A NAS normally connects by Ethernet to a router or network switch. It receives an address on the local network and remains available independently of any user’s computer. Authorized devices can then reach it through a browser, desktop client, mobile app, or supported file-sharing service.
What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?
NAS stands for Network Attached Storage. It is a dedicated device that connects to your router or network switch, giving authorized users and devices one central place to store, access, share, and back up files.
Unlike an external drive, a NAS can serve multiple computers, phones, tablets, and TVs at the same time—even when your main computer is turned off. Local access does not require the internet; remote access does.
How does NAS work?

The NAS presents shared folders through services such as SMB for Windows and macOS or NFS for Linux and UNIX systems. Each user can have a separate account, storage quota, and folder permissions.
Remote access requires an internet connection and should be protected with strong passwords, current software, restricted permissions, and two-factor authentication. Follow the instructions to set up two-factor authentication on UGREEN NAS.

One or more HDDs or SSDs are configured as storage pools and volumes. Depending on the number of drives, the NAS may support Basic storage, JBOD, or RAID levels that balance usable capacity, performance, and drive-failure protection.
For example, two matching 8TB drives in RAID 1 provide approximately 8TB before system and file-system overhead because one drive mirrors the other. Four matching 8TB drives in RAID 5 provide approximately 24TB before overhead and can tolerate one drive failure.
You can estimate usable capacity with the UGREEN RAID Calculator.

Why We Recommend NAS
Data location
Access
Cost model
Easy to Use
Drives in your NAS
Local network with optional remote access
NAS and drives purchased upfront
Provider’s data center
Primarily through the internet
Usually a recurring subscription
One directly connected drive
Usually the connected device only
Drive purchased upfront
What Can You Do With a NAS?




Why UGREEN NASync?
UGREEN NASync models differ by drive-bay count, processor, memory, network speed, SSD support, maximum capacity, and application support. A two-bay model may be sufficient for personal backup, while creators, teams, and homelab users may need more bays, faster networking, or stronger processing.
You can browse and filter UGREEN NAS models by the specifications that matter to your workload.

UGOS Pro provides tools such as individual user accounts, folder permissions, two-factor authentication, HTTPS connections, IP blocking, firewall controls, and malware scanning. These controls reduce risk, but no NAS can guarantee that data will never be lost or compromised.
RAID protects against certain drive failures; it does not protect against accidental deletion, ransomware, theft, fire, or failure of the entire NAS. Learn how to strengthen NAS ransomware protection with separate backups and access controls.

UGOS Pro provides web, desktop, and mobile access for managing files, users, storage, backups, photos, media, applications, and system settings. Available functions can differ by NAS model and software version.

UGREEN’s App Center supports file management, backup, synchronization, media, and system-management workloads. Advanced functions such as Docker and Virtual Machine Manager are model-dependent, so buyers should verify software and hardware support before choosing a device.
See which apps and advanced features each UGREEN NAS model supports.
