Organizations looking for the best, reliable data storage methods, which can be managed and controlled with their established network systems, often choose network attached storage. NAS allows organizations and home computer networks to store and retrieve data in bulk amounts for an affordable price.

The following three components play an important role in NAS:

1. NAS Protocol: NAS severs are fully supported by the network file system and common interface file system. NASs also support different kinds of network protocols including SCP and File Transfer Protocol (FTP). However, over TCP/IP, communication can be done more efficiently and reliably. The initial purpose of NAS design was only file sharing over UNIX across a LAN. NAS also strongly supports HTTP. So users/clients can easily download the stuff directly from the Web if NAS is connected to the Internet.
2. NAS Connections: Different mediums are used for establishing connections with NAS servers, including: Ethernet, fiber optics and wireless mediums with 802.11 standards.
3. NAS Drives: Any technology can be used for this purpose, but SCSI is used by default. ATA disks, optical discs and magnetic media are also supported by NAS.