Buying Guide
The Best NAS for Small Businesses: Picks and Trade-offs
We looked at 8 NAS for small businesses side by side, with the trade-offs that separate them and who each one suits.
By Jamie Cole, Lead Product Researcher
11 min read8 products evaluated
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A NAS for a small business has to hold up under several people pulling files at once, not just a single home user, which puts real weight on network speed, directory integration, and warranty tier that a personal NAS review rarely covers. It's also easy to forget that the NAS itself needs backing up, ransomware targets NAS devices specifically, and a power outage mid-write can corrupt a RAID array without a UPS in the loop.
Below are 8 NAS options for small businesses we compared on concurrent-user network throughput, bay count, directory and backup integration, and warranty tier, ranging from a 2-bay entry point to a 4-bay unit built for a growing team's file and media library.
Quick Picks
Our 8 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Overall for Small Business
Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless)
Small businesses that want the most headroom for team growth and enterprise support
Our take Check price for Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless) (opens in a new tab)
Best Value 4-Bay
UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS
Businesses that want 4-bay capacity and strong CPU performance without the Synology premium
Our take Check price for UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Entry Point
UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay
A small team or solo business just starting to centralize file storage on a budget
Our take Check price for UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay (opens in a new tab)
Best Expandable 2-Bay
Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage (2-Bay, Diskless)
A small business that wants to start at 2 bays with a clear path to expand later
Our take Check price for Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage (2-Bay, Diskless) (opens in a new tab)
Best for Media & Streaming Teams
Synology DS225+ Private Cloud Media Server (2-Bay, Diskless)
Small teams that regularly stream or review video and photo content internally
Our take Check price for Synology DS225+ Private Cloud Media Server (2-Bay, Diskless) (opens in a new tab)
Best for Backup & Surveillance
Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup (4-Bay, Diskless)
Small businesses that want a combined surveillance and backup NAS on a budget
Our take Check price for Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup (4-Bay, Diskless) (opens in a new tab)
Best QNAP Alternative
QNAP TS-264-8G-US 2-Bay Desktop NAS
Small businesses that prefer QNAP's software ecosystem over Synology DSM
Our take Check price for QNAP TS-264-8G-US 2-Bay Desktop NAS (opens in a new tab)
Best Companion NAS Drive
Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive
Populating any of the diskless NAS units in this list with drives built for 24/7 business use
Our take Check price for Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Overall for Small Business1 of 8
Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The DS925+ is Synology's current 4-bay business-tier NAS, built to handle a small team's shared files, backups, and growing storage needs in one unit.
Best for
- Small businesses that want the most headroom for team growth and enterprise support
Why we like it
As a Plus-tier model, it's positioned for the enterprise support add-on and longer warranty coverage that Synology's Value-tier models don't offer.
5GbE or faster network switch rather than plain gigabit, since several people transferring large files at once on a 1GbE connection quickly becomes the bottleneck, not the NAS itself.
Plus-tier warranty and enterprise support option.
Key dimensions & specs
- 4-bay, diskless (drives sold separately)
- Plus-tier business support eligibility
- Synology DSM software with directory sync support
- Multi-bay RAID for redundancy
- Expandable storage as the business grows
Pros
- 4 bays give real room to grow with a small business
- Plus-tier warranty and enterprise support option
- Synology DSM includes directory sync tools for centralized accounts
- Strong RAID redundancy options
Cons
- Diskless, drives are an additional cost
- Most expensive pick in this list
- Needs a faster-than-gigabit switch to avoid becoming a bottleneck with several concurrent users
Best Value 4-Bay2 of 8
UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
UGREEN's DXP4800 Plus pairs an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 5-core CPU with 4 bays, giving it enough processing headroom to run business apps and backup jobs alongside file sharing without stalling.
Best for
- Businesses that want 4-bay capacity and strong CPU performance without the Synology premium
Why we like it
It undercuts the Synology DS925+ by a moderate amount while still offering 4 bays of expansion room. As with any device holding your business's only copy of critical files, plan for the NAS itself to be backed up, cloud backup integration for the NAS is a genuine requirement given rising ransomware activity targeting NAS devices specifically, not an optional extra.
Key dimensions & specs
- 4-bay, diskless (drives sold separately)
- Intel Pentium Gold 8505 5-Core CPU
- Supports cloud backup integration
- RAID support across all bays
- Value-tier pricing versus premium 4-bay competitors
Pros
- Strong 5-core CPU for the price
- 4 bays at a lower price than the Synology equivalent
- Supports cloud backup of the NAS itself
- Good balance of performance and cost
Cons
- Diskless, drives are an additional cost
- Value-tier warranty and support versus Synology's Plus-tier enterprise add-on
- Newer platform than Synology's more established DSM ecosystem
Best Budget Entry Point3 of 8
UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The DXP2800 is a 2-bay NAS aimed at content creators and small teams that don't yet need 4 bays of storage.
Best for
- A small team or solo business just starting to centralize file storage on a budget
Why we like it
It's the cheapest 2-bay pick in this list and a reasonable entry point for a business just starting to centralize file storage.
For teams under 5 people on a standard gigabit network, this is usually adequate throughput for document and small-file work. Once the team grows past that, plan for either a network upgrade or a move to a 4-bay unit with faster networking.
Solid entry point for a small, growing team.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay, diskless (drives sold separately)
- Aimed at content creators and small teams
- Standard gigabit networking
- RAID 1 mirroring support
- Entry-level price point
Pros
- Cheapest 2-bay pick in this list
- Solid entry point for a small, growing team
- Simple 2-bay RAID 1 setup for basic redundancy
- Good value for content-creator workflows
Cons
- Only 2 bays, less expansion room than the 4-bay picks
- Standard gigabit networking may bottleneck once the team grows past 5 users
- Value-tier support versus a Plus-tier model
Best Expandable 2-Bay4 of 8
Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage (2-Bay, Diskless) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The DS725+ starts at 2 bays but is built as an expandable private cloud platform, letting a business grow storage capacity without replacing the whole unit later.
Best for
- A small business that wants to start at 2 bays with a clear path to expand later
Why we like it
It's positioned for home and small business use, with Synology's Plus-tier support and warranty options.
As the business scales past 5 or so regular users, most small businesses eventually migrate from individual NAS logins to centralized directory sync, and that integration is complex enough that it typically needs IT help to set up correctly the first time.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay, expandable, diskless
- Plus-tier Synology support eligibility
- Private cloud storage for home and small business
- Directory sync support via DSM
- Expansion path without full replacement
Pros
- Expandable path avoids a full NAS replacement later
- Plus-tier Synology warranty and support option
- Strong DSM software ecosystem
- Solid choice for a business planning to scale
Cons
- Pricier than the UGREEN 2-bay for the same starting bay count
- Directory integration setup usually needs IT assistance
- Expansion unit is a separate purchase
Best for Media & Streaming Teams5 of 8
Synology DS225+ Private Cloud Media Server (2-Bay, Diskless) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The DS225+ includes an Intel CPU built for hardware transcoding, useful for a small business that streams or shares video content internally, marketing teams, agencies, or any office regularly reviewing media files together.
Best for
- Small teams that regularly stream or review video and photo content internally
Why we like it
It also covers general photo backup and file sharing duties.
Since it's a Value-tier model rather than Synology's higher business tier, expect a shorter warranty and no enterprise support add-on, a real tradeoff to weigh if this NAS will hold business-critical data rather than just media files.
Solid photo backup and sharing features.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay, diskless
- Intel CPU with hardware transcoding
- Photo backup and file sharing tools
- Private cloud media server functions
- Value-tier warranty
Pros
- Hardware transcoding useful for media-heavy small teams
- Solid photo backup and sharing features
- Competitive price for the transcoding CPU included
- Good fit for agencies or content-focused offices
Cons
- Value-tier warranty, no enterprise support option
- Only 2 bays
- Less suited to pure business file storage than the Plus-tier models
Best for Backup & Surveillance6 of 8
Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup (4-Bay, Diskless) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The DS423 is a Value-tier 4-bay NAS built around secure file sharing, photo vault duties, and video surveillance storage, a solid fit for a small business that wants a security camera backend alongside general file backup.
Best for
- Small businesses that want a combined surveillance and backup NAS on a budget
Why we like it
Four bays at this price make it the most affordable 4-bay pick in this list.
Because this NAS is likely to become the single copy of both surveillance footage and business backups, treat it as a device that itself needs backing up, cloud backup integration for the NAS's own data protects against both hardware failure and the rising rate of ransomware attacks targeting NAS devices.
Key dimensions & specs
- 4-bay, diskless
- Value-tier Synology model
- Video surveillance storage support
- Photo vault and secure file sharing
- Family and small business backup focus
Pros
- Cheapest 4-bay pick in this list
- Built-in support for video surveillance storage
- Solid photo vault and file sharing tools
- Good entry point into 4-bay Synology hardware
Cons
- Value-tier warranty and support, not Plus-tier
- Weaker CPU than the Plus-tier 4-bay picks
- Best suited to backup and surveillance rather than heavy concurrent file access
Best QNAP Alternative7 of 8
QNAP TS-264-8G-US 2-Bay Desktop NAS on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The TS-264 gives small businesses that prefer QNAP's software ecosystem over Synology's DSM a 2-bay option with 8GB of RAM included, more memory out of the box than most 2-bay competitors in this list.
Best for
- Small businesses that prefer QNAP's software ecosystem over Synology DSM
Why we like it
That extra RAM helps when running multiple business apps or virtualization features alongside file sharing.
QNAP's own directory and backup tools cover similar ground to Synology's, centralized directory sync and cloud backup of the NAS itself are both available, but the interface and setup flow differ enough that IT staff already trained on one ecosystem should account for the learning curve switching to the other.
Solid alternative for businesses preferring QNAP's software.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay desktop NAS
- 8GB RAM included
- QNAP QTS software ecosystem
- Supports directory sync and cloud backup
- Desktop form factor
Pros
- 8GB RAM included out of the box
- Solid alternative for businesses preferring QNAP's software
- Supports centralized directory integration
- Good multitasking headroom for a 2-bay unit
Cons
- Pricier than the UGREEN or Synology DS423 2/4-bay options
- QNAP's ecosystem has a learning curve for teams used to Synology
- Only 2 bays despite the higher price than some 4-bay picks
Best Companion NAS Drive8 of 8
Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
5-inch hard drive, not an enclosure, built specifically for NAS use with CMR recording and a 256MB cache rated for continuous multi-bay operation.
Best for
- Populating any of the diskless NAS units in this list with drives built for 24/7 business use
Why we like it
Every diskless NAS in this list needs drives like this one purchased separately to actually function.
At 5640 RPM and SATA 6 Gb/s, it's built for the always-on, multi-drive vibration environment inside a business NAS rather than a single external drive, which matters for long-term reliability once several of these are running together in a RAID array.
Key dimensions & specs
- 8TB capacity
- 5640 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s
- CMR recording, 256MB cache
- 3.5" form factor built for NAS enclosures
- Rated for continuous multi-bay NAS operation
Pros
- Purpose-built for NAS vibration and always-on workloads
- CMR recording, not the less NAS-friendly SMR type
- 256MB cache supports smoother multi-user access
- Needed to actually populate any of the diskless NAS units above
Cons
- This is a drive, not a NAS enclosure, buy alongside a diskless unit above
- 8TB may need to be purchased in pairs or more for full RAID capacity
- Higher RPM competitors exist at a premium if raw speed matters most
How We Chose These NAS for Small Businesses
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Weighed each NAS's network speed against how many people would realistically pull files at once, since a 1GbE connection bottlenecks fast with 5 or more simultaneous users.
- Checked whether each platform supports centralized directory sync as a business scales past individual per-user accounts, and how complex that setup realistically is.
- Backup of the NAS itself
- Looked at whether each NAS supports cloud backup of its own data, not just backup of connected computers, given rising ransomware activity targeting NAS devices directly.
- Bay count and expansion path
- Compared 2-bay versus 4-bay options and whether each platform offers a genuine expansion path without a full unit replacement as storage needs grow.
- Warranty and business support tier
- Compared Value-tier versus Plus/Pro-tier warranty length and enterprise support availability, since business-critical data justifies a different tier than personal use.
What to Look for in an NA for Small Businesses
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Remember every listed NAS here is diskless, budget drives separately
The price shown for a NAS enclosure covers the hardware chassis, CPU, and RAM only, not the actual storage drives, NAS-grade drives built for 24/7 operation like Seagate IronWolf or WD Red still need to be budgeted on top, often adding $80 to $200 or more per bay depending on capacity and drive type.
This matters because comparing NAS units purely by enclosure price without factoring in drive cost gives a misleading picture of the real total investment, a cheaper enclosure with more bays to fill can end up costing more overall than a pricier enclosure with fewer bays.
Check whether a listing is diskless or ships with drives included, and add realistic per-bay drive costs to the enclosure price before comparing total cost across options.
Weigh CPU class and RAM over bay count for real day-to-day performance
Bay count determines maximum storage capacity, but CPU architecture (Intel, AMD, or ARM) and RAM amount determine how well the NAS actually handles real workloads, running apps, transcoding media on the fly, or serving multiple simultaneous users, and a higher bay count with a weak CPU can bottleneck performance regardless of how much raw storage it holds.
This matters more the more the NAS will do beyond simple file storage, like Plex transcoding or running multiple docker containers, less if it's purely a basic backup target.
Check the specific CPU model and RAM amount (and whether RAM is upgradeable) rather than choosing primarily by bay count.
Understand RAID as a rebuild-time safety net, not a substitute for real backup
RAID configurations protect against a single drive failure by letting the array rebuild from redundant data, but RAID is not a backup, it does nothing to protect against accidental deletion, ransomware, theft, fire, or a controller failure that affects the whole array at once.
This distinction matters because treating RAID redundancy as sufficient backup protection is a common and risky misunderstanding, a real backup strategy needs a copy of critical data stored somewhere physically separate from the NAS itself.
Check what RAID level a given NAS supports, and separately plan an actual backup strategy, ideally following a 3-2-1 approach, rather than relying on RAID redundancy alone.
Match drive type (HDD vs SSD/NVMe) to your actual access pattern
Traditional hard drives offer the lowest cost per terabyte for bulk storage like media libraries or backups, while SSD or NVMe-based NAS storage costs significantly more per terabyte but delivers much faster random access speeds, useful for frequently-accessed files, active project work, or serving as a fast cache tier.
This matters directly based on how you'll actually use the storage, a media library accessed sequentially benefits little from SSD speed, while an active working file share benefits considerably.
Check whether the NAS supports the drive type you need, and weigh the real cost-per-terabyte difference against how much you'll actually benefit from faster random access.
Consider noise level if the NAS will run continuously in a shared living or office space
A NAS that runs 24/7 generates continuous fan and drive noise, and that noise profile varies meaningfully between models, some use larger, slower-spinning fans that stay quiet, while others rely on smaller, faster fans that produce a persistent whine noticeable in a quiet room.
This matters a great deal if the NAS will sit in a bedroom, living room, or shared home office rather than a dedicated closet or basement out of earshot.
Check reviews specifically for real-world noise level mentions during continuous operation, not just idle noise, since drive activity and fan speed both increase under load.
How to Choose an NA for Small Businesses
By Rating Confidence: Highest Rated vs Most Reviewed
| Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive | |
Diskless Enclosure vs Drives Included
- Lets you choose your own NAS-grade drives and capacity, but budget $80-200+ per bay separately. In this comparison: Synology 4, UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus 4, UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2, Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage, Synology DS225+ Private Cloud Media Server, Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup, Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive.
- Ready to use out of the box, simpler for a first NAS purchase. In this comparison: QNAP TS.
Default to diskless if you want control over drive choice and capacity, drives-included for the simplest setup.
Check each pick's listed CPU architecture and RAM amount against your actual workload before buying, not just bay count alone.
For Media Streaming or Plex Specifically
- A CPU capable of hardware transcoding and enough RAM to handle multiple simultaneous streams, not just total bay count.
- You need real multi-user performance, media transcoding, or business-critical reliability, where Synology 4's CPU and RAM give real headroom over the cheaper picks.
- You just need simple backup storage for one or two users, where Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive covers the same job at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many concurrent users can a small business NAS handle on gigabit Ethernet?
A standard 1GbE connection works fine for document-heavy work with under 5 simultaneous users, but throughput per person drops noticeably once more people are transferring large files at the same time. 5GbE or 10GbE, on both the NAS and a matching switch, multiplies per-user throughput for larger or media-heavy teams.
Do I need Active Directory integration for a small business NAS?
Most small businesses eventually migrate from individual NAS logins to centralized directory sync as the team grows past roughly 5 users. It's useful for managing accounts at scale, but the setup is complex enough that it usually needs IT help to configure correctly the first time.
Does the NAS itself need to be backed up?
Most guidance treats a NAS only as a backup destination for computers, but ransomware attacks specifically targeting NAS devices are increasing. Set up cloud backup integration for the NAS's own data so a ransomware event or hardware failure doesn't destroy the only copy of your business files.
Do I really need a UPS for a business NAS?
Yes, treat it as a required companion purchase. A power outage that hits mid-write can corrupt a RAID array, and a USB-connected UPS lets the NAS detect the outage and shut down safely before that happens.
What's the difference between Value-tier and Plus-tier NAS warranties?
Value-tier models, like the Synology DS225+ or DS423 in this list, carry a shorter warranty with no enterprise support option. Plus-tier models, like the DS925+ or DS725+, offer longer coverage and an enterprise support add-on, worth the price step up for business-critical data.
Should a small business start with a 2-bay or 4-bay NAS?
If the team is small and unlikely to grow much, a 2-bay unit like the UGREEN DXP2800 covers the basics affordably. If growth is likely, either start with an expandable 2-bay unit like the Synology DS725+ or go straight to a 4-bay model like the DS925+ or UGREEN DXP4800 Plus to avoid a second purchase within a year or two.
Bottom Line
Best overall: Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless) — best overall for small business pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all nas for small businesses on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.