What are the key NAS features and capabilities to look for in a hybrid and multi-cloud context?

1 Cloud compatibility

One of the first things to consider is how compatible your NAS device is with the cloud services and platforms that you use or plan to use. For example, can your NAS device connect to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or other cloud providers? Can it support protocols such as NFS, SMB, iSCSI, or S3? Can it integrate with cloud-native tools and APIs? Can it leverage cloud storage tiers and lifecycle policies? You want to choose a NAS solution that can seamlessly work with your existing and future cloud infrastructure, without requiring complex configuration or management.

2 Data mobility

Another important aspect of a hybrid and multi-cloud NAS solution is data mobility, which refers to the ability to move data across different locations and platforms as needed. For example, you may want to migrate data from on-premises to cloud, or from one cloud to another, for various reasons, such as cost optimization, performance improvement, disaster recovery, or compliance. You want to choose a NAS solution that can enable data mobility with minimal disruption, latency, or overhead. Some of the features that can facilitate data mobility include data replication, synchronization, deduplication, compression, encryption, and snapshotting.

3 Data governance

A third key factor to look for in a hybrid and multi-cloud NAS solution is data governance, which refers to the policies and processes that ensure data quality, security, and compliance. For example, you may need to enforce data retention, deletion, encryption, or auditing rules across different locations and platforms, depending on the nature and sensitivity of your data. You want to choose a NAS solution that can provide centralized and consistent data governance across your hybrid and multi-cloud environment. Some of the features that can support data governance include role-based access control, encryption at rest and in transit, data classification, tagging, and logging.

4 Data analytics

A fourth essential element of a hybrid and multi-cloud NAS solution is data analytics, which refers to the ability to extract insights and value from your data. For example, you may want to perform data analysis, machine learning, or artificial intelligence on your data, either on-premises or in the cloud, depending on the availability and cost of resources. You want to choose a NAS solution that can enable data analytics with high performance, scalability, and flexibility. Some of the features that can enable data analytics include parallel file systems, caching, tiering, and integration with cloud-based analytics tools and frameworks.

5 Data protection

A fifth and final critical component of a hybrid and multi-cloud NAS solution is data protection, which refers to the ability to safeguard your data from loss, corruption, or unauthorized access. For example, you may need to backup, restore, or recover your data in case of hardware failure, human error, cyberattack, or natural disaster. You want to choose a NAS solution that can provide reliable and efficient data protection across your hybrid and multi-cloud environment. Some of the features that can provide data protection include RAID, erasure coding, snapshots, replication, backup, and restore.