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How to Buy a Network Attached Storage Server

How to · Tech

How to Buy a Network Attached Storage Server

Lock down your data storage with a high-capacity NAS server without paying interest on the hardware.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $700 before anything else
Across the 0% window $38.89/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $700 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

A high-capacity network attached storage server keeps all your files in one place and backs them up automatically so you only buy your storage once. If you get the right hardware, it should last you a decade without needing an upgrade.

Late autumn sales are the sweet spot for tech gear because manufacturers usually drop new models around then, meaning last year's proven versions get marked down hard. You get the exact same performance for a lot less cash.

That 18-month window is a hard deadline, not free money, so make sure you set up auto-pay so the balance is gone before the promo period ends and standard interest kicks in.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your hardware capacity

    Figure out how much data you actually have right now and multiply it by three for future growth. A four-bay enclosure gives you room to grow without forcing you to replace drives too soon.

  2. 02

    Wait for late autumn sales

    Hold off until the holiday sales cycle kicks in late in the year. Prices on data storage gear drop noticeably during these weeks, saving you a chunk of change on the base cost.

  3. 03

    Map out your monthly payments

    Take your total cost and divide it by your payment timeline so you know what you owe each month. For a $700 purchase, you need to budget about $38.89 per month to clear the balance in time.

  4. 04

    Use your card's intro window

    You can use the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card which offers 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening to spread out the cost of the server without adding interest charges.

  5. 05

    Order the bare drives separately

    Sometimes buying the enclosure and the hard drives separately costs less than buying a pre-populated unit. Just make sure you get drives rated for NAS use, not standard desktop drives.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Do I need to buy hard drives at the same time?

Yes, unless you already have compatible drives sitting around. You cannot run a NAS server without disks to hold the data, so factor both costs into your initial budget.

What size hard drives should I get?

Four-terabyte or eight-terabyte drives usually offer the best price per gigabyte right now. Buy drives from different batches or manufacturers if you can, so a single factory defect does not take out two drives at once.

Can I access my files away from home?

Most modern NAS software lets you set up a private secure connection to reach your files from your phone or laptop anywhere. You do not need a monthly cloud subscription to make it work.

What happens if a hard drive fails?

If you set your drives up with redundancy like RAID 5, the system keeps working even if one drive dies. You just pull the dead drive, plug in a new one, and let the system rebuild itself.