SAN vs NAS : What is the Difference?

There are two technologies that are used as enterprise data storage solutions today. NAS (Network Attached Storage) and SAN (Storage Area Network) are two technologies that are used as enterprise data storage solutions today. Both of these technologies have different characteristics that cover different responsibilities.

NAS: is a network interface with a collection of hard disc drives. NAS is a complex file-server that holds multiple network file systems and additional services. Most of the time, NAS will operate on the Ethernet networks using TCP/IP. NAS will work on a data at a file-level. NAS can have its file server entered by clients using different platforms and operating systems while SAN cannot.

SAN: is different from NAS from even its name differences. SAN is used for separate network infrastructure used for information transfer between data and customers. SAN will work with data on a block-level. SAN is known for its high performance and traffic optimization. SAN also has the advantage of scalability and reliability compared to NAS. The only disadvantage to SAN is the pricey cost of installation along with regular maintenance