How to set up a NAS for secure file sharing

NAS devices can also run their own applications, so you can have a NAS connected to your Dropbox account, or one that works with a custom VPN (virtual private network) for you. Another popular option for NAS devices is Plex, which allows you to store audio, video and images in your storage and stream them wherever they are needed. (It’s a bit like having your own private Spotify or Netflix service.)

If you’ve been convinced that a NAS device is for you – whether you’re backing up key files, streaming movies at home or something else – then you have many different models to choose from at all price points. Although this type of network storage management may seem daunting to beginners, modern NAS devices are not at all difficult to configure or use, and you can work in just a few minutes.

Setting up a NAS device

We can’t give you detailed instructions for configuring every NAS device on the market, but we can give you an example of how to set up a NAS to give you an idea of ​​what it’s all about – specifically the Synology DiskStation DS220 +. The dual-slot device is ideal for users who need an affordable and clear NAS with a lot of flexibility. Other NAS devices will have similar setup processes – especially other Synology models, of course.

Depending on where you buy your NAS, it may already have hard drives installed, but if not, this is your first job: The NAS specifications should tell you which hard drives are compatible, and then you can go out and buy As much storage space as you need. Most modern NAS devices have hard drive bays that are easy to access and operate, and in most cases you won’t even need a screwdriver to insert your drives.

With this, it’s time to initialize the NAS: This is usually done through a web interface on a desktop or laptop computer connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your NAS. In the case of the Synology DS220 +, once the device is detected, you will need to download and install the DiskStation Manager software, which handles formatting, file transfers, and other disk operations on Synology NAS devices.

Before you can start transferring files between the NAS and your other devices, you’ll need to choose a disk configuration – here you get options like RAID. Do some preliminary research to make sure you choose the right configuration for you (although in the case of Synology devices, each option is fully explained to you through the interface). You will also need to provide a username and password to restrict access to key NAS settings.