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QNAP NAS (Quality Network Appliance Provider : Network Attached Storage) appliances are popular on-prem storage devices, but can you connect QNAP to cloud identity management? As IT organizations transition to next-generation cloud directory services platforms, there is a question of how to bring traditional on-prem solutions into the fold.
Fortunately, not only can you connect QNAP to cloud identity management, but next-generation cloud directory services platforms are making it easier than ever before. Now, you can simply point your QNAP NAS appliances to a cloud hosted LDAP-as-a-Service, and user access control can be managed remotely.
Overview of QNAP NAS
Storage systems are an interesting challenge for IT organizations. While there are certainly plenty of cloud-hosted storage solutions available—such as Google Drive™, DropBox™, and Box™—not all situations call for cloud storage. For example, compliance regulations often dictate that data must be stored on-prem for security purposes, which is, of course, where on-prem storage solutions like QNAP NAS come into play.
From a usability standpoint, QNAP NAS devices can be especially useful for storing larger file sizes when compared to shuttling data back and forth from the cloud. They can also be more cost effective and just as reliable as their cloud-based counterparts, if not more so. Plus, many IT admins feel an added sense of security knowing exactly where their organization’s critical data and applications are stored.
Of course, as IT organizations look to integrate NAS devices into the IT infrastructure, a key step for IT admins is to control user access to the file server. Traditional Samba-based file servers have a number of ways to control access to directories and files including integrating with OpenLDAP™ or Microsoft® Active Directory® (AD)—two legacy identity provider platforms. Both of these traditional options are straightforward. However, the issue is here is that many IT organizations are looking to shift their IT infrastructure to the cloud—including their identity provider (IdP).
So, the challenge becomes finding a cloud IdP that supports management for traditional on-prem storage devices, such as QNAP NAS. The ideal cloud IdP would also offer the functionality of traditional IdP platforms and more. Ultimately, IT admins would like a comprehensive cloud IdP that supports management for virtually any IT resource such as systems, applications, file servers, and networks.
Connect QNAP to Directory-as-a-Service®
Fortunately, JumpCloud® Directory-as-a-Service® supports QNAP authentication via LDAP-as-a-Service. IT admins simply login into the QNAP QTS user interface and select LDAP authentication from the control panel under domain security. Then, it’s simply a matter of pointing the QNAP device to authenticate against JumpCloud’s virtual LDAP service and selecting the option to apply. By authenticating user access to the on-prem NAS storage device, IT admins can ensure a high level of security while also providing an easy mechanism to access on-prem storage.
Of course, managing user access to storage devices is only one of many identity management challenges facing modern IT organizations. This is where the JumpCloud platform really shines. Directory-as-a-Service is essentially a consolidation of the core IdP and an entire ecosystem of point solutions such as web application single sign-on (SSO), privileged identity management (PIM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and many other identity federation services—all rolled up into one comprehensive directory services platform.
Learn More About JumpCloud
Contact JumpCloud to see how you can connect QNAP to cloud identity management today. You can also check out the standard Directory-as-a-Service platform free for up to 10 users. Sign up for a free account today.
