What you really need to know before parking your business data on a local box.
If you’ve been told that buying a NAS is a smart way to back up your business files “once and for all,” we get it. On the surface, it looks like a cost-effective, one-time purchase.
But here’s what most people don’t realize:
That little black box sitting in your office comes with a lot of hidden costs.
Let’s break them down—and compare it with cloud backup, which is often safer, smarter, and surprisingly affordable.
Upfront Cost Isn’t the Whole Story
Buying a NAS includes:
- The device itself
- Multiple hard drives (often in RAID setup)
- Setup time (or technician cost)
- Network configuration and permissions
- UPS (battery backup) if you want to avoid data loss during power outages
But that’s just the beginning.
Ongoing Maintenance & Management
A NAS isn’t “set it and forget it.” You (or someone you pay) needs to:
- Monitor drive health
- Apply firmware updates
- Manage user access and permissions
- Check for security vulnerabilities
- Replace failing drives
- Restart or troubleshoot if it crashes
And if you forget to check it? You won’t know it failed until you need it.
Security Risks
NAS systems are often exposed to the internet (even if you don’t realize it), making them prime targets for:
- Ransomware attacks
- Brute force login attempts
- Malware and botnet hijacking
Unless it’s properly secured, monitored, and updated, a NAS can become a liability—not a safety net.
Downtime and Recovery Costs
If something goes wrong—whether it’s a hardware failure, power outage, or office fire—your data may be gone or inaccessible when you need it most.
Cloud backup, on the other hand, often includes:
- Automatic versioning
- Off-site redundancy
- Instant access from anywhere
- Fast recovery—even if your main computer is toast
Why Cloud Backup Makes More Sense
For many small to mid-sized businesses, cloud backup wins because:
- No hardware to maintain
- Predictable monthly cost
- Built-in security and encryption
- Accessible from anywhere
- Scales easily as you grow
And bonus: it’s way easier to get cyber insurance approval with secure, managed backups in place.
Not Sure What’s Right for You?
We’re not anti-NAS. They’re useful in certain environments (like local media storage or video editing). But for most small businesses? Cloud backup is more secure, more scalable, and less stressful.
Let’s talk about how your data is stored, what’s backed up (and what’s not), and make sure you’re covered.
