What is NAS?
- Definition
- A network-attached storage (NAS) device is a dedicated file storage server that connects to a network, containing multiple drives that must be sanitized before disposal.
Network-attached storage (NAS) is a dedicated file storage device that connects to a network and provides data access to multiple users and devices. NAS units range from small desktop units with 2-4 drive bays (used in small businesses and home offices) to enterprise rack-mounted systems with dozens of drives.
NAS devices present significant data security concerns during disposal because they often store large volumes of business-critical data — file shares, backups, databases, and archives. A single NAS unit may contain multiple terabytes of sensitive data across several hard drives configured in RAID arrays.
Proper disposition of a NAS device requires sanitization of every individual drive in the array, not just the NAS unit itself. RAID configurations mean data is striped or mirrored across drives, so removing a single drive doesn't eliminate the data. Additionally, the NAS operating system (Synology DSM, QNAP QTS, etc.) may contain configuration data, user credentials, and network settings that should be wiped. A certified ITAD provider ensures complete data destruction across all drives and the NAS controller.
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