Cloud/NAS storage for small business

tommyx_2

Hello All... looking at setting up something that would allow storing of documents (mainly word/excel docs) for four pubs plus a few management to pick up and view remotely. Some needs to be protected to certain users. Dropbox Business and Box seem to be quite a price for a number of users/month ... would a NAS be able to be used for that ? I guess something that in time we could scan documents / invoices etc to would be useful as well, but how do you store/organise that? 
Thanks .... Any advice most welcome 

Neil_Jones

tommyx_2 said:

Hello All... looking at setting up something that would allow storing of documents (mainly word/excel docs) for four pubs plus a few management to pick up and view remotely. Some needs to be protected to certain users. Dropbox Business and Box seem to be quite a price for a number of users/month ... would a NAS be able to be used for that ? I guess something that in time we could scan documents / invoices etc to would be useful as well, but how do you store/organise that? 
Thanks .... Any advice most welcome 

A NAS will do all that, but you need to set it up for remote access (or check your preferred solution allows that), as by default most will default to only local connections.  Which is fine at the Red Lion where the NAS is located, but no good at the Swan up the road.

Re: Scan to NAS, again depends on your solution.  At least one brand can do it (apparently) you may want to check.  But a decent printer should be able to do it too, though not necessarily from the printer itself, maybe its software.  As to organise it, that's up to you.

forgotmyname

Switched from a Dlink NAS to a Synology and the Synology wins hands down on features and ease of use.

I did consider building my own NAS from old PC's but I didnt want to spend the time tinkering.

Doshwaster

For ease of use Synology wins. I've had one at home for years and hardly ever have to touch it but it can get expensive to scale. If you or someone on staff is a bit of a techie then repurpose an old machine using FreeNA. For scanning it will depend on what hardware and software you use but all should all saving to a network location by default.50

Another option is to consider a Microsoft 365 (or even Google Workspace) solution which will include office applications, mobile apps, cloud storage, email and other functions for a single monthly subscription.