices or any primary cloud storage provider. Nevertheless, you can find this device difficult to use if you are not a tech savor. 

TOP Choice #2 Synology 4 bay NAS
Our Score:
9.8
Synology

If you want to simplify your NAS and boost efficiency, look no further than the Synology DS920+. There are two M.2 SSD slots built right in, and with Synology's SSD Cache technology, you can speed up your system's I/O and your apps. Synology DX517's scalable storage architecture allows you to begin with a small initial installation and add additional storage as your data needs increase.

You can quickly and easily organize your digital photo collection, share and sync files between computers and mobile devices, and use lightning-fast web applications. DiskStation enables the entire office to centralize files and collaborate on projects thanks to its support for various network file-sharing protocols. You can also synchronize files across multiple devices or locations to facilitate collaboration among distributed teams.

This device ensures that your files are secure with Synology and that you retain data control. We offer safe, reliable, and low-cost options that make it simple to back up files across multiple devices and prevent unintentional data loss. The only minor drawback of this device is that it sometimes gets slow. 

TOP Choice #3 BUFFALO 4TB 1-Bay NAS
Our Score:
9.6
BUFFALO

If you're looking for a secure and user-friendly personal cloud solution, look no further than Buffalo's LinkStation 700 series NAS. With this NAS server, you can keep all of your essential files in one place and still get to them quickly from any device. Easily back up multiple computers running Windows or macOS, as well as mobile devices running Android or iOS, to a single, centralized NAS, or build your private cloud by combining your NAS with a service like Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive to store, retrieve, and share data quickly and easily over the web.

With its Hexa-core processor and native 2.5GbE Fast Ethernet port, this NAS storage can handle data streams of greater volume and speed. Securely share storage or files with others without compromising their privacy by granting them specific permissions to access particular folders. The only drawback of this device is that if it is handled by multiple users at a time, especially when writing files, it becomes slow. 

4 Asustor 6 Bay NAS
Our Score:
9.4
Asustor

Almost every enumerated benefit of this product is excellent. This network-attached storage unit has four M.2 slots that can be used for either storage or caching. You can dedicate each space to a specific function or switch things up. With room for four M.2 SSDs, this NAS can adapt to various situations where faster storage is a priority.

Compared to Gigabit Ethernet devices, the performance of the two 2.5GbE ports on this Lockerstor Gen2 is significantly higher. On top of that, the relatively new addition of SMB Multichannel support means that this NAS can pool the bandwidth of multiple Ethernet ports to achieve speeds much more significant than 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet.

You can generate a lot of heat with as few as two SSDs and a lot with four. The Lockerstor Gen2 provides optimal cooling for the NAS by allowing increased airflow to reach every part of the system. However, people unfamiliar with technology may have trouble learning to use the interface of this product because it is not very user-friendly. 

5 WD 56TB NAS
Our Score:
9.3
Western Digital

The My Cloud Pro Series provides online storage to manage your digital assets and access, save, and share their production files from any location with an active Internet connection. As it is cross-platform, you can store all your media in a safe and well-organized place, ready for use in any creative project.

With the extensive network storage in the My Cloud Pro Series, your unprocessed photos and final mixes are easily accessible from one central location. Streaming high-definition videos or sharing large files amongst people is a breeze when you have a quad-core Intel Pentium processor and 4GB of RAM.

Your digital library can be secured in various ways, with multiple Raid options, password protection, and 256-bit AES volume encryption protecting your data from prying eyes. The My Cloud Pro Series protects your data and provides redundancy during a power outage. Unfortunately, this device becomes slightly noisy when in operation. 

6 BUFFALO 12TB 2-Bay NAS
Our Score:
9.1
BUFFALO

For small and home offices and professional users who need a reliable, RAID-based NAS storage solution at an affordable price, Buffalo's LinkStation SoHo 200 series is an excellent choice. This LinkStation is a simple NAS server built for dependable performance and high data security, making it ideal for safe and versatile everyday storage and backup.

Pre-configured RAID offers out-of-the-box data protection, and you can easily back up multiple computers (Windows and macOS) to the exact secure network storage location. The NAS drive runs on a closed system, which prevents 3rd party applications from being installed and thus bypassing dangerous app vulnerabilities.

This LinkStation SoHo 2-bay NAS also offers the security and flexibility of RAID data protection. You can configure a RAID 0 array on the NAS hard drives to maximize the storage capacity or a RAID 1 array that ensures your data remains protected even if one of the NAS movements fails. One minor drawback is that setting up this device can be a hassle.

7 QNAP 8 Bay NAS
Our Score:
8.9
QNAP

The TS-832PX is compatible with popular operating systems and file-sharing protocols, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux/UNIX. Any data you upload to Qsync will be accessible on your connected devices. Quickly back up or synchronize data stored on the TS-832PX to another QNAP NAS, remote server, or the cloud with the assistance of Hybrid Backup Sync.

The TS-832PX supports Port Trunking and Failover to fortify your network infrastructure and comes equipped with two 10GbE SFP+ and two 2.5GbE LAN RJ45 ports, allowing for high-speed networking straight out of the box.

If files are accidentally deleted or modified, or the system is compromised by ransomware, a snapshot can quickly restore them to their previous, recorded states. Remote employees can use the VPN services supported by QNAP NAS to connect to the NAS and the private network's resources from anywhere in the world. However, the only issue with this device is that it is susceptible to electro-magnetic-interference. 

8 BUFFALO 4-Bay 16 TB NAS
Our Score:
8.8
BUFFALO

 

9 WD 4TB NAS
Our Score:
8.5
Western Digital

 

 

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What to Look For in a best nas for home backup?

The best nas for home backup is a product type that many customers feel hesitant to select because of the challenges in evaluating its features. It comes to trust! When studying a significant purchase, many factors must be considered. Our best nas for home backup knowledge will help you make an ideal decision.

Our article here will highlight some outstanding items and provide solutions to FAQs and guides to buying. You should keep in mind some main criteria of best nas for home backup below:

Apps

After storage, the next main concern is software and features. We prefer NASes that have an app store where you can download popular apps such as Plex instead of forcing you to use the manufacturer's own media software. NASes also offer apps for Android and iOS, which make it easier to get to your photos, videos, and music from your phone or tablet.

Capacity

In simple terms, the more drives you can cram into a NAS the greater its potential storage capacity. In most cases, we suggest something with four or five bays like the Synonology DS-1511. Loaded up with a swag of 1TB or 2TB drives it offers plenty of capacity.
If your needs are more modest then a two-bay unit is also handy and won't break the bank.

Transcoding

What type of processor does your NAS need? NAS drives run dedicated OSes that require a lightweight processor and more RAM. A faster processor and more memory will enable features such as transcoding, which means that any media files can be converted on the fly into a format that's playable by your TV or set-top box. It can also be useful if your videos are a higher resolution than your TV can handle, so look out for the ability to transcode 4K to Full HD in real-time.

Ports And Connections

Don't overlook connectivity. If your priority is to use your NAS as a home video server, it might be worth picking one with an HDMI output like the QNAP TS-251B so you can connect it directly to your TV. And if your TV can't play video from a network source, you'll need a separate media streamer.

Form Factor

The form factor of a computing device affects the design of hardware components that go into the larger unit. For NAS storage devices, form factor usually comes in two variations: rack-mount, and tower type cases. Choosing between these two options is straightforward. For example, rack cases would be suitable for enterprise networks since they have an expandable capacity. Tower type casing is better for consumers or small-to-medium businesses.

RAID

RAID stands for redundant array of inexpensive disks. RAID can be quite complex but at a basic level, you’ll want to use it to provide redundancy so if a disk fails your data is still safe. Three of the most popular variants are RAID 1, 5, and 6.
Whatever RAID you choose, however, don’t consider your NAS to be the only backup of your data. If the box just dies, or if something catastrophic happens like a fire, you’ll still lose all your data. To mitigate this you'll want another external backup, preferably to the cloud.

Ease Of Use

A NAS is a great option for small businesses that need a solution that can run without much maintenance. Choosing a NAS that can be set up quickly with minimal labor is always a wise decision. For enterprise solutions, higher labor and administrative costs are insignificant when compared with the benefits that a NAS can bring.

FAQs

What Is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) Device?

A NAS device is a storage device that connects to a network, allowing multiple users to access its data. It can be used for home or office backup, media streaming, and data sharing.

What Are the Benefits of Using a NAS Device for Home Backup?

Using a NAS device for home backup provides several benefits, such as increased storage space, improved file sharing and collaboration, and enhanced security. Additionally, it can provide redundancy in case of hardware failure.

What Types of Data Can I Back Up to My NAS Device?

You can back up any type of data to your NAS device, including photos, videos, documents, music, and more.

How Do I Set Up My NAS Device for Home Backup?

Setting up a NAS device for home backup is relatively simple. The first step is to connect the device to your router and configure it with the accompanying software. Next, create an account on the NAS device, and configure the backup settings. Finally, select the files and folders you want to back up, and then initiate the backup process.

Is a NAS Device Secure?

Yes, a NAS device is secure. It typically comes with features such as user authentication and encryption, which can help protect your data from unauthorized access. Additionally, you can set up firewalls and other security measures to further protect your data.


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About Tim Powers

Tim Powers

Tim Powers is an audio equipment & home theater gadget reviewer and the editor of TheAudioInsights.com. He has been involved in the home theater hobby since the late 1990s when he purchased his first AV receiver. Tim is also a writer, with articles appearing in various online and print publications.