Should I buy a Server or Nas box?

Should I buy a Server or Nas box? Well, as with so many things in IT (and life), it depends! There are several considerations, here is a useful breakdown.

FAQ · Server vs NAS

Whether to buy a server or a NAS box depends on what you need to run: a server is more powerful and lets you install and run third-party business applications directly, while a NAS is simpler, requires less ongoing management, but limits you to the applications available for its own operating system.

The practical difference

An application server is a general-purpose computer that runs a full server operating system, on which you can install accounting software, line-of-business applications, a domain controller, or anything else your business needs. A NAS (network-attached storage) box runs its own simplified operating system, and you are restricted to apps built for that platform — for example, turning a Synology NAS into a mail server requires installing Synology's own Mail Server app rather than any mail server software you choose.

Trade-offs to weigh

Capability: a server offers more advanced control over network services and applications; a NAS offers a narrower, simpler feature set.
Management overhead: a server requires more configuration and ongoing maintenance; a NAS is designed to need less.
Cost and complexity: a NAS is usually the lower-cost, lower-complexity choice for shared file storage and backup targets alone.
Growth: a business planning to add more applications over time will outgrow a NAS's app-store model faster than it will outgrow a server.

Server compared with NAS

Consideration	Application server	NAS box
Software flexibility	Any compatible third-party application	Only apps built for the NAS's own operating system
Management effort	Higher — needs ongoing configuration and maintenance	Lower — designed for simpler upkeep
Best suited to	Businesses running specific line-of-business software	Shared file storage and backup targets
Typical cost	Higher	Lower

Frequently asked questions

Can a NAS box do everything a small business needs?

For file sharing, local backup targets and basic services, often yes; for running specific accounting, practice management or CRM software, usually no — that needs a proper application server.

Is a NAS a good backup target either way?

Yes, a NAS is commonly used as a local backup target regardless of whether the business also has a server, since it is a straightforward, dedicated storage device.

How do I decide which is right for my business?

List the specific applications and services you need to run; if any require installation of specific third-party software beyond what the NAS vendor offers, a server is the right choice.

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Should I buy a Server or Nas box? Well, as with so many things in IT (and life), it depends! There are several considerations, here is a useful breakdown:

Servers are more powerful than NAS, as they offer more functionality
Application servers allow you to install third-party software.
With a NAS, you are limited to applications you can download on the NAS operating system. For example, to make a Synology NAS into a mail server, you’ll need to download the Synology Mail Server app.

Servers are more capable and offer more advanced controls over your network services and applications, but also require more management. The NAS offers less advanced functionality, but will not require as much maintenance or configuration.