Best NAS devices of 2021: top Network Attached Storage for the home and office

REASONS TO BUY REASONS TO AVOID
The best NAS devices ensure that your irreplaceable files and folders are stored safely away – and can be easily accessed whenever you need them – no matter where you are in the world.
NAS (or Network Attached Storage) devices differ from the best external hard drives and external portable SSDs , due to their ability to connect to the internet, as well as be accessed by other devices on a local network.
So, a NAS can sit in the center of your work or home network, and act as centralised storage. Every PC on the network can use it as if it was an internal hard drive, and if one PC fails, you know that all the data is safely secured in the NAS drive.
Meanwhile, that internet connection allows you to securely access the files on the drive from any internet-connected device. It’s quick and convenient, and it’s also a heck of a lot safer than lugging an external hard drive or USB memory stick around.
When choosing the best NAS device for you, consider the amount of storage space you need now and in the future, as well as your backup and redundancy needs. Many of the best NAS drives are able to hold more than one hard drive and can mirror that hard drive in case of failure. So, if one hard drive does go, your files are still intact on another. Since price is also a factor, know that some hold multiple hard drives that you can buy separately. This doesn’t just give you more flexibility, but can also potentially save you money if you bargain hunt.
The best NAS devices are your ideal storage solutions if you want access to your files when you need them, wherever you are, while keeping them secure. Take a look at our picks.
Keep an extra copy of your files online with this cloud storage solution
IDrive , the cloud storage veteran, delivers tons of storage online for an incredibly small outlay. 5TB for $3.48 for the first year is unmatched till now and so is the support for unlimited devices and the extensive file versioning system available. Best NAS devices at a glance WD My Cloud Personal NAS drive Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay NAS drive QNAP TS-251A NAS drive Buffalo LinkStation LS220D NAS drive Synology DiskStation DS1817 NAS drive WD My Cloud Mirror NAS drive Synology DiskStation DS1517 NAS drive WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra NAS drive Western Digital DL4100 NAS drive WD My Cloud Personal NAS drive is one of the best NAS drives and starts at 2TB of storage. (Image credit: WD) 1. WD My Cloud Personal NAS drive Simple, yet fast Capacity: 2TB, 3TB or 4TB Interface: USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet Features: Remote file access, DLNA, iTunes Server TODAY’S BEST DEALS