Does Your Twin Cities Small Business Need Network Attached Storage?

7 hours ago
3 min read

In recent years, it seems like every single thing requires a subscription. If you own a small business you are probably subscribing to your office software, accounting tools and more. Cloud storage is another area that has become popular for both business and personal use. Over time those fees add up. But why are you paying to store your data on the cloud when you could invest in data storage locally? While the cloud is convenient, relying on it exclusively is like renting a storage unit across town when you have a space to store things at home. This is where a NAS (Network Attached Storage) can be a great option. If you’re tired of slow upload speeds and monthly invoices, a NAS may be perfect for you. Today we’ll be discussing what exactly a NAS is and how Chipheads Computer Repair can help with your needs. Got questions? Ready to get started? Simply reach out.

Picture of Twin Cities Small Business NAS

About Network Attached Storage

Think of a NAS as your own private cloud located right inside your office. It’s a dedicated device with multiple hard drives that connects to your network. It allows everyone on your team to access, share, and back up files at lightning speed without needing an internet connection to do it.

Fast Speeds

Even with a fast fiber connection in Richfield or Bloomington, uploading a 4K video or a massive database to the cloud takes time.

The Cloud: Your speed is limited by your internet provider’s "upload" cap.
The NAS: You are moving files over your local network. It’s often 10 to 20 times faster than the cloud. Large files open instantly, and backups happen in the background without slowing down your Zoom calls.

No Monthly Subscriptions

Cloud providers love the "pay-per-user" model. As your team grows, your bill skyrockets. With a NAS, you pay for the hardware once. Whether you have 5 employees or 50, the cost stays the same. Most of our clients find that a NAS pays for itself in less than 18 months compared to premium cloud tiers.

You Own Your Files

When your data is in the cloud, you’re playing by someone else's rules. If their server goes down, you’re out of luck. If they change their privacy policy to allow AI "training" on your private documents, there isn't much you can do. With a NAS, you own the silicon. Your client contracts, proprietary designs, and financial records stay on-site, under your physical control.

The Hybrid Safety Net

We aren't saying you should delete your Dropbox account tomorrow. The best setup is a hybrid approach:

Work from the NAS: Use it for daily tasks and fast file sharing.
Backup to the Cloud: The NAS can automatically sync your most critical data to the cloud overnight.

This gives you the speed of local hardware with the disaster recovery peace of mind that the cloud provides.

Twin Cities Small Business NAS Made Easy

Setting up a NAS can be intimidating. Between choosing the right drives and configuring RAID (so that if one drive fails, you don't lose data), there’s a lot to get right.

At Chipheads Computer Repair, we’ve been helping Twin Cities residents for over 30 years. We can:

Recommend the right NAS size for your team.
Securely migrate your data from the cloud to your new device.
Set up remote access so you can still grab files while grabbing a burger across town.