Choosing the right Business NAS for remote collaboration involves balancing performance, ease of use, scalability, and budget. The Synology 8-Bay DiskStation DS1823xs+ stands out as the best overall pick due to its robust features and expandability, ideal for growing teams. For those on a tighter budget, the Synology DS223j offers reliable basic performance, perfect for small teams or startups. Meanwhile, the QNAP TS-253E-8G provides a strong mix of speed and ease of setup for mid-sized businesses. The main tradeoffs are often between raw power and simplicity, or cost versus future growth potential. Continue reading for a detailed comparison to help you find the best fit for your remote team.
Key Takeaways
- High-capacity models like the DS1823xs+ excel for large teams needing extensive storage and advanced features.
- Budget options like the DS223j are suitable for small businesses with basic file sharing needs.
- Performance and network speed vary significantly; 2.5GbE ports are increasingly valuable for faster remote access.
- Scalability is a key factor — consider models that support expansion if your team might grow.
- Ease of setup and management can make a big difference for non-technical teams or small IT staff.
More Details on Our Top Picks
Synology 5-Bay DiskStation DS1525+ (Diskless)
The Synology DS1525+ stands out for its impressive scalability, supporting up to 300 TB with expansion units and offering high throughput of over 1,180 MB/s, making it ideal for growing remote teams needing large, reliable storage. Compared with the DS725+, it offers more bays and expansion options, but this comes with increased complexity and a higher price point, which might overwhelm novice users. Its built-in 2.5GbE ports ensure fast network transfers out of the box, with support for 10GbE upgrades, catering to businesses with heavy data transfer needs. The device runs on Synology DSM, providing a rich ecosystem of management tools, backups, and surveillance, though the setup requires some network and system knowledge. Tradeoffs include higher cost and setup complexity versus superior scalability and performance.
Pros:- Supports up to 300 TB with expansion units
- High sequential read/write speeds over 1,180 MB/s
- Flexible network options including 10GbE support
- Robust DSM operating system with extensive app ecosystem
Cons:- Higher initial cost and complexity
- Requires some technical knowledge for setup
- Bulkier and more expensive than smaller NAS options
Best for: Medium to large remote teams needing scalable, high-performance storage with advanced management features.
Not ideal for: Small startups or users seeking a simple, plug-and-play solution without extensive setup or scalability needs.
- Drive Bays:5
- Max Storage Capacity:300 TB
- Network Ports:2x 2.5GbE, support for 10GbE
- Throughput:Up to 1,181 MB/s
- Expansion Support:Supports 2 DX525 units
- Warranty:3 years
Bottom line: Best suited for growing remote organizations that require substantial, expandable storage with enterprise-grade features.
Synology DS725+ 2-Bay Diskstation NAS (Ryzen R1600, 4GB Ram, 1x 2.5GbE, 1x 1GbE, 2X M.2 NVMe) 8TB Bundle with 2X 4TB WD Red Plus
The Synology DS725+ offers a compact yet powerful 2-bay solution with 2.5GbE connectivity and M.2 NVMe slots, making it ideal for small remote teams focused on fast data access and local caching. It’s a step down in scalability compared to the DS1525+ but excels in environments where space and simplicity matter, such as small offices or home offices. Its performance is boosted by SSD caching, and it can scale up to 40TB with expansion, similar to the DS124, but with better performance and management features. The user-friendly DSM OS simplifies setup for users with some technical skills, but beginners may still need assistance. Tradeoffs include limited bays and capacity versus higher speed and easier management.
Pros:- Fast 2.5GbE network connectivity
- Supports NVMe SSD caching for improved performance
- Expandable up to 40TB with DX525
- User-friendly DSM OS with extensive app support
Cons:- Limited to 2 drive bays
- Lower maximum capacity than larger models
- Performance may be bottlenecked without SSD cache
Best for: Small remote teams or professionals needing fast, reliable storage with minimal footprint.
Not ideal for: Large organizations or users requiring extensive scalability and maximum raw storage capacity.
- Drive Bays:2
- Max Raw Storage:40 TB
- Network Ports:1x 2.5GbE, 1x 1GbE
- Supports NVMe SSDs:Yes
- Processor:AMD Ryzen R1600
- RAM:4GB
Bottom line: Ideal for small teams needing a fast, space-efficient NAS with easy management and moderate expansion potential.
Synology 8-Bay DiskStation DS1823xs+ (Diskless)
The Synology DS1823xs+ provides a high-density, 8-bay NAS designed for demanding business environments requiring extensive storage, redundancy, and high availability. The ability to attach up to 2 DX517 expansion units makes it suitable for large remote offices or data centers needing up to 18 drives. It supports hot-swappable drives, online volume expansion, and Synology High Availability clustering, ensuring maximum uptime. Compared with smaller models like the DS124, this unit offers a more robust feature set for mission-critical applications, but it also demands more technical expertise and a larger budget. Its Linux-based DSM system simplifies management despite the complexity of the hardware. Tradeoffs include cost, complexity, and physical size versus maximum storage and enterprise features.
Pros:- Supports up to 18 drives with expansion
- High availability clustering for uptime
- Hot-swappable drives for easy maintenance
- Supports online volume expansion and backup features
Cons:- High initial investment
- Requires technical expertise for setup and management
- Bulkier physical footprint
Best for: Large remote teams or businesses needing enterprise-class storage, high availability, and extensive scalability.
Not ideal for: Small offices or individuals with limited technical skills and modest storage needs.
- Drive Bays:8
- Maximum Drive Support:18 with expansion
- Expansion Units:2x DX517
- High Availability:Yes
- Network Ports:Multiple 10GbE/1GbE
- Warranty:2 years
Bottom line: Designed for enterprise remote environments that demand maximum scalability, redundancy, and uptime.
Synology 1-Bay DiskStation DS124 (Diskless)
The Synology DS124 offers a compact, affordable 1-bay NAS ideal for remote professionals needing simple data centralization, sharing, and basic surveillance. Its small size and basic specs—1 GB RAM, a Realtek RTD1619B CPU, and Gigabit network—make it suitable for light workloads, personal backups, or small home offices. While it’s less feature-rich and scalable than larger models like the DS1823xs+, it provides a straightforward setup process and reliable Synology DSM management interface. Its main tradeoff is limited capacity and performance, which may not suffice for larger teams or intensive data operations, but it excels in ease of use and affordability. This pick makes sense for individual users or very small remote setups.
Pros:- Very compact and lightweight
- Affordable entry-level NAS
- Easy to set up and manage with DSM
- Suitable for basic backup and sharing
Cons:- Limited capacity—only 1 drive bay
- Lower performance for heavy workloads
- No scalability beyond a single drive
Best for: Home-based remote workers or small offices with minimal storage needs and limited technical expertise.
Not ideal for: Growing teams or businesses requiring advanced features, multiple users, or large capacities.
- Drive Bays:1
- Processor:Realtek RTD1619B
- System Memory:1GB DDR4
- Network Port:1GbE
- Max Capacity:8TB
- Warranty:2 years
Bottom line: Perfect for individual users or small remote setups with simple storage requirements and minimal management complexity.
QNAP TS-253E-8G-US 2 Bay High-Performance Desktop NAS with Intel Celeron Quad-core Processor, 8 GB DDR4 RAM and Dual 2.5GbE (2.5G/1G/100M) Network Connectivity (Diskless)
This model stands out for its long-term support and extended availability, making it a strong choice for small businesses needing reliable, ongoing storage solutions. Compared with the Synology DS925+, the TS-253E offers a more desktop-friendly form factor with dual 2.5GbE ports that accelerate network transfers, especially useful for surveillance systems or sharing large files. Its dual M.2 NVMe slots allow for cache acceleration, which boosts performance for multi-user environments. However, the processor is limited to basic NAS tasks and isn’t suited for running VMs or intensive workloads. This NAS is ideal for SMBs focused on surveillance or file sharing but may fall short for high-demand virtualized environments. The long-term support and surveillance features make it a dependable choice for those prioritizing stability over raw power.
Pros:- Extended support and long-term availability ideal for ongoing projects
- Dual 2.5GbE ports for faster network speeds and large file transfers
- Dual NVMe M.2 slots for cache or SSD pools enhancing performance
Cons:- Limited CPU power restricts heavy virtualization or transcoding
- Basic Intel Celeron processor may bottleneck demanding tasks
Best for: Small businesses needing reliable, long-term storage with surveillance capabilities and basic file sharing.
Not ideal for: Power users wanting to run multiple VMs or intensive multimedia transcoding, due to its modest CPU.
- Processor:Intel Celeron J6412 Quad-core
- RAM:8 GB DDR4
- Network Connectivity:Dual 2.5GbE ports
- Storage Slots:2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe
- Drive Bays:2 Bay
- Form Factor:Desktop
- Supported OS:QNAP QTS
- Weight:2.2 pounds
Bottom line: Best suited for SMBs prioritizing surveillance, long-term stability, and network speed over high-end virtual machine performance.
Synology RackStation RS1221+ Rack Mount NAS Server Bundle with Rail Kit, Ryzen CPU, 32GB Memory, 32TB HDD, DSM Operating System, iSCSI Target Ready
This rack-mount NAS offers impressive flexibility with its Ryzen V1500B CPU and 32GB RAM, making it well-suited for diverse server roles like backup, virtualization, and file sharing. Compared to the TerraMaster F2-425 Plus, the RS1221+ emphasizes expandability and enterprise features, including high-availability and iSCSI support, which are crucial for business continuity. Its 32TB HDD capacity and multiple network ports support high throughput and large-scale data workloads. While its rackmount form factor makes it ideal for server rooms, it’s less accessible for small offices or home setups. This NAS makes the most sense for medium-sized businesses that need a scalable, multi-role server environment, but it involves more complex setup and higher cost.
Pros:- High expandability with 32GB RAM and 32TB storage capacity
- Supports multiple server roles including iSCSI, virtualization, and backup
- Rackmount design suitable for server rooms and enterprise environments
Cons:- Requires installation and more technical setup
- Higher cost and power consumption compared to desktop models
Best for: Medium-sized businesses requiring flexible, scalable storage with virtualization and high availability.
Not ideal for: Small offices or home users seeking a simple, plug-and-play NAS due to its rackmount design and complexity.
- Processor:Ryzen V1500B Quad-Core 2.2GHz
- Memory:32GB DDR4
- Storage Capacity:32TB (8 x 4TB HDDs)
- Network Ports:4 x Gigabit Ethernet
- Drive Bays:4 Bays
- Supported OS:DSM
- Form Factor:Rackmount
- Additional Features:iSCSI, High Availability
Bottom line: Ideal for growing businesses needing versatile, expandable server capabilities in a rackmount form factor.
Synology DS925+(2X 2.5GbE Ports, Ryzen V1500B, 4GB RAM) 4-Bay 32TB Bundle with 4X 8TB Seagate Ironwolf HDDs
This NAS provides a powerful balance of performance and capacity, with Ryzen V1500B CPU, 4GB RAM, and a 4-bay chassis supporting up to 32TB of storage. It excels for data storage, virtualization, backup, and surveillance, making it versatile for various business needs. In comparison to the TerraMaster F2-425 Plus, the DS925+ emphasizes expandability with its four drive bays and support for third-party drives, plus dual 2.5GbE ports for faster network speeds. Its ECC memory and software ecosystem add reliability and security. However, it may be overkill for small offices or basic file sharing, and its higher price point reflects its enterprise-oriented features. This model suits SMBs seeking a feature-rich, adaptable NAS for multiple roles without rackmount complexity.
Pros:- Supports up to 32TB with four hot-swappable bays
- Dual 2.5GbE ports enable fast network connectivity
- Expandable RAM up to 32GB for heavier workloads
Cons:- Higher cost compared to simpler NAS models
- Limited out-of-the-box RAM may require upgrades for intensive virtualizations
Best for: Small to medium businesses needing versatile storage with virtualization, backup, and surveillance support.
Not ideal for: Home users or single-purpose storage needs due to its price and feature set.
- Processor:Ryzen V1500B Quad-Core 2.2GHz
- Memory:4GB DDR4 (expandable to 32GB)
- Storage Capacity:Up to 32TB (4 x 8TB HDDs)
- Network Ports:2 x 2.5GbE
- Drive Bays:4 Bays
- Supported OS:DSM
- Additional Features:Virtualization, Surveillance, Backup
- Form Factor:Desktop
Bottom line: Best for SMBs needing a flexible, high-performance NAS capable of handling multiple server roles and high-speed networking.
TERRAMASTER F2-425 Plus NAS Storage – 2Bay Intel N150 Quad-Core CPU, 8GB RAM DDR5, 5GbE LAN x 2, M.2 Slot x 3, Network Attached Storage for Teamwork, Multimedia Server (Diskless)
This NAS offers notable speed with its dual 5GbE ports and a powerful Intel N150 CPU, combined with 8GB DDR5 RAM, making it suitable for creative teams and multimedia workflows. Compared to the Synology DS124, the F2-425 Plus emphasizes network throughput and SSD acceleration through its triple M.2 slots, supporting cache or independent storage pools. Its capacity of up to 84TB and support for Docker, VMs, and multimedia servers like Plex makes it highly versatile. Nonetheless, its complex feature set and higher price may be unnecessary for small-scale or home use, and the advanced features require more technical knowledge. It’s best for teams needing fast data access, multimedia processing, or local collaboration, but overkill for basic storage needs.
Pros:- Dual 5GbE ports support link aggregation for high speeds
- Triple M.2 slots for SSD cache or independent storage pools
- Up to 84TB total capacity with hot-swappable drives
Cons:- More complex setup and management compared to basic NAS
- Higher price point may be unnecessary for simple use cases
Best for: Creative teams and small businesses needing fast, flexible storage with multimedia and virtualization capabilities.
Not ideal for: Home users or those seeking a simple, budget-friendly NAS for basic backups or file sharing.
- Processor:Intel N150 Quad-Core up to 3.6GHz
- RAM:8GB DDR5
- Maximum Capacity:84TB
- Network Connectivity:2 x 5GbE LAN ports
- M.2 Slots:3
- Drive Bays:2 Bays
- Supported OS:TOS
- Additional Features:Docker, VMs, Plex
Bottom line: Best suited for multimedia professionals and teams requiring rapid data access and flexible storage configurations.
How We Picked
Products were evaluated based on several criteria: performance capabilities, ease of setup and use, build quality, scalability options, and value for the price. We prioritized models that offer reliable remote access, fast data transfer speeds, and flexible storage options. The ranking reflects a balance between high-end, feature-rich units and more affordable, user-friendly options suitable for smaller teams. Consideration was also given to expandability and future-proofing, ensuring that the recommended NAS devices can grow with evolving remote collaboration needs.Factors to Consider When Choosing Business NAS For Remote Collaboration
When selecting a Business NAS for remote collaboration, it’s essential to focus on factors that directly impact your team’s productivity, security, and growth potential. A well-chosen NAS should integrate seamlessly with your existing workflows, support multiple users simultaneously, and offer reliable remote access. Beyond raw specs, understanding the practical implications of features like scalability, network speed, and ease of management can help prevent costly mistakes and ensure your investment supports your business goals.Performance and Network Speed
Remote collaboration demands fast and reliable data access. Look for NAS devices with Gigabit or multi-Gigabit Ethernet ports, such as 2.5GbE or higher, to support smooth file transfers and streaming. Keep in mind that higher network speeds reduce delays, especially when multiple users access large files concurrently. Investing in a device with a powerful processor and ample RAM further ensures responsive performance, even under heavy workloads.
Scalability and Storage Capacity
Consider your current storage needs but also choose a NAS that can expand as your team grows. Models with multiple drive bays and support for expansion units or additional drives help future-proof your setup. For businesses expecting rapid growth or large data volumes, prioritizing scalable models prevents needing a complete replacement later, saving time and money. Also, check the compatibility of drives and expansion options before buying.
Ease of Setup and Management
An intuitive interface and straightforward setup process reduce the technical burden on your team. Some NAS units come with simplified management tools and mobile apps, enabling easier remote oversight. For non-technical users, models with clear documentation and robust customer support are valuable. Remember that a complicated system can lead to misconfigurations or underuse, impairing collaboration efficiency.
Security Features and Data Protection
Remote teams require strong security measures to safeguard sensitive data. Look for NAS devices with built-in encryption, VPN support, and regular firmware updates. Features like multi-factor authentication and automated backups further protect your information. Investing in security now prevents costly data breaches or loss, especially when multiple users access data from various locations.
Cost and Total Value
While budget constraints matter, prioritize value over the lowest price. Cheaper models might lack essential features like expandability or fast network ports, leading to higher costs down the line. Consider total ownership costs, including potential add-ons, drives, and support. A slightly higher upfront investment can yield better performance, security, and long-term scalability, which is vital for effective remote collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Business NAS support remote access for multiple users?
Yes, most modern Business NAS devices are designed to support multiple users simultaneously, offering secure remote access through VPNs or proprietary apps. Features like user account management, permissions, and encryption help ensure that data remains protected while accessible from various locations. The key is choosing a NAS with sufficient processing power and network interfaces to handle concurrent connections without slowdown.
What is the ideal number of drive bays for remote collaboration?
The ideal number depends on your current storage needs and future growth plans. For small teams, 2 to 4 bays typically suffice, offering enough space and redundancy. Larger teams or those handling extensive data should consider 8 or more bays, which facilitate greater storage and easier expansion. Remember that more bays also mean increased complexity and cost, so match capacity to your actual needs to avoid overspending.
How important is network speed in choosing a NAS for remote work?
Network speed is critical because it directly impacts how quickly files can be accessed, uploaded, or streamed remotely. With the rise of 2.5GbE and 10GbE ports, faster data transfer becomes achievable, reducing lag and improving user experience. If your team relies heavily on large media files or frequent backups, opting for a NAS with higher network throughput will pay off by maintaining productivity and minimizing frustration.
Should I prioritize a pre-configured or diskless NAS?
Pre-configured NAS units are ideal if you want a plug-and-play solution with minimal setup time, especially for teams without dedicated IT support. Diskless models offer flexibility for custom storage configurations and potentially lower initial costs, but they require more technical knowledge to set up. Evaluate your team’s expertise and future needs; if growth or customization matters, a diskless model might be the better choice.
What security features should I look for in a Business NAS?
Security features like encrypted data storage, secure remote access via VPN, multi-factor authentication, and regular firmware updates are essential. These tools help safeguard sensitive business data against unauthorized access and cyber threats. Also, consider models with automatic backups and snapshot capabilities, which add layers of protection against data loss, especially important when multiple remote users are involved.
Conclusion
For small teams or startups seeking straightforward, reliable remote file sharing, the Synology DS223j offers simplicity and affordability. Growing businesses needing scalable storage and advanced features should consider the Synology 8-Bay DiskStation DS1823xs+ as the best overall choice. For those prioritizing speed and ease of use, the QNAP TS-253E-8G hits a sweet spot. Budget-conscious buyers should focus on models with essential features, while larger enterprises with complex needs may find the Synology RackStation RS1221+ or similar high-end options better suited. Ultimately, selecting the right NAS hinges on your team’s size, technical expertise, and future growth plans.
